Every year, business leaders sit down to create annual IT budgets to define how much their organization will spend on technology in the coming year. As technology now permeates almost all aspects of our businesses, your IT budget should be approached strategically to allocate and spend IT dollars on investments that drive the most business value.

Office 2010 will reach end-of-support on October 13, 2020. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security updates for Office 2010. You will be able to continue using this version of Office, but by upgrading before any product falls out of support your business minimizes risks, including reducing exposure to security threats, remaining in compliance, and continuing to receive the latest product updates and support.

Business networks are changing rapidly. Mobility, the cloud, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are giving organizations across the globe the opportunity to reevaluate efficiencies and security. Software Defined Wide Area Networks, or SD-WAN, is answering the call. This concept provides greater flexibility to manage the ever-increasing need for bandwidth as organizations look to securely connect remote offices, cloud applications, and cloud servers.

Current events have forced many businesses into quickly enabling staff to work from anywhere at any time. Desktops were replaced by laptops that could be taken home, staff using personal devices to access company data, and quick adoption of cloud and mobile apps. The ability to keep your business running took precedence over strategic planning, and now is the time to enable your remote workforce to be productive and secure. This  mobile workforce evolution comes with many benefits, but if it’s not approached with careful thought and planning, it can also come with a unacceptable level of risk.

An ancient proverb says, "If you have a problem that can be fixed, then there is no use in worrying. If you have a problem that cannot be fixed, then there is no use in worrying." It's safe to assume that these ancient writers never faced executing an IT project. Risks associated with complex technology projects can keep business leaders up at night.

There comes a time in every business when the introduction of new technology is required. You know that the change is needed and will likely bring added productivity or cost saving with it. What you are trying to work out is WHEN this change could happen. You are aware that this could be a disruptive project for you and your staff and there never seems to be a good time. When thinking about implementing a new project, there are considerations every business leader needs to know. 

Is the speed of technological advancements outpacing your ability to protect your organization? Does the need for software updates, network patching, or industry advancements require more attention? There was a time when your 'man-in-a-van' IT contact was able to keep up the pace, but as your organization grows, so does your need for a dynamic IT strategy.