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Architecture

Evaluate the technology solutions your clients have and clearly identify the ones they need.

Overview

Determining what technology solutions need to be present within your organization should always be focused on your goals. Not every company needs a real-time tracking app or a completely automated customer service portal. Why? Because those technologies don’t support the way every company does business. For other companies, those types of solutions may be the cornerstone of their business. Our objective is to identify and manage technology solutions that support the business. Without the proper Architecture plans, people and processes lack the tools to be successful.

Requirements

Architecture assessments require a mix of both technical and strategic elements. If the goal is to provide the technology solutions to meet the strategic objectives, then you need to determine not only what is present in the environment, but what it does to provide value.

• Clear expectations for each team member
• Defined scopes and technology stacks
• Tools to facilitate data gathering in a scalable manner
• Communication to define goals and timing
• Client resources to provide contextual information.

Deliverable

• Complete solution stack adoption assessment for your MSP
• Process to identify and prioritize projects
• Technology Roadmap for each of your clients

Service

Understand how your clients are using technology and uncover areas for expanding services or support.

Overview

The Service Pillar encompasses all the activities which utilize technology solutions. These activities are conducted by both the client and service provider. The value of technology is only realized when organizations can utilize it to meet their needs. Regular evaluation of technology services allows companies to realize gaps that are limiting the impact technology should be having on their business goals. The Services assessments go hand-in-hand with Architecture assessments so that a complete solution can be implemented with organizations. Many times you must first understand WHAT technology is present within the organization before you can fully understand how you can USE the technology.

Requirements

Service assessments will normally build on an Architecture assessment, but they can also be effective at showing what would be possible within an organization and are commonly used in pre-sales engagements.

• Staff that understand the features and service levels of your products
• Staff that can communicate these value propositions to clients
• Clear communication to internal teams regarding service levels and deliverables

Deliverable

• Complete service adoption assessment for your MSP
• Process to identify missing service solutions
• Measurable adoption score across all of your clients

Risk

Ensure current and future problems are targeted and managed so your client’s business can move forward smoothly.

Overview

Service “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” This saying may apply to just about everyone utilizing modern technology solutions to meet needs today. If our job is to position technology to help our clients meet their needs then we also have the responsibility to ensure that those technologies are protected — whether the risk comes from a malicious party, acts of nature or simple mistakes. Our first step needs to be to identify the risk so that not only a response can be proposed but a response that matches the level of risk. Currently we are using the NIST Cyber Security Framework. This tool allows us to approach this task with an objective analysis and confidence that it is a complete assessment. Compared to the Architecture and Service Pillars, our response to elements in the Risk Pillar may fall into more of a management than a hands-on approach. Either way, the goal is to identify the Risk and then position an appropriate response.

Requirements

Service A thorough Risk assessment will typically utilize the broadest skill sets of your teams. Needing specific technical skills, operation understanding, strategic awareness, a complete assessment will also require participation from your client to set the appropriate appetite for risk.

• Qualified Technical Security Professionals
• Operations staff that understand the goal and are part of the solution
• Clear expectations with technical teams regarding responsibilities
• Well informed clients with the authority to set priorities for risk management

Deliverable

• Defined Cyber Security Assessment for each client
• Measurable Risk score based on NIST standards
• Cyber Security Roadmap to meet individual client needs

Strategy

Discover your client’s destination and show them how best to get there, from deploying new equipment to finding software that best supports their employees.

Overview

Technology Strategy is focused on positioning technology solutions to support and enhance the business objectives. What are the business objectives? If you don’t know these targets, how can you best align the right solutions? The goal is not to become an expert in the individual business, but to be the expert in technology alignment.

Requirements

To be able to have strategic meetings with clients you need to ensure you have people, process and participation

• Staff that can communicate effectively with executives at all levels
• Staff that understand basic business principles
• Resources available to those staff that can provide technical and risk analysis
• Tools to facilitate conversations, document objectives and manage progress
• Executive-level participation from the client’s management team
• “Buy-in” from all parties to invest the time to define and work on the Strategic Objectives

Deliverable

• Defined Strategic Business Review Process
• Defined roles and responsibilities
• Scalable process to create technology alignment

Implementing the Humanize IT framework and utilizing the Humanize IT reports allows you to engage with your clients and address all the areas of their technology needs. By understanding their needs and using a business-focused approach, you can help your clients achieve their goals.