January isn’t just for fresh starts and ambitious resolutions – it’s the perfect time to ensure your IT infrastructure is ready to support your company’s growth. As we step into 2025, staying competitive means leveraging IT upgrades that boost efficiency, improve security and prepare you for the demands of a rapidly changing, AI-focused digital world.
For businesses with 50-150 employees, aligning your tech with your goals isn’t just smart, it’s essential. With that in mind, here’s a checklist you can use to identify the top IT upgrades that can set your business up for success this year.
1. Streamline Your Cloud Strategy
- Perform an audit to align your cloud usage with business needs.
- Can you replace outdated physical servers with flexible, cost-effective cloud solutions?
- Are you overpaying for underused cloud services?
Cloud solutions are the number one way to enhance flexibility and reduce costs. Businesses using cloud technologies report a 20% average reduction in IT spending, according to Flexera. If you don’t use them, you are not only behind but working inefficiently.
2. Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Protocols
- Have you implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all employees?
- Are you proactively monitoring for threats with an Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution?
- Conduct a vulnerability scan to identify vulnerabilities.
Prioritizing cybersecurity is not just about protection – it’s about maintaining trust and avoiding costly downtime or reputational damage. With cyberthreats evolving daily, it’s critical to stay one step ahead. Cybercrime is expected to cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
3. Examine Your Hardware and Infrastructure
- Are all your devices compatible with Windows 11? (Windows 10 support ends in October 2025).
- Is your hardware designed for advanced applications like AI and cloud computing?
- Check for underperforming hardware or software and plan for upgrades.
Outdated devices can crush productivity and expose your network to vulnerabilities. If your computers, servers or networking equipment are several years old, consider replacing them with more efficient and secure alternatives.
4. Review Your Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans
- Are your backups automated and tested regularly?
- Do you have a clear recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO)?
- Schedule a Backup and Disaster Recovery test to ensure there are no gaps, vulnerabilities, or unforeseen issues with your BCDR plan.
5. Leverage AI-Powered Tools for Operational Efficiency
- Identify repetitive and time-consuming tasks within your operations and automate repetitive tasks using AI-powered automation tools.
- Enhance customer service with smarter chatbots.
- Analyze data and obtain actionable insights to inform decision-making.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity for businesses looking to streamline operations. For example, AI-driven tools can help your team identify and resolve issues before they impact your business. They can even handle customer service questions or complaints.
6. Adopt Unified Communications
- Evaluate your existing communication tools to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
- Explore a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) that brings your e-mail phone, video conferencing and chat tools into one integrated platform (e.g. Teams or Zoom).
- Bring your email phone, video conferencing and chat tools into one integrated platform.
With UCAAS, your organization will see better collaboration, reduced miscommunication and significant time savings. Pro Tip: Look for UCaaS solutions with built-in security and integration capabilities to ensure seamless adoption across your team.
Conclusion
Every business has unique needs, and IT strategies are not a one-size-fits-all solution. While this checklist provides a starting point, the best results come from building an optimized system tailored to your specific goals and challenges.
That’s where a FREE IT Assessment can make all the difference. By evaluating your current infrastructure, identifying inefficiencies and prioritizing your investments, you can make informed decisions that maximize your IT budget and create a system designed for efficiency and growth.
Ready to future-proof your business and scale up in 2025? Call us at 202-223-1234 or click here to schedule your FREE IT Assessment.