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Managed IT2025-01-08
New Year Technology Checklist for Maine Small Businesses
Start the year with a practical technology review checklist for Maine small businesses including Microsoft 365 audit, backup verification, device inventory, and cybersecurity baseline checks.
Accounts and access review
- Review all user accounts. Disable accounts for people who left or changed roles.
- Verify MFA is enabled on every account that supports it.
- Audit admin access. Remove elevated permissions from anyone who no longer needs them.
- Reset passwords for shared accounts and service accounts.
Backup and recovery verification
- Run a test restore of at least one critical file or system.
- Review backup scope. Are any new data sources or applications missing?
- Verify offsite or cloud backups are current and accessible.
- Update recovery documentation with any changes from the past year.
Hardware and software inventory
- List all business computers with age, warranty status, and operating system version.
- Identify devices that need replacement in the coming year and budget for them.
- Review all software subscriptions. Cancel unused licenses and consolidate where possible.
- Check network equipment age and firmware update status.
Planning for the year ahead
- Set a technology budget for the year including planned replacements and projects.
- Schedule quarterly backup tests and security reviews now so they do not get skipped.
- Document goals: new locations, added staff, software changes, or upgrades to plan for.
- Schedule a review with your IT provider to align on priorities for the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a new year technology review take?
For most small businesses, a thorough review takes 2-4 hours. The time investment is small compared to discovering a missed backup, expired license, or compromised account later in the year when it causes a problem.
What is the single most important thing to check?
Backup verification. Confirm backups are running, complete, and restorable. Everything else can be fixed. Lost data often cannot.
Need help?
Maine CyberTech helps Maine businesses start the year with a thorough technology review. Contact us to schedule a new year technology assessment.
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