As 2021 draws to a close, now is an opportune time to reflect on what you hope to accomplish during the new year. For businesses aiming to stay competitive in a world that’s more virtual than ever, overhauling your IT roadmap before the end of 2021 is a must.
If you don’t currently have an IT plan in place, technology roadmapping is the first step toward lasting success in the digital era. However, given how quickly the tech world changes, it’s also necessary to routinely re-evaluate your plan and change course as new IT solutions emerge and overall circumstances change. Due to economic uncertainty and fluctuations in consumer spending, the majority (87 percent) of business decision-makers surveyed in August 2021 said they were rethinking their IT investments for 2022 and subsequent years, according to a research report commissioned by Teradata.
Establishing a strategic plan should involve the consideration of numerous variables related to your organization’s current and future requirements. If you’re considering your IT service roadmap (new or updated) for 2022, here are a few vital factors to keep in mind as you map out your upcoming technology initiatives.
1. Your organizational goals.
As you’re building your roadmap, you should keep your company’s objectives (both short-term and long-term) top of mind. You’ll want to ensure the IT solutions you implement support your goals. For instance, if you aim to increase accessibility and productivity, migrating from a traditional PBX to a cloud phone system could help.
2. Your most significant pain points.
What are the biggest issues and obstacles slowing you down? For example, maybe you have trouble with frequent network outages or slow, outdated systems. Your technology roadmap for the new year should include solutions and ideas that will mitigate those pain points.
3. Where your workers are (on-site or remote).
In the upcoming year, Forrester Research has predicted that 10 percent of firms will go fully remote, 30 percent will return completely to the office, and 60 percent will adopt a hybrid workplace approach. Depending on the path your company chooses, your technology needs will vary considerably, and your decision will significantly impact your roadmap.
If you’re implementing a hybrid or remote work strategy, you’ll need to ensure your team members can securely access vital resources from any location. For more information, check out our previous blog entries about IT solutions for hybrid workplaces and how to address hybrid office security concerns.
4. Whether any of your systems or solutions need upgrades.
Your map should include any upcoming end-of-support dates. It’s also wise to upgrade any aging IT solutions to maximize efficiency and ensure you have access to all the latest features and security patches.
5. Evolving cybersecurity threats.
Hackers have bombarded businesses of all sizes with attacks in recent years, and the shift to remote and hybrid work has only made maintaining optimal cybersecurity posture more complicated. As the threat landscape evolves and you deploy new technologies, anticipate the need to adapt your IT security strategy in 2022 and address issues such as ransomware and cloud security posture management.
6. Whether you could benefit from migrating on-prem solutions to the cloud.
Many companies have found that transitioning from traditional on-premises products to cloud solutions can not only empower remote workers but also contain costs. For example, one of our clients increased accessibility for off-site employees while enhancing security and lowering expenses by going serverless and replacing their on-prem phone systems with UCaaS. Read more here: Containing Costs and Increasing Security and Accessibility by Migrating to the Cloud and Going Serverless.
Ultimately, the technology landscape transforms at a breakneck pace, and regularly revamping your technology roadmap is vital if you want to stay ahead of the competition. Plan now for 2022 and ensure you don’t get left in the dust.
If you’d like high-level expert assistance with technology road mapping, the Stratosphere Networks team offers strategic IT consulting services. With your specific needs and objectives in mind, our consultants can guide you through the steps for developing a technology roadmap and recommend solutions and services that not only meet your current requirements but also position you for long-term success. We also offer digital transformation advisory services and cloud consulting.
For details, give us a call at 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
