Technology lifecycle management. Can you image anything drier? Probably not. Despite its dry nature, lifecycle management plays a significant role in shaping our businesses. For instance, outdated equipment can consume valuable technical expertise, pose unknown security vulnerabilities, and bring on unanticipated costs. No one wants their staff in crisis mode every week dealing with a piece or with pieces of technology that are past their useful life, but that is exactly what happens in many companies.
Its good to remember that the shiny new technological wonder of today will always become the whiny obligation of tomorrow. A recent study found that slightly over 36% of small business had desktops computers that were 4+ years old still in production. According to the study this was creating "many different types of problems for the both the owner and the employees". If we are to keep ahead of aging equipment, then a sound technology lifecycle management strategy must be a key component of our business process. If you find the concept of technology lifecycle management valuable, it is essential to understand how to implement it in solid steps.
If your business hasn't already implemented technology lifecycle management plan then the first step is to begin with an audit. A technology audit involves assessing your current technology infrastructure and identifying areas that need upgrading. This will give you a clear idea of all your assets, what needs to be replaced, and when. If you have an MSP they typically have asset management software installed on company endpoints. Leverage their resources to produce an accurate audit. Having a clear document with software and hardware expiration dates or EOL noted is a key takeaway
When planning for upgrades, it is important to adopt a strategic approach that takes into account technology trends. During the assessment phase, consider factors such as virtualization, containerization, and cloud solutions. These developments have significantly impacted the decision-making process for purchasing in-house solutions.
Consider the following questions:
By considering such questions, you can ensure that the upgrades you plan align with the latest technology trends and provide the best possible outcomes for your organization.
Implementing technology upgrades can be a daunting task, but it's important to have a plan in place to minimize disruptions to your business operations.
I'm sure you'll agree that starting this process fresh every few years is not something to look forward to. The steps are time consuming and can take valuable resources away from your company's productivity. Creating an initial audit report and keeping it up to date is a much more palatable option. For hardware endpoints like server this can be accomplished by using IT monitoring software. MSPs likes Syslogic are ideally suited to monitor business assets and provide ready reports on the status of endpoints throughout the company. This is one of the added benefits of using an outside service provider to support internal IT environment technology assets.
In conclusion, proactive technology lifecycle management is a crucial aspect of any business. It enables organizations to stay ahead of the curve by identifying and addressing aging equipment before it becomes a problem. By implementing a sound technology lifecycle management strategy, businesses can save valuable technical expertise, avoid security vulnerabilities and ensure that their technology remains up-to-date with the latest trends. Additionally, proactive technology lifecycle management also helps organizations in reducing costs, improve efficiency and drive revenue. By following a proactive approach, businesses can ensure that their technology remains a driver of innovation, rather than a hindrance to progress.
