Posted by: TAZ Networks on November 23, 2018 at 8:00 am
Time to start IT project planning for 2019.
Quarter Four is prime time for business planning. Here are four IT projects to consider during your project planning for 2019:
Compliance
Do you view compliance as a burden or an opportunity? Sure, meeting the requirements can be tough. But adhering to these standards can help your business get — or keep — government supply-chain contracts. Many of these standards, such as HIPAA, PCI, and NIST 800‑53, have been in effect for several years. Others, including GDPR and NIST 800‑171, are relatively new. Ignoring these standards can result in fines and lost contracts. We will be pushing hard on compliance initiatives in 2019. Keep an eye out for future blog posts breaking down the requirements, as well as solutions to help you track and demonstrate compliance.
Security Policies and Training
Do your staff members know how to create a secure password? What is your company policy on gift card and money transfer requests? What about emailing secure employee information such as W2 data? Train your staff in security measures that everyone needs to know. Develop and implement internal policies that require a verbal confirmation to transfer funds or sensitive data.
Windows 10
Did you know that both Windows 7 and Windows 8 are both out of mainstream support? If you have computers using Windows 7, you will have to upgrade to Windows 10 by January 14, 2020. Therefore, it’s important to include this upgrade in your 2019 budget. Also, if you have computers running Windows 7, it’s probably time to replace those devices altogether. Limited budget? Talk to your TAZ Networks account manager about a staggered rollout. And don’t forget: Section 179 of the tax code applies to computer equipment!
Office 365
Many companies are moving to the cloud for its flexibility and increased productivity on the road. Microsoft Office 365 provides one of the easiest entries to cloud-based computing.
TAZ Networks develops and implements IT projects for businesses all over Metro Detroit. Contact us today if you need help with your 2019 project planning.