What A Network Assessment Will Do for Your Company

It’s fair to assume that most businesses believe their IT network is fit to block cyber attacks at any given time; even if you are a tech wizard, you can’t ignore the need for proactive data security, minimizing downtime, and other benefits that come from having stellar IT support.

In truth, as much as you may believe that you’re hitting the right mark with your IT services, there are probably plenty of areas that you’re not quite up to par on. This is why it is beneficial for any business to have a full IT assessment every once in a while.Even with a carefully constructed setup, any company can develop blind spots as time passes, so hiring another pair of eyes to look at your infrastructure is always a worthwhile idea.

Why do you need an IT assessment?

There are several reasons to seek an IT assessment, here are a few of the most pressing:

• Ensuring your cybersecurity is on point. Every business needs to be confident that its data is secure. Among other reasons that this is so important, your data doesn’t just belong to you; it’s your customers’ data too.
• Identifying weak spots. It’s not uncommon for a business to have vulnerabilities that they hadn’t considered, which is why a dedicated analysis of their network is so vital. A vulnerability, once identified, can be remedied and can make the business more secure.
• Meeting industry standard requirements. Any business needs an assessment once in a while, but it’s all the more important for some specialized businesses such as healthcare providers and government bodies (and government-adjacent private businesses). To ensure that your business remains compliant with industry standards such as HIPAA and other comparable requirements, regular assessment is vital.

What does an IT assessment entail?

Any assessment of IT functions will look at your systems both holistically and in detail, looking for issues relating to functionality and security. For your business to thrive, your IT systems need to be ready to handle things. 

Will your servers stand up to an unexpected spike in demand? How prepared are you for a cyber attack? Are your backup systems and practices fit for purpose? These are just some of the questions that an IT assessment will ask and answer. Where necessary, recommendations for improvement will also be provided.

When should you get an IT assessment?

There is rarely, if ever, a bad time to have an IT assessment, but times when it is more crucial include: 

• When your business is undergoing a significant change. For example, if you are looking to extend remote working to a number of employees, the potential for security slippages will increase. Knowing how to close any loopholes is essential.
• When you are implementing new systems. Any significant upheaval will not only make new vulnerabilities more likely but will also risk obscuring existing issues.
• When you are scaling up your business. Systems and services that functioned perfectly well with your initial IT support infrastructure might need some help if you are adding more people to the network and placing additional stress upon it.
• When you haven’t had an assessment recently. As you may or may not know, the pace of technological change is such that systems can become obsolete in very short order. Having a regular audit of your network will ensure that you aren’t caught out by superannuated tech.

A network assessment is the perfect way to ensure that your systems are always as up to date and as secure as they can be. In business, you can never be too careful about data security and should never miss an opportunity to boost your functionality.