4 Telling Signs That You Need an Internal IT Audit

Technology is unceasingly and rapidly being integrated into the workplace throughout the world, and with it comes the great need for systems that ensure information is accessible, accurate, with integrity and timely.

A huge part of every organization and its overall business operation are its information technology infrastructures, policies, and operations. These infrastructures encompass the physical and virtual aspects that underpin the total IT environment of every organization including the server, storage, and network components.

Overall, these infrastructures provide the necessary applications and functions of an organization. Knowing these, an internal IT audit that aims to make sure these infrastructures, policies, and operations are working well and are coherent with the company’s goals is necessary.

Although some business owners may not yet say so, you can be aware of the warning signals that your company needs one.

Sign #1: You are not using up-to-date technology.

If you’re not using the most recent systems, it’s highly possible that IT challenges will come your way. For cases like this, there might be issues regarding retention and storage of data as well as your company finding itself ill-equipped with IT crises.

With an IT audit, your systems and processes that protect your business’ assets such as data will be evaluated. If inconsistencies are found, recommendations will be given to protect better your assets.

When your company encounters threats to its security and timeliness of information flow, you’ll be more confident of your ability to handle them successfully.

Sign #2:  Your new technology leads you to face never before seen and unheard of IT challenges.

Developments in IT keep you on your toes with its myriad of profit opportunities as well as its threats. Social media and cloud services like cloud computing are changing how your company does operations and how it deals with customers and partners.

Knowing how to maximize the benefits of these developments while you minimize their insecurities through IT security auditing would result in advancements in your company’s processes.

Sign #3: Your IT expenditures exceed your budget most of the time.

It is the top executive’s job to take a very close look at the company’s current situation and whether expenditures are reasonable. If you see that sales are stagnating or declining, forcing you to cut other department’s budget to provide for the IT needs of the company, then it is a sign that there are inefficiencies.

After an IT audit, you will be sure that any wastefulness in the systems and the IT staff will be identified.

In totality, an IT audit will give you a comprehensive idea regarding your current IT condition, the degrees of security suitable for your unique company, and help you decide on the appropriateness of your policies as well as the day-to-day business operations.

Sign #4: Your IT systems are full of modifications, patches, interfaces and links.

A business would always have to modify their internal IT systems so that it fits into new requirements required of the marketplace, but sadly, the focus is on how these modifications should work without taking minimal or no considerations on the controls and security of these modifications.

An IT audit can pinpoint the weakpoints of these modifications and inter-links so that management can be aware of such weakpoints which can affect data integrity, availability and security.

Regardless whether you’re only a startup or an already thriving company, an internal IT audit should indeed be considered, as it will boost your efficiency and in the long haul—your bottom line.