Why doing an IT Checkup is worth your time and efforts

It is an exciting time of year for fuel and energy dealers.  Cooler temps and changing leaves remind us that the busy season is fast approaching. Although winter provides an endless array of challenges and long hours, it is also when dealers prove their value and deliver exceptional service to their customers under potentially trying circumstances.  And, of course, it is when most of the annual profits are made.

Peak operating season demands peak performance.  There is little margin for error when demand rises, prices become volatile, and trucks are rolling.  Dealers must be at their best; they have to commit a lot of resources to planning for fuel supply, reviewing tank assets, working out the kinks in the fleet, and shoring up their CSR teams.

In order to have a successful and profitable season, don’t overlook your IT systems.  No modern fuel company can do business effectively without technology.  In many ways, it is now the backbone of your operations and enables most (if not all) daily functions.  Ensuring that your IT infrastructure and business software are properly safeguarded can help avoid costly failures.

An IT Checkup is an important management tool that provides crucial insights into the strength and reliability of your systems.  Think of it as your annual tune up.  A good IT Checkup helps you to create a plan in hopes that you are set up for success but have a plan for critical situations.  It will also identify any security issues and training needs.

Simple example of an IT checkup checklist:

• Cybersecurity
  • Update all software and apply all patches on all server and user devices
  • Train your team to identify phishing and other threats
  • Review server security
  • Secure your Wi-Fi networks and segment guests
  • Review users and user access
• Business Continuity
  • Verify you have a good and modern security solution on all devices (Cloud or On-site)
  • Check backup type and schedule
  • Review Disaster Recovery plan and seek expert help for review
• Network and Hardware
  • Review and inventory all end points and replace or upgrade as necessary
    • Remember to check laptops and mobile phones
  • Audit network infrastructure (access points, firewalls, switches, etc.) and make sure all are updated and have security scans and threat prevention and detection where applicable
• Remote Workers
  • Audit what employees that access systems remotely have and identify possible risks
  • Inform them of all security policies
• Performance Review
  • Review infrastructure performance and update or replace as needed
  • Assess bandwidth needs and reliability
  • Audit server and infrastructure resource needs and add or reduce as needed

The final step in your IT Checkup is a Future State Analysis.  Technology moves so fast that staying ahead of the curve is essential to the success of your business.  Falling behind can lead to security vulnerabilities, poor user and customer experience, as well as significantly decreased productivity and increased costs.  Your Checkup will identify IT areas where you need to improve.  Put a plan together that includes requirements for new technology, staff training, or the addition of third-party vendors to augment or replace current resources.

Your annual pre-season IT Checkup will ensure that operations run at optimal performance when it matters most.  They will improve business efficiency and continuity, protect you from security threats, and ensure data integrity. A proactive approach to IT system health can prevent failures and threats while reducing headaches and sleepless nights.