Sleigh your IT to-do list – unwrapping year-end tech tasks

Christmas is just around the corner and you’re now counting down the days to a well-deserved rest. But as the year draws to a close, you won’t be the only IT team to find itself with some nagging tasks hanging around at the end of your to-do list. As tempting as it is to kick them down the road a little further, tackling them now could set you up for a more prosperous (and less stressful) start to 2025. 

With this in mind, let’s dig a little deeper into what might still be lingering on your list (and we apologise in advance for some seasonal pun-laden copy!). 

Tidying up the tech tree

Fundamental housekeeping tasks are often the first things to get neglected when more pressing projects take precedence. Usual suspects include:

Assets for disposal (ITAD) – Is it time to responsibly bid farewell to legacy technology no longer in circulation? Not only will ITAD help you declutter, but you might even recover some value from outgoing tech – a welcomed gift towards your next IT project. 

Software licensing – Keeping on top of the software you’ve got installed, licensing volumes, subscription levels and even utilisation are important to reducing software bloat and keeping budgets in check. Consider it an early step towards your New Year’s resolutions. 

Account hygiene – With Microsoft’s recent decision to enforce MFA for Azure access, it was a timely reminder to look at account access practices across the board. MFA and Zero Trust Network Architectures are working their way up the cyber agenda, so a quick pre-Christmas access review might be just the ticket. 

Maintenance and support review – You won’t be alone if you’ve got support and maintenance contracts running for various parts of your estate (and may be even some you don’t but should). The run to Christmas can be a good time to give them some fresh eyes and there’s secret (Santa?!!) wins there for you in terms of cost savings, better service levels and agreement consolidation that might be worth having. 

The gift of better tech

We’re not suggesting you’ll want to make lots of new tech purchases this side of Christmas, but you might want to squeeze in some last-minute orders for upcoming projects. Keep in mind that vendors sometimes miss Christmas shipping deadlines —so the earlier you place those orders the better. 

Alternatively, this could be a good time to lay some groundwork to ensure you start the new year ahead of the game: 

Cloud Readiness Assessment – Got a left-behind application you want to get into the cloud? A little upfront work now could see you get the compatibility checks and important discovery done, so you can be clear on your migration path and be benefiting from cloud in no time.

Windows 11 device assessment – Windows 11 is inbound, and preparation is key if you don’t want to run out of road. Evaluating your client device estate now to ensure your devices are up to the job will save you from a last-minute scramble. Our recent blog gives some more useful guidance on getting yourself ready ahead of time. Don’t forget useful tools like HP Proactive insights that will do lots of the heavy lifting for you and are free to use for an initial estate assessment, getting you a long way to knowing the make-up and compatibility of your fleet. 

In shape for Copilot – If you’re one of the many businesses yet to take the plunge on Microsoft Copilot, perhaps you’re contemplating your next move. While it’s unfamiliar territory, if you are wanting to start a project, there’s some data groundwork to do first as part of your Microsoft Copilot preparation. Probably the biggest consideration will be ensuring your data is ready – control and good governance is crucial for Copilot access, understanding, and utilisation. You’ll want to get familiar with Microsoft Purview as an essential ingredient to project success. 

AI-capable PCs the must-have gadget? – As part of your Windows 11 planning, AI-capable PCs (or Copilot+ PCs as they’re being referred to in some quarters) should probably be on your roadmap. If you’re not familiar with what’s coming down the line and why they matter, the holiday period might be research time well spent (and one of our recent blogs might be the best place to start). Importantly, most of the mainstream manufacturers will have devices hitting the streets in Q1/Q2 2025, so with Windows 11 on the horizon there’s double the reason to be giving some attention over to the devices you refresh with next.  

Guard against the Grinch

While you may not want to admit it, there might be a few lingering cybersecurity tasks still on your list:

Cyber Essentials renewal – If you’ve previously got accredited in Cyber Essentials perhaps it’s worth checking your renewal date and ensuring you don’t need to make arrangements to recertify or update your protections to maintain compliance. 

Password vault implementation – With exponential growth in the number of passwords and credentials your users are managing, a password vault could be a valuable addition to your security toolkit. There are plenty of options available, from established brands like LastPass to challengers like Bitwarden that offer a new twist on this kind of solution.

Security Best Practices – Aside from the specifics, take some time to review and update your overall security measures. It’s an investment that will pay dividends throughout the coming year. 

How can we help?

Need some extra help to get everything done? That’s where we can step in. Our Services Ecosystem is a gateway to an extensive network of service providers capable of meeting any requirement at any scale, no matter what you’ve got left on your to do list. 
 
And now that we’re part of Advania, our capabilities are even greater thanks to industry-leading technical skills and reach into international territories. We’re particularly well-versed in all things Microsoft, making us an ideal partner for projects involving Azure, Microsoft 365 and Copilot. 
 
So with just a few weeks left until the new year, we’re confident we can help you check off some items on your list so there’s no last-minute dashes and more festive cheer.  

Time to tackle your year-end IT checklist

To start planning your run to Christmas, get in touch with your Servium Account Manager or a member of our team.