The top 5 most important aspects of an IT audit in 2022
Learn what an IT audit can offer your business in the new year
If you’re a business owner, there’s no doubt that 2021 showed you just how vital a technology infrastructure and robust cybersecurity measures are to your company.
With the hope of a new year upon us, you must start setting goals and enacting business plans for 2022. One of the most important considerations you must make this year is examining your technology.
It’s time to ask yourself:
- Are my IT systems helping me work most efficiently?
- Are my data security measures adequate enough to ward off modern cyberthreats?
These are just two of the many questions that can be answered by conducting an audit of your technology systems.
Join us as we explain the most important aspects of an IT audit in 2022, and how it can best prepare your business for the year ahead.
#1: Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has without a doubt become one of the most important aspects of an IT audit in 2022, especially with the increase in ransomware attacks this year.
In just the first quarter of 2021, supply chain attacks rose 42% compared to Quarter 4 of 2020. [1] Also in 2021, malware was used in over 70% of system intrusion attacks, with 30% of the malware was directly installed by the actor, 23% was sent there by email. These staggering statistics underscore just how vital it is for your business to be as well equipped with cybersecurity measures as possible.
A comprehensive IT audit process can analyze:
- If your antivirus software is active and up to date
- If your company software is up to date
- If all your drives are encrypted, and
- If your employees are properly trained on how to spot suspicious emails and other types of scams.
#2: Disaster recovery
A business continuity and disaster recovery plan is essential for every type of business—regardless of type or size. Depending on your needs, these plans can be simple or complex. However they’re structured, they’re extremely important when looking to prepare for the unexpected.
Disaster recovery plans can be formed to support your business during any type of crisis, whether it be a natural disaster that causes physical technology issues or a security breach that comprises your data.
An IT audit will help you answer these questions:
- Do you have a disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place for your business?
- If so, is the plan properly prepared to support your business during every type of possible crisis?
- Does your business have a robust backup service and risk management strategy?
- What’s your Recovery Time Objective (RTO) for key IT assets? Are you certain you can achieve it?
Read more:
What businesses should know about penetration testing
#3: Remote and hybrid workplace infrastructure
In 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vast majority of offices were forced to shut down and send their employees home to work remotely.
Now, as we move into a post-pandemic world, many employees and companies are favoring a hybrid office model where some employees work remotely, others in-person, and some a combination of both.
This new hybrid workplace requires businesses to consider if their company has the right technical infrastructure in place to allow their remote and in-person workers all of the tools and access they need to successfully do their job, both in office and at home.
Learn more:
Our top technology picks for your hybrid office
Making the decision to conduct an IT audit for your business in the new year is the perfect way to assess your company’s workplace infrastructure.
An IT audit will be able to analyze if your company has:
- Sufficient network capacity
- Secure procedures for all business processes
- Multi-factor authentication for critical systems, and
- Adequate security measures.
#4: Inventory of computers and phone systems
Whether your company employees are working in the office, from home, or using the hybrid office model, one of the most beneficial aspects of an IT audit is its assessment of your company’s physical technologies. The end of the year is a great time to use your IT audit to assess whether your business would benefit from new technology.
Technology is made by design to allow you to work more efficiently and effectively. However, if you’re using outdated technologies, it may only be holding your team back from reaching their full potential.
An IT audit will assess your company’s:
- Computers
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Phones
- Point of sale systems, and more.
Besides saving you time, the assessment of your technology can often save you money. For example, there are opportunities for savings when you upgrade your phone systems to VoIP. The system usually saves you money on monthly services while giving you more features than your outdated phone system.
Learn more:
The pros and cons of choosing VoIP for your business
#5: Industry-specific compliance
All businesses have some form of IT compliance that they’re required to follow—and certain industries, such as medical and legal have even stricter compliance regulations to follow with HIPAA regulations.
Failing to meet your business’ IT compliance regulations can be extremely costly and damaging.
An IT audit can effectively gauge:
- If your business is following compliance regulations
- And, if you’re not, what steps you need to take to achieve compliance.
In conclusion
An IT audit can help you assess where your business stands regarding technology, as well as helping you find opportunities to improve efficiency and properly plan for the year ahead.
If you want to get your business on the right track for 2022,
schedule an IT audit with us today!
Contact us to learn more!
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