To stay relevant, to keep customers engaged, to improve workflow, modern businesses must explore new technology regularly. When the stakeholders agree that new technology should be implemented, the project has the best chance at succeeding.
However, challenges like team inexperience, perceived risk, budgetary uncertainty and the dreaded “analysis paralysis” can become reasons that IT projects often fall to the wayside, despite a growing need for new and improved IT. The difficulty lies in IT project management.
If you’re undertaking an IT project, it’s imperative that you understand the difficulties and the risks involved. After all, you don’t want to be a Levi Strauss, who turned a $5 million IT project into a $200 million loss. Many businesses are looking to start implementing the IT projects on their wishlist, but those projects can be difficult to enact. Here, we’ve compiled the most requested IT projects and why they’re often difficult to achieve.
Cloud Migrations
There’s no denying that a move to the cloud is on the minds of most business leaders. But moving a business to the cloud isn’t as simple as it may seem. Huge strides must be taken in terms of security, workflow and access. The reason to migrate to the cloud is almost entirely based on the idea of working from anywhere. But not at the cost of data loss and productivity reduction.
To properly migrate to the cloud, you need a full analysis of your workflow and processes. From an IT perspective, this could be a total re-envisioning of how your team works. Plus, when you migrate to the cloud, you don’t want to lose any time or productivity. So, migration needs to be smooth and well thought out.
File Sharing and Permissions Restructure
File permissions are one those elements of IT structure that can be wildly problematic. Likewise, they are typically only discovered as problems reactively. Say, for example, your CEO is attempting to access folders on the server and is hit with non-permission notices. Or, a low-level employee has access to the company’s highest-level financial data. This kind of inconsistent policy for access can be wildly detrimental to an organization.
Reorganizing file sharing and restructuring permissions is a tedious process that requires a deft hand to ensure best practices for the principle of least privilege. (Check out Microsoft’s Implementing Least-Privilege Administration Models.)
Security Hardening
Unfortunately, the strength of your cybersecurity program can be directly tied to the longevity of your business. The Ponemon Institute has shown that companies have a 27.7% likelihood of a recurring material data breach over the next two years. The reality is that hackers are running algorithms to break into the networks of businesses the world over. Do you really want to wait until it’s too late to find out how strong your cybersecurity program is?
To enact a security hardening IT project, you need to best practices, phishing blocks, malware programs and testing, testing and more testing.
Enhanced Communications
In any organization, communication is key. When communication is lost, then productivity suffers and the failure rate amplifies. Enacting a new communication plan can do wonders for how your team works together. But, like any technology, getting the details right could make or break the results.
To speak to the new workforce, you should carefully plan an enhanced communication program that speaks to a diverse workforce (including millennials), while giving you the security you need to safeguard your hard-earned data.
Process Automation
Automating processes can give you a huge leg up on your competition. It frees up your staff and helps you focus on big-picture initiatives. But doing so requires a total workflow audit. By carefully detailing your processes, you can find places where technology can offload work and help elevate your offering to customers.
IT Project Management
Completing your big IT projects can be a daunting task, but with the right team behind you and the proper IT project management skills, you can achieve your goals.
Learn More: Simplify Your IT Projects with Axxys Technologies
Contact us today to let Axxys help you with your IT project management.
