Where and when should you begin implementing the HSC guidelines? We recommend using the prioritization worksheet; we have already filled it in with recommendations from the security and backup guidelines. Along with items from your gap analysis, you should now have a list of technology projects that you should undertake - most likely too many for your current time and budget.
Use the prioritization worksheet and our recommendations on setting priorities for projects to help you come up with some clearer answers. You may have to go through this process more than once; as you get more details about your technology infrastructure that will inform your rankings.
Note: This process is by no means exact. Using numbers in the worksheet, and tallying up the totals will not give you an accurate answer - use a letter-ranking system (like A, B, C) to give you a general idea of what projects carry greater weight - and by all means trust your instincts. This is what technology consultants do, typically in their heads, weighing the priorities and pros and cons. The process usually requires compromise and inexact answers.
General recommendations on setting priorities:
Backup, backup, backup is a top priority.If you need to add or reconfigure a data back-up solution, do this as early in the process as possible. A good reliable backup is key, since there is always a small chance that an implementation task will go astray and result in data loss.
Put out the fires first. If there is an obvious security or stability issue, such as an unsecured router, a virus outbreak, or malfunctioning PC, address these issues first.
Work on the server before the client PCs.The process of installing, rebuilding, or reorganizing a server almost always requires some changes to the client PCs, so we recommend working on the server first, and then working on all the PCs second.
Grab the low-hanging fruit.If there are easy-to-accomplish tasks, such as minor changes to network hardware, go ahead and get these out of the way first, as small successes will help keep you motivated enough to tackle the bigger projects.
Do software upgrades all at once. If you need to upgrade software applications, do the upgrade for all staff in one pass. This allows everyone to be trained at once, in coordination with the software rollout, which simplifies the training and support process.
Worksheet 5: Prioritization