Most businesses depend on a delicate ecosystem of network connections to support their daily business operations. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to disrupt the balance of these environments; a tidy and carefully cultivated garden can easily turn into an overgrown tangle if you don’t keep an eye on things.
If you’re not sure about the present state of your IT network, it might be a good idea to get your system audited. A professional IT audit can help you gain a better understanding of your system and the changes that need to be made to improve its overall performance and security. Here are just a few potential issues that a proper audit can help you to identify and address.
Performance bottlenecks
One of the primary reasons for getting an IT audit is to make sure that you are getting the best possible performance out of your existing equipment. If your two-year old desktops have been running a little sluggishly lately, for example, you may not need to throw them all away. In many cases, it’s the supporting infrastructure at the root of the problem — even top-of-the-line products will give you trouble if you’re running on a slow network connection or using out-of-date applications.
Security risks
Keeping your network secure is a tough job, and the more intricate your network is the more difficult it can be to make sure you’ve got all of your bases covered. A good auditor will help you identify potential weak points that you might not otherwise be aware of, like out of date security updates, inactive user accounts and missed opportunities to increase the overall redundancy of your network.
Compliance issues
As businesses becoming increasingly reliant on computer systems to get their work done, the laws governing appropriate use of these systems have been changing as well. Data Lifecycle Management (DLM) is now a major issue, as consumers rely on businesses to protect their data and other important records. An IT audit can help you to ensure that you’re doing your due diligence.
