What Is a Technology Alignment Review?
A Technology Alignment Review is a proactive evaluation of an organization's technology environment designed to identify risks, gaps and improvement opportunities before they become larger problems. Learn how Technology Alignment supports proactive IT management, cybersecurity, budgeting and CIO strategy.
A Technology Alignment Review is a proactive evaluation of an organization's technology environment to identify risks, gaps, aging technology and opportunities for improvement before they become larger problems.
At Mentis Group, Technology Alignment is an important part of how we actively manage technology rather than relying primarily on support tickets and reactive troubleshooting.
The objective is straightforward: maintain ongoing visibility into the technology environment, identify areas that need attention and help keep technology aligned with the needs of the business.
Why Is Technology Alignment Important?
Many technology problems develop gradually.
Equipment ages. Configurations change. Security requirements evolve. New applications are introduced. Vendors make changes. Employees adopt new technology. Business requirements shift.
An environment that was appropriate several years ago may no longer meet the organization's operational, security or business needs.
Technology Alignment provides a structured way to continually evaluate the environment instead of waiting for problems to become obvious through downtime, security incidents or user frustration.
How Is Technology Alignment Different From IT Support?
Traditional IT support is often triggered by an event.
A user cannot access an application. A computer stops working. A system generates an alert. Something needs to be fixed.
Technology Alignment asks a different question:
Is the technology environment where it should be?
That requires looking beyond individual support requests and considering the condition and suitability of the broader environment.
Both functions are important. Users need responsive support when problems occur, but organizations also benefit from proactively identifying technology concerns before they create business disruption.
What Does a Technology Alignment Review Look At?
A Technology Alignment Review considers areas of the technology environment that can affect reliability, security, supportability and future technology needs.
Depending on the organization, this can include infrastructure, cloud services, cybersecurity, backup and business continuity, Microsoft 365, networks, endpoints and other important technology components.
Mentis also considers recognized industry guidance and cybersecurity frameworks, including principles from the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls, where relevant to the environment.
The purpose is not simply to create a technical or compliance checklist. It is to maintain visibility into the environment and identify areas where technology may need attention, improvement or future planning.
Is Technology Alignment the Same as a Technology Assessment?
Not exactly.
A technology assessment is often a point-in-time evaluation. It can be useful when an organization wants to understand the current condition of its environment, is considering a major change or is beginning a relationship with a new technology provider.
Technology Alignment is ongoing.
Technology environments continually change, so proactive management should continue after the initial assessment. New risks emerge, equipment ages, software changes and business priorities evolve.
Ongoing alignment helps keep those changes visible over time.
How Does Technology Alignment Help Reduce IT Problems?
Not every technology problem can be prevented, but many risks can be identified before they result in a major disruption.
Aging infrastructure, unsupported technology, configuration concerns, capacity limitations and other conditions may exist long before users experience an obvious problem.
Regularly evaluating the environment gives organizations an opportunity to address foreseeable issues more deliberately.
That can reduce reliance on emergency decisions and help move IT management from reactive problem-solving toward proactive improvement.
How Does Technology Alignment Support Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is not static.
Technology environments change, threats evolve and security requirements continue to increase. A security measure that was appropriate in the past may not remain sufficient indefinitely.
Technology Alignment helps maintain visibility into areas of the environment that can affect security and risk. Mentis's approach is informed by recognized cybersecurity guidance, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and CIS Controls, while also considering the organization's technology environment and business requirements.
Frameworks provide useful guidance, but effective cybersecurity requires more than checking boxes. The objective is to understand where meaningful risks or gaps may exist and incorporate those considerations into the ongoing management of the technology environment.
At Mentis Group, cybersecurity is foundational to managed IT. Organizations with more advanced regulatory, compliance or risk requirements can also use Enhanced Cybersecurity Services.
How Does Technology Alignment Help With IT Budgeting?
Technology Alignment can help identify needs before they become unexpected expenses.
Aging infrastructure, technology lifecycle requirements, security improvements and other foreseeable needs can often be identified before they become urgent.
That gives leadership more time to evaluate priorities and incorporate future technology investments into the organization's plans.
For a broader discussion of technology budgeting, read How Much Should a Small Business Budget for IT?.
How Does Technology Alignment Connect With CIO Strategy?
Technology Alignment and CIO leadership serve different but complementary purposes.
Technology Alignment provides ongoing visibility into the technology environment. CIO leadership considers technology in the context of business priorities, risk, future needs and investment.
Together, they help connect what is happening within the technology environment with where the organization is going.
This is an important part of moving beyond reactive IT support. Technology issues and opportunities can be considered as part of a broader business conversation rather than addressed only when something fails.
Learn more about What Is a vCIO? and why Mentis uses CIO leadership as part of its managed IT approach.
Does Technology Alignment Matter in a Co-Managed IT Environment?
Yes.
Organizations with internal IT teams can also benefit from a structured approach to evaluating the technology environment.
In a co-managed relationship, Mentis works alongside the internal IT team, with responsibilities aligned to the organization's needs and internal capabilities.
Technology Alignment can help provide broader visibility into the areas Mentis is responsible for managing while supporting coordinated technology planning with the internal team.
Learn more about Co-Managed IT Services.
How Does Mentis Group Use Technology Alignment?
Technology Alignment is part of Mentis Group's broader approach to proactive technology management.
Rather than relying primarily on support tickets to reveal problems, Mentis continually works to understand the condition of the technology environment and identify areas that may require attention or future planning.
Technology Alignment works alongside our Service Desk, technical resources and CIO leadership to help clients manage technology as an ongoing business function.
The objective is not simply to find more things to fix.
It is to create better visibility, reduce avoidable surprises and help technology evolve with the needs of the organization.
Technology Alignment is one component of The Mentis Way and The Mentis Process and our approach to Fully Managed IT Services.
Have a question about your own environment? Schedule a consultation with Mentis Group or call (866) 901-7808.