The start of a new year is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the future. It’s a chance to take stock of where you are and where you want to be, and to make a plan for how to get there. This is especially true for the IT department, which plays a crucial role in the success of any organization. By making resolutions to improve and transform the IT department, you can have a big impact on the whole company.
In this article, we’ll look at five New Year’s resolutions that can help make 2023 the year of transformation for your IT department. These goals are designed to help you improve security, increase efficiency and productivity, enhance collaboration and communication, update and optimize your ERP system, and prepare for future technologies. By setting and working towards these resolutions, you can make meaningful progress towards your long-term goals and help your organization thrive.
Goal #1: Improve security
With cyber threats constantly evolving, it’s important to stay on top of the latest security measures. Hackers and cybercriminals are always finding new ways to attack systems, and it’s crucial to have a robust security strategy in place to protect your organization. Here are a few ways to improve security in the IT department:
- Implement two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure that requires users to provide two forms of identification when logging into a system. This can be something they know (like a password), something they have (like a security token), or something they are (like a fingerprint). By requiring multiple forms of identification, you can make it much harder for unauthorized users to gain access to your systems.
- Conduct regular security audits: Regular security audits are an important part of any security strategy. These audits help you identify potential vulnerabilities in your systems and take steps to fix them. They can be conducted internally by your IT team, or by an external security consultant. Either way, they should be an ongoing part of your security plan.
- Train employees on how to spot and prevent attacks: Your employees are often the first line of defense against cyber threats. By training them on how to spot suspicious activity and prevent attacks, you can help protect your organization from potential threats. This could include training on how to identify phishing emails, how to use strong passwords, and how to report potential security breaches.
Goal #2: Increase efficiency and productivity
The IT department is responsible for supporting the technology needs of the whole organization, and it’s important to be as efficient and productive as possible. There are a number of ways to increase efficiency and productivity in the IT department, including:
- Implement new technologies: It will come as no surprise that there are always new technologies and tools being developed that can help improve efficiency and productivity. These could be anything from automation tools to new project management systems. By staying up-to-date on the latest technologies and considering how they might be able to help your organization, you can find ways to save time and improve productivity.
- Streamline current processes: Another way to increase efficiency and productivity is to take a closer look at your current processes and see if there are any ways to streamline them. This could involve automating mundane tasks such as patching, software updates, and data backups, standardizing processes across the organization, or implementing new tools or technologies to help improve efficiency.
- Adopt agile methodologies: Agile methodologies are a set of principles and practices for managing projects that focus on flexibility, collaboration, and rapid delivery. By adopting agile methodologies, you can help your IT team respond more quickly to changing business needs and deliver value faster.
Goal #3: Enhance collaboration and communication
Strong collaboration and communication within the IT department can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making. It’s important to have a culture of collaboration and open communication within the IT team, as well as strong relationships with other departments and stakeholders. Here are a few ways to enhance collaboration and communication in the IT department:
- Implement team-building activities: Don’t roll your eyes just yet! While you may think of them as cheesy, team-building activities can help improve communication and collaboration within the IT team. These could be anything from team lunches and outings to more structured activities like problem-solving games or team-building exercises. By fostering a sense of team spirit and unity — especially in an era of remote work — you can help your IT team work more effectively together.
- Implement new communication tools: There are a number of tools and technologies available that can help improve communication and collaboration within the IT department. These could be anything from messaging apps and project management tools to virtual meeting software. By providing your team with the right tools and training them on how to use them effectively, you can help improve communication and collaboration.
- Establish clearer protocols for collaboration: Finally, it’s important to have clear protocols in place for how the IT team should collaborate with other departments and stakeholders. This could include establishing regular check-ins and progress updates, setting up clear channels of communication, and establishing roles and responsibilities for team members. By establishing clear protocols, you can help ensure that your IT team is working effectively with others.
Goal #4: Update and optimize your ERP system
Your ERP system is a central component of your IT infrastructure, and keeping it up-to-date and optimized can have a big impact on the efficiency and productivity of your whole organization. There are a number of ways to update and optimize your ERP system, including:
- Migrate all or part of your ERP to the cloud: One option is to consider migrating all or part of your ERP system to the cloud. This can help improve scalability, flexibility, and security, and can also help reduce IT costs. If you decide to migrate to the cloud, it’s important to carefully plan the migration and ensure that you have the right resources and support in place to make it a success.
- Implement new modules or features: Another option is to consider implementing new modules or features for your ERP system. This could include anything from new financial or supply chain management modules to customer relationship management (CRM) tools. By adding new functionality to your ERP system, you can help your organization work more efficiently and effectively.
- Upgrade to a newer version: If your ERP system is getting outdated but you’re not quite ready to move to the cloud, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer version. This can help ensure that you have access to the latest features and technologies, and can also help improve security and stability. As with any major IT project, it’s important to carefully plan the migration and ensure that you have the right resources and support in place.
- Perform regular maintenance and updates: Finally, it’s important to perform regular maintenance and updates on your ERP system to keep it running smoothly. This could include anything from patching security vulnerabilities to optimizing database performance. By keeping your ERP system up-to-date and well-maintained, you can help ensure that it continues to support the needs of your organization.
Goal #5: Prepare for future technologies
As we’ve said before, the world of technology is constantly evolving, and it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. By researching and preparing for the adoption of emerging technologies, you can help ensure that your IT department is ready to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise. Here are a few technologies to consider:
- Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is a rapidly growing field that is already having a big impact on a wide range of industries. From machine learning and natural language processing to computer vision and robotics, AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we work and live.
- The internet of things (IoT): The IoT is any network of connected devices that can communicate with each other and with other systems. From smart homes and cities to industrial automation and transportation, the IoT has the potential to transform a wide range of industries.
- Blockchain: Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that allows for secure and transparent record-keeping. From financial transactions and supply chain management to identity and asset management, blockchain has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries.
By researching and preparing for the adoption of AI and machine learning, the internet of things, and blockchain technologies, you can help your IT department stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.
Conclusion
By setting and working towards these resolutions, you can make 2023 the year of transformation for your IT department and your whole organization. By improving security, increasing efficiency and productivity, enhancing collaboration and communication, updating and optimizing your ERP system, and preparing for future technologies, you can make meaningful progress towards your long-term goals and help your organization thrive. With the right plan and the right team, you can make 2023 the best year yet.
Ready to make your IT resolutions a reality in 2023? Contact Traust today to learn how we can help you achieve your goals. Our team of experienced IT consultants have the skills and expertise to help you develop a customized plan that meets your specific needs and helps you achieve your long-term goals. Let’s start your journey towards IT transformation.
