Setting the Course: Building a Comprehensive IT Roadmap for 2024

By: Bruce Nelson, Principal

While working on Vertilocity’s 2024 IT Roadmap I thought I would share some of the actions and questions I ask myself and recommend to clients to ensure our technology strategy aligns with our organizational goals, identifies areas for improvement, and leverages emerging technologies for maximum business impact.

Here are some of the ways we approach creating an effective IT roadmap:

Preparing and Planning

As with any roadmap, a truly successful journey starts with preparation and planning. A lot of businesses have a general plan when it comes to their IT, but for a truly effective roadmap, you need to extend your range and ask more in-depth questions. At Vertilocity, here are some key questions we like to ask during the preparation and planning stage of any IT roadmap:

  • What data do we have?
  • Who owns the data?
  • Who has access to the data?
  • How do we protect the data?
  • How do we back up the data?
  • How do we get the data back if we need to?

The answers to these questions will help map out the key milestones for your business’s roadmap.

Key Milestones

No two IT roadmaps will look the same. Different businesses need different milestones. For some it includes updating and revamping their hardware systems, others may need to reinforce their data security, and others may want to add automation to increase efficiency. Whether working internally or with an MSP, it’s important to know which are the key milestones you’d like your organization to achieve in the coming year. It’s equally important to establish a detailed path with specific steps outlining the journey towards achieving these targets. At Vertilocity, the three areas we’re seeing investment are:

  1. Automation: Talent is becoming harder and harder to find, especially in fields like IT and accounting. Look at how your business can leverage automation to enhance efficiency and reduce manual processes.
  2. Artificial Intelligence: AI can be harnessed for enhanced content production, awareness, and insightful decision-making from diverse data.
  3. Data & Privacy: There’s more data and sensitive information that needs to be protected than there was in the past. Data breaches are not an “if” but a “when” so it’s critically important to ensure strong data governance, privacy protocols, and employee training in data handling are included in your IT roadmap.

Watch Out for Roadblocks

Your IT roadmap outlines a clear path of where you are and where you want to go. No matter what journey you’re on, roadblocks happen. One of the biggest roadblocks I’ve seen lately is application sprawl – numerous software apps, often unneeded, causing organizational overlap. One department downloads an application that helps them without realizing that they have caused major complications in another department or for the entire organization. For example, a marketing team might implement a tool that enhances their messaging reach, yet adds complications for IT’s task of maintaining control and security management. To avoid roadblocks, it’s imperative to prioritize the initiatives that align with long-term organizational goals rather than quick-fix apps that might introduce new problems, like security risks, and ensures a cohesive, strategic direction.

The Path Ahead

In the next year, critically evaluate your tech. Upgrade outdated systems and establish core milestones like monitoring, help desks, and IT security. Plan for the immediate and long-term, considering advancements like cloud adoption, AI, and enhanced security. Align your IT roadmap with your organization’s stage, focusing on both current needs and future growth. Seek expert guidance for navigating new technologies, ensuring your strategy remains adaptable and aligned with overarching goals, especially in rapidly evolving sectors like healthcare.

For a more in-depth look at Vertilocity’s IT Roadmap process and the four essential questions to ask when crafting your roadmap download the whitepaper.

To learn more about how Vertilocity can help you with a current IT Roadmap, contact us at info@vertilocity.com.