Business IT Assessment

Business IT Assessment
Updated: April 2014

This assessment* has been created specifically to help small and mid-sized businesses understand if their IT function is geared up to achieve their business goals. Most of our clients commented this IT assessment was useful because it helped them identify gaps to bridge. This form requires only 10 15 minutes of your time to fill in. After completion, wed then take it back for analysis. About a week later, wed come back to you with some recommendations.
*Designed for companies with 10 50 PCs

Business
1. Profile
Company Name Company Address Name Office Tel Email

2. Which industry is your business in?

ASP, e-commerce, ISV, software developers Accounting, auditing, business services, debt collection Architectural, construction, ID, property management, surveyors Commodities, exploration, mining, oil & gas, quarries Advertising, animation, event management, print & web design Banks, financial institutions, investment houses Aerospace, airlines

Agriculture, fishing, forestry, primary production

Civil, M&E, structural engineering

Clubs, entertainment, F&B, hotels, travel

Conglomerate

Courier, logistics, shipping, transport, warehousing

Distribution, retail, trading, wholesale

Education - private

Education - public

Employment, executive search, maid agencies

Embassies, Government

Home use

ISP, media, telecommunications

IT distribution, trading, system integration

Hospitals, nursing, pharma & med instrument (manufacturing, distribution) Legal

Insurance, property agencies

Management, marketing, PR, quality consultants

Manufacturing electronics, semiconductor, other IT-related Printing, publishing 2011 Software Exchange

Manufacturing non-IT

Marine, port management, oil rig & ship building

Non-profit

Utilities

Others

3. How many countries do you have an office in?

1 23 45 6 or more

4. How many locations does your business have in this country?

1 23 45 6 or more

Business Goals
5. Have you thought of where youd like to see your business in 3 5 years?

Yes No

6. What obstacles do you have to overcome to achieve your business goals?

1. 2. 3.

7. If you could get 3 wishes that would ensure the success of your business, what would they be?

1. 2. 3.

8. What are your top 3 business goals for the next 12 months?

1. 2. 3.

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Primary Challenges
9. What are the 3 biggest challenges in your business right now?

1. 2. 3.

10. What challenges or business issues should IT be able to help alleviate?

1. 2. 3.

11. What IT trends, features, or functions are you excited about? 1. 2. 3. Why?

Communication and Collaboration Issues

12. How do you communicate with remote workers or customers*? E-mail Instant messaging Phone VOIP Web conferencing Fax Snail mail Others. Please state:

*Check all that are relevant

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13. Which e-mail system is your company using*? On-premise e-mail server. Hosted e-mail server. ISP provided mailboxes. Web mail. None Dont know Which is it? Which is it? Which ISP? Which is it?

*Check all that are relevant

14. Do your workers travel overseas for meetings or presentations? Yes, frequently Yes, but hardly No Dont know

15. Is it important for your business to have a system to share information and files amongst your workers? Yes No Why?

16. Do you have a system to share information and documents amongst your workers? Yes No Dont know If yes, what are you using?

17. Do your remote workers or branch offices access a computer in your location to retrieve data or files? Yes No Dont know

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18. Is Internet use critical to your business? Yes No Dont know If yes or no, why?

19. Is it important for your business to address internet abuse in your company? Yes No Dont know If yes or no, why?

20. Do you have a system to address internet abuse in your company? Yes No Dont know If yes, what are you using?

21. Is it important for your business to secure the transmission of files from point to point? Yes No Dont know If yes or no, why?

22. Do you have a system to secure the transmission of files from point to point? Yes No Dont know

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Business Continuity Issues

23. Have you considered how youd deal with a disaster e.g. a server crash? Yes No

24. Do you have a backup and disaster recovery system in place? Yes. What is it? No Dont know If yes, what are you using?

25. How quickly could you get back in business in the event of a disaster? 1 2 days 3 5 days 6 days or more Dont know

26. How quickly do you need to you get back in business in the event of a disaster? 1 2 days 3 5 days 6 days or more Dont know

Regulatory or Compliance Issues

27. Do you face any regulatory or compliance issues specific to your industry? Yes No Dont know If yes, what are they?

Current IT Landscape
28. How are your computers connected to one another? Peer-to-peer Client/server Stand alone Mixed Dont know

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29. Do you currently have dedicated file, print, or application server(s)? Yes No Dont know If yes, which operating system is it running on? Windows Mac Linux Mixed

30. Is the current speed on the network (including Internet access) adequate? Yes No Dont know If no, why?

31. Do you experience power outages at your current location? Yes No Dont know If yes, why?

32. What major changes are pending e.g. office relocation, expansion, or remote office? 1. 2. 3.

33. When are you expecting these changes to take place? Within 3 months 4 6 months 7 12 months 1 2 years 2 years or more

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34. Do you view technology as an investment or expense? Investment Expense Why?

35. Is an IT budget being allocated annually? Yes No Dont know

36. How often do you upgrade or replace your hardware? 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years or more Dont know

37. Are your hardware under warranty? Yes, all of them are Yes, only the critical ones are Yes, some of them are No Dont know

38. Do you have skilled IT person(s) maintaining the IT systems and providing helpdesk support in your company? Yes No Dont know

39. Do you outsource IT support? Yes, and were satisfied with our current vendor Yes, but were dissatisfied with our current vendor No Dont know

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40. What are the 3 most important criteria you use when you evaluate an IT vendor? 1. 2. 3. 41. Besides you, who else in your company participates in making IT decisions? Name 1. 2. 3. Role

End

Contact Us
If you need help with this business IT assessment, you may contact one of us in these countries:
Singapore

Nick Tham Software Exchange (Singapore) Pte Ltd Tel +65 6883 1411 Fax +65 6883 1410 Email nick@swxone.com
Malaysia

Sarah Yap Software EXC (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Tel +60 3-2145 1280 Fax +60 3-2145 1282 Email sarah@swxone.com
Vietnam

Truong Hoang Lam Tel +84 8 3511 9465 Fax +84 8 3511 9470 Email lam@swxone.com

This document is for informational purposes only. SOFTWARE EXCHANGE MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

2011 Software Exchange