How to move your IT to new premises (Step-by-Step guide)

How to move your IT to new premises

If your company is moving to a new site, getting your IT systems up and operating is likely to be the most important task. Your move will be much less stressful if you have planned it thoroughly, especially in terms of technology.

A checklist will make moving your IT to new premises a lot easier and below are a few suggestions we have put together for you.

Relocating IT Systems:

1. Plan your move

Set a timetable for the relocating process and take inventory of any projects that may be affected. Determine how and when important business functions will be disrupted during the relocation. Consider your current location and all of its facilities, utilities, and other IT-related aspects to determine what you’ll need in the new location. Ensure that your internet service provider, carrier, and technology vendors are aware of your impending move so that they can adjust the management of your equipment. Obtain a complete budget by estimating the move’s costs and factoring in a reserve fund for moving your IT to new premises.

2. Visit the new site

Assign a specific location for each of the following: desktop computers and laptop computers, printers, scanners and routers. Identify your cooling, ventilation, electrical, and security needs for the server room. Make a complete floor plan of the office, including your workstations, IT infrastructure, fittings, and furnishings.

3. Evaluate your equipment

Take stock of your present IT resources and compile an inventory. Compare your existing IT infrastructure to the new location’s IT infrastructure. Make a list of your present communication needs and see if your new office can accommodate them. Take note of any upgrades that could be required. Determining where to put your equipment, peripherals, and connections is a critical step in the planning process.

Look at your current network cabling needs and decide if you need to expand or update it to meet the needs of your new location and industry standards. Review all of the IT upgrades and purchases that are coming up and decide if you can do them at the same time as the move to save time and make things easier. Plan to sell or dispose of old equipment. Figure out what you will do if your network goes down. One strategy could be to buy extra software or hardware to keep your business running while you move.

4. Back up your data

Before the move, it should be a top priority to make several full-recovery copies of your company’s data systems, firewalls, and servers. Separate the backups from the main system and store them someplace safe. In the event of a system failure, the backups are still accessible and protected. You can back up your systems to a public or private cloud. Tell your provider of the move to discuss security protocols, updates, and unique conditions.

6. Telecommunications check

Assess how to handle voice data throughout the move and setup. Take stock of your company’s communications devices. This covers your corporate phone system, handsets, smartphones, and other mobile devices to identify users’ needs and network strength. Determine what type and strength of internet access you require for company success. Determine how many phone lines you need and transfer your numbers. Inform your telecom provider of your move and negotiate call handling. Set up call forwarding and rerouting.

7. Applications check

In most cases, your IP address will change if you move offices. For your new office, you need to make DNS modifications so that your VPN on premise software and other equipment, such as CCTV, can be properly accessed via the internet. This is true for any on-premise servers you use, like Microsoft Exchange or a Windows File Server that lets remote users access files.

8. Network check

Ensure your systems and equipment are up and running properly following the move by performing a post-move test. Verify your new location’s phone number availability and the quality of your network connection. Call forwarding, server performance, email delivery, and more should all be tested as well.

9. Vulnerability Assessment

Now might be a good time to do a vulnerability assessment. Vulnerability and risk assessments are developed to detect vulnerabilities within your network and data. ASG has certified Security specialists who can assess your network with our vulnerability assessment tools and provide a plan to address your IT security concerns and your new premises.

10. Contact an IT relocating service provider

ASG provides outsourced IT services to more than 80 enterprises. When you move your IT system to a new location, we have a staff of more than 40 IT experts who are ready to help your business move to new premsises.