As we bid farewell to 2024, it’s crucial to focus on key elements that will shape your IT strategy for the upcoming year.
Here are a few things you need to consider:
1.) Microsoft Windows 11 Update
Microsoft will be “sunsetting” Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025. This means that now is the time to prepare for the transition. How will this affect your business? Well, in simple terms, the retirement of the older operating system marks the end of more feature updates, security patches, and support. To complicate matters, Microsoft has set specific requirements for upgrading. If your current hardware doesn’t meet these standards, the new version won’t be compatible. It won’t be a hard or immediate end to your current operating system, but the incompatibility will start to affect your hardware’s security and effectiveness.
To avoid this, take careful inventory of your current hardware and licenses to make sure you are ready to embrace the future without any disruption to your services.
Thus, creating the perfect bridge to #2…
2.) Investing in new IT infrastructure for 2025
Leftover IT budget at the end 2024/Q4? Here are some impactful ways to utilize it:
Equipment Upgrades: Not only is it important to upgrade equipment that won’t accommodate Windows 11, outdated hardware such as switches, firewalls and wireless access points can slow down productivity and impact security. When prioritizing needs, organizations should also consider existing software platforms and, if self-hosted, the hardware (servers, storage, etc.) it’s run on.
Moral of the story here is that if your organization is expanding in 2025, have employees returning to the workplace, or transitioning to remote workspaces, make sure you have the right infrastructure to support your 2025 IT strategy.
Cloud Solutions & Migrations: Ready to enhance flexibility and scalability? If you haven’t already, transitioning to the cloud enables seamless collaboration, secure storage, and access from anywhere. Cloud migrations and application hosting are IT projects with a high return-on-investment by dramatically increasing the level of productivity, lowering the risk of self-hosted hardware failures, and offering the ability to scale as the business does.
From refreshing workstations and replacing end-of-life devices to upgrading network infrastructure, these investments ensure your technology supports your business needs. (As a side bonus, the tax write-offs for your organizations are beneficial, as well!)
3.) Analyze your current phone system.
Looking to cut costs in 2025? If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, if you are looking to trim-the-fat this upcoming year, look to your phone system first!
Every month I get the pleasure of helping clients switch to 3CX VoIP systems. Better yet, I get to witness the substantial savings they experience by reducing call costs, eliminating per-user fees while setting them up for business growth with cost-effective voice solutions. (Happy clients = Happy vCIO!)
Beyond cost savings, VoIP boosts productivity with advanced call queues, enhances customer experience, and improves sales conversions. Plus, it offers seamless remote capabilities with web access and mobile apps.
If you haven’t considered this in the past, you can use this tool to help you figure your organization’s actual cost savings by switching to vOIP.
Our vCIO’s work with our partners to not only keep up with the current industry standards; but also prepare them for the future. I sincerely hope you found this information to be helpful as you create your own IT roadmap for 2025.
Should you need some help or advice, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!
Until next time –
Nate Jewett
vCIO
MIS Solutions
