Your IT works, mostly. But you're not sure what's in the setup, who has access to what, or whether a backup would actually save you. You've been meaning to look at it properly.
That's what an IT assessment is for. Here's what one covers and what to expect from it.
What an assessment is
It's a structured review of how your technology is set up, what could go wrong, and what it's costing you. The aim is a clear picture and a list of next steps, not fixing everything on the spot.
What it usually covers
| Area | What gets checked |
|---|---|
| Accounts and access | Who has access to what, whether multi-factor sign-in is on, and whether old accounts are still active |
| Backups | What is backed up, where it goes, and whether anyone has tested a restore |
| Network and wifi | The router, coverage, a separate guest network, and any default passwords left in place |
| Devices | Age, updates, and anything slow or failing |
| Software and tools | What you pay for, what overlaps, and what nobody uses |
| Cost | What your setup costs each month, and what's missing |
Not every business needs every row. A good assessment follows what your business actually depends on.
What you should get at the end
- A short, plain-language summary. If you can't read it, it's not useful.
- A prioritized list. What's urgent, what can wait a few months, and what's fine as it is.
- An idea of what each fix involves. Not just the problem, but what solving it takes.
Be wary of a long report with no priorities, or one where every finding happens to need something the assessor sells.
How to prepare
A little preparation makes it faster and more useful:
- A list of who has accounts, including anyone who has left.
- What you pay for. Recent bills for software, internet, and cloud services are enough.
- What annoys your staff. The slow printer and the login that never works are exactly the things worth finding.
- Anything that broke recently.
- The one thing that worries you most.
What an assessment isn't
It isn't a guarantee that nothing will go wrong, and it isn't ongoing monitoring. It also shouldn't be a way into a contract you didn't ask for. It's a snapshot, and the useful part is what you do with it.
When it's worth doing
- Nobody is sure what accounts, devices, or subscriptions the business has.
- The same problems keep coming back.
- The business has grown, or someone important has left.
- You're about to spend money on new tools and want a plan first.
Where I fit
Reviewing a setup and planning what to do about it is part of what I do as a small business IT consultant, and what IT work costs explains how IT work is priced. The accounts side has its own checklist in IT checklist for new hires and departing employees.
If you'd like a second look at your setup, get in touch for a free consultation and tell me what's on your mind. I'll tell you honestly what I'd look at first.