Practice or Team Expansion on the Horizon for 2024?
That potential project win is looking certain.
Resources dictate a team/practice increase.
It’s time to plan now for the inevitable.
Always leave room to grow.
Expanding your team in 2024 involves various IT considerations to ensure a smooth and efficient onboarding process, collaboration, and overall productivity. Here are some key IT considerations…
Infrastructure Scalability
Assess your current IT infrastructure's scalability to accommodate the growth in hardware, software, and network resources. Could it handle an upscale, especially those that happen quickly? Consider cloud services that offer scalable solutions, allowing you to adjust resources based on the team's size quickly.
Collaboration Tools
Implement or upgrade collaboration tools for effective communication and project management. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or other team collaboration platforms can enhance communication and streamline workflows.
Project Management Software
Utilise project management tools to organise tasks, track progress, and manage workflows efficiently. Tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana can be valuable.
Cybersecurity Measures
Strengthen cybersecurity measures to protect your expanding team and sensitive data. Implement multi-factor authentication, update security protocols, and conduct regular security audits. Provide cybersecurity training to new and existing team members to ensure a security-aware culture.
Remote Work Infrastructure
If your team is distributed or offers remote work options, ensure that your IT infrastructure supports remote access securely. Invest in virtual private networks (VPNs), secure video conferencing tools, and collaboration platforms facilitating remote work or proven industry-specific virtual desktop solutions.
IT Support and Helpdesk
Expand your IT support capabilities to handle the increased number of users; this may involve hiring additional support staff or outsourcing support services. Implement a robust helpdesk system to address IT issues promptly and efficiently.
Data Management and Storage
Evaluate your data storage solutions and ensure they can accommodate the increased data generated by a larger team. Consider scalable cloud storage options and implement data backup and recovery procedures.
Software Licenses
Review and update software licenses to ensure compliance with increased users. Look ahead; annual licenses (as in the case of Microsoft 365, for example) work out cheaper than month-to-month. Negotiate volume licensing agreements where applicable to optimise costs; a good IT provider should be able to do this for you through partnerships with established software providers.
Training and Onboarding
Develop comprehensive IT training programs for new team members to ensure they are familiar with the company's IT policies, tools, and security protocols. Establish an onboarding process that includes IT orientation.
Communication Infrastructure
Upgrade and optimise communication infrastructure, including email services, VoIP systems, and other communication channels. Ensure that the infrastructure can handle increased traffic and bandwidth requirements.
