technology planning for business & non-profits
DESCRIPTION
An intoduction to technology planning for businesses and non-profit organizations. Provides details on assessing your technology infrastructure and integrating it with your organizational strategy.TRANSCRIPT
Technology Planningfor Business & Non-ProfitsJim Locke, PrincipalResultWorx Technology Group
Welcome to Technology Tuesdays!•Technology Tuesdays are educational
technology seminars held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
•Some of the topics we will cover include:▫Windows 7▫Working Remotely▫Backup & Disaster Recovery▫Social Media Marketing▫Introduction to Voice-over-IP▫Much more…
Organizational Use of Technology•Strategic
▫View technology as a strategic resource▫Technology Budget: Varies widely
•Essential▫View technology as necessary to their
operations▫Technology Budget: Typically 2-4% of Revenues
•Technology Averse▫View technology as non-essential or a nuisance▫Technology Budget: None
Why Plan for Technology?
•Reduce Costs•Improve productivity•Create competitive advantage•Align your technology with your business
plan•Protect Assets
Creating a Technology Plan
•Evaluate your current technology▫Determine your strengths and weaknesses▫Identify necessary changes
•Evaluate your business needs▫Determine which technologies align with
your business plan and provide competitive advantage
▫Improve Productivity▫Reduce Operating Costs
•Consider Technology Trends
Evaluating your Technology
•Compile an inventory of your current hardware
•Identify important software applications•Identify technology vendors•Review Existing Infrastructure
Taking Inventory of Hardware
•Create a simple hardware inventory▫Friendly name (e.g. “Bob’s Laptop”)▫Serial Number▫Service Tag (where applicable)▫Date Purchased▫Warranty Information
•Other information you may want:▫Location▫Primary user
Taking Software Inventory
•Ask yourself the following questions:▫What software do you use daily?▫What software would impair your ability to
operate if it was unavailable for several days?
•Create a simple software inventory▫Software name and version▫Product License key / Serial number▫Location of original software
List Technology Vendors
•Compile a list of the following vendors:▫ Telephone Service Vendor▫ Telephone System Vendor▫ Broadband Service Vendor▫ Copier Vendor▫ Printer Vendor▫ Fax Vendor▫ Hardware Vendors▫ Line-of-Business Application Vendors▫ Web Hosting Vendor▫ Mobile Phone Vendor▫ All other technology vendors
Review Existing Infrastructure
•Review the following infrastructure:▫Security▫Data Protection▫Internet Access, E-mail & Web Presence▫Compliance with policies and applicable
laws▫Telephone Systems▫Technology Management & Training
Security
•Physical countermeasures•Network Resources
▫Check using ShieldsUp•Remote Communications
▫Remote Access & VPN’s▫Mobile Phones
•Internet security•Patch Management
Data Protection
•Backup▫How often is backup performed?▫Is it regularly tested?▫Is media protected in a fireproof data safe?
•Power Protection▫Is critical equipment protected by a UPS?
• Virus Protection▫Is Antivirus protection current?
Internet Access, Domains & E-mail•Internet Access
▫T-1, DSL, etc.▫Perform Internet Speed Test
•Domain Names▫Identify registered domains▫Identify renewal dates
•Email▫Check Blacklists
MXToolbox
Web Presence
•When was your website last updated?•Has it been integrated with the latest
marketing technologies like:▫Blogging▫Social Media▫E-mail Newsletter
Compliance
•Company Policy▫Authorized Use Policy
New policies necessary to address issues like text messaging, social media, etc.
•Applicable Laws▫CAN-SPAM Act▫PCI▫HIPPA▫Sarbanes-Oxley
Telephone Systems
•Examine your current phone bills for:▫Unused phone lines▫Excessive charges
•Consider the use of new Voice-over-IP technologies to reduce costs and possibly improve productivity
Management & Training
•Lifecycle Management▫Computers over 3 years old are 1.65 times
more expensive to repair▫Operating system support (Generally 7 years)▫Software support
•Standardization▫Reduces maintenance costs
•Training▫Improves employee productivity▫Reduces support costs
Business Considerations
•What is the organization’s strategy for 2010?
•How are competitors making use of technology?
•How can you use technology to impact:▫Employee Productivity▫Competitive Advantage▫Operating Expenses
•What is your level of satisfaction with existing vendors?
Technology Trends to Watch
•Cloud Computing•Social Media Marketing•Voice-over-IP•Mobility•Security•Collaboration•Compliance Issues
Assembling Your Plan
•Summarize your strategy for 2010▫Identify technologies in use by competitors
•Identify specific equipment and software to be replaced or upgraded
•Identify applicable technologies that would reduce your costs of operations
•Identify applicable technologies that provide competitive advantages
Assembling Your Plan (con’t)
•Identify technology trends that may impact your organization
•Summarize your recommendations•Create your technology action plan
•Extra Credit:▫Create a technology budget▫Make sure you review your results next
year!
Resources
•Get our 2010 Technology Trends Report•Get a copy of this presentation at
www.ResultWorx.com •Web Resources
▫GRC – www.grc.com▫DNS Reports – www.dnsreport.com ▫MX Toolbox – www.mxtoolbox.com ▫Internet Speed Test –
www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
