Technical audits are an assessment of the technology infrastructure of an organisation. The objective is to identify weaknesses and strengths within the technology stack, and to ensure that it is in line with your goals for business. This is a vital step to be taken prior to launching a new project and provides invaluable insight into how technology will perform.
Tech audits differ from IT reviews and security assessments which focus more on assessing systems in terms of compliance and security. Tech audits review all the tools your organization uses to work, their efficiency as well as their costs and integrations with different technologies.
The details of a technology review will depend on the individual conducting it. It could be requested by a CFO who is looking to cut costs for software or motivated by a leadership team who want to be more efficient and agile.
A tech stack audit usually reveals that different tools are employed to perform the same tasks. For instance, engineers might utilize Jira, while marketing teams utilize Asana and Wrike. Data doesn’t flow smoothly between departments, and there is no one source of information.
Un-sanctioned apps are also frequently utilized by specific teams or departments. Certain apps could be useful and have value but they can also be a risk, particularly if security and integrations aren’t vetted. An audit of technology can give leadership visibility into what these tools are and how they are being used, helping to determine whether they can be integrated into the overall technology stack.