Most firms have IT. But few have an IT strategy.

There’s a big difference between having tools that work and having a technology plan that works for you. Whether you’re leading a design agency, an architecture practice, or a fast-moving marketing studio, a thoughtful IT strategy is what helps you scale smoothly, collaborate confidently, and sleep better at night.

Think of this not as an audit, but as a gut check. Below is a 10-question mirror to help you see where your tech stands, and where it might be quietly holding you back.

1. Do You Know Your Current IT Costs, And How They Scale?

Budgets love predictability. But IT costs can be sneaky, especially in creative and service-led industries. Are you tracking hardware, software, support, and subscription costs consistently? Or are surprise SaaS renewals and piecemeal fixes inflating your spend?

• Mature IT: Predictable, scalable, and visible costs tied to growth 
• Immature IT: Mystery charges and reactive spending sprees

2. Is Your Cloud Setup Optimised for Your Workflow?

Cloud tools are powerful - but only if they play nicely together. If your team has to jump between four platforms to complete a single task, or invent DIY workflows to fill gaps, your tech isn’t helping - it’s hindering.

• Mature IT: Integrated cloud ecosystem tailored to how your team works
• Immature IT: Frankenstein workflows, duplicate files, and lost time

3. Do You Have a Backup and Recovery Plan?

Ransomware doesn’t knock politely. If your firm were hit tomorrow, would you know how to restore data, client files, and key systems? Or would you be relying on “I think we have a backup somewhere”?

• Mature IT: Regular, tested backups and documented recovery playbooks
• Immature IT: Hope

4. How Do You Onboard and Offboard Staff?

Employee turnover is normal. Data leakage isn’t. If ex-staff still have access to email, Slack, or shared drives, you’ve got a silent risk ticking away.

• Mature IT: Automated, consistent access provisioning and revocation
• Immature IT: “Wait, do they still have the login?”

5. Are Your Systems Audited Regularly?

When’s the last time someone reviewed user permissions, patch status, or compliance posture? Security isn’t a set-and-forget deal.

• Mature IT: Scheduled internal or external audits to catch risks early
• Immature IT: “We fixed that… a couple of years ago, I think?”

6. How Resilient Is Your Remote Access?

Remote work is here to stay. But so is remote frustration, unless your access tools are seamless, secure, and scalable.

• Mature IT: Secure, fast, and user-friendly access from anywhere
• Immature IT: VPN lag, desktop disconnects, and constant IT tickets

7. Do You Measure IT Performance?

You measure campaigns, revenue, and project timelines; why not IT? If you're not tracking uptime, response times, or satisfaction, you’re flying blind.

• Mature IT: Clear SLAs, KPIs, and feedback loops
• Immature IT: “People will complain if it’s bad, right?”

8. Are You Cyber-Insured, And Compliant With the Fine Print?

Cyber insurance is only helpful if it pays out when you need it. Many policies require MFA, endpoint protection, or specific configurations that your current setup might not meet.

• Mature IT: Policy-aligned infrastructure and regular reviews
• Immature IT: Insurance that looks great on paper, until it doesn’t

9. Do Department Heads Help Shape IT Decisions?

IT shouldn’t live in a silo. If your creative or operations leads don’t have a voice in tech decisions, you’re likely missing context and buy-in.

• Mature IT: Cross-functional input, shared goals, and collaborative planning
• Immature IT: “IT is just support. Let them deal with it.”

10. Are You Planning IT for Growth, Or Reacting to Pain Points?

Tech strategy should be built like a city: with roads for future traffic, not just today’s rush hour. If you're always patching, firefighting, or duct-taping solutions, you're building fragility.

• Mature IT: Roadmaps, scalability planning, and strategic foresight
• Immature IT: Reactive fixes and yesterday’s problems still unsolved

Wrapping It Up

You don’t need a huge team or enterprise budget to have a grown-up IT strategy. What you need is clarity, consistency, and a habit of reflection.

These 10 questions aren’t meant to overwhelm - they’re meant to open a conversation. One, you should have every quarter. And if the answers leave you uncertain, that’s not a failure. That’s a signal.

Uncomfortable with your answers? Get in touch today to see how we can equip you with your own IT strategy.