In the increasingly competitive and tech-driven landscape, businesses that develop a formal IT strategy are better placed to serve clients efficiently, reduce risk, and align technology investments with business goals. Yet many businesses still rely on ad hoc IT decisions, often driven by immediate needs rather than long-term planning.
If you’ve been meaning to write an IT strategy for your business but aren’t sure where to start, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through the key components of a strategic plan and how to get started.
#What Is an IT Strategy for Business?
An IT strategy is a structured document that outlines how technology will support and enhance the organisation’s broader business objectives. It is a roadmap for decision-making, investment planning, and improvement. Importantly for many businesses, it must also consider regulatory compliance, client confidentiality, and sector-specific technology needs.
#Understanding the Current State of IT
Before setting goals or defining projects, it’s essential to assess your current IT environment:
-
Infrastructure and Applications: What hardware and software systems are in place?
-
Cybersecurity: Are your systems secure, and are you meeting regulatory standards like GDPR, or other industry specific regulations?
-
Support and Service: Do your users feel supported? How responsive is your IT team or provider?
- Usage and Satisfaction: Are staff using tools effectively, or are there recurring frustrations?
This self-assessment provides the baseline from which progress will be measured.
#Aligning with Wider Business Objectives
A strong IT strategy shouldn’t be created in isolation. It must reflect and support your organisation’s wider business goals, which may include:
-
Growing market share in specific practice areas
-
Improving profitability and matter efficiency
-
Enhancing client satisfaction
-
Adopting flexible or hybrid working models
For example, if your business is targeting growth in a specific discipline, the IT strategy might prioritise the right tools and technologies to support your aim.
#Gap Analysis
Once you understand both your current IT setup and your business ambitions, it’s time to identify the gaps:
-
Are your current systems scalable?
-
Is legacy software holding teams back?
-
Do you lack the analytics to support informed decision-making?
At this stage, a simple SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) or RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating can be useful to score the current technology stack and use it as a reference for future improvements.
#Setting Priorities
You can’t do everything at once, so prioritisation is key. Your focus will be unique to your organisation, so identify the issues causing the highest level of risk, inefficiency, and frustration.
Some areas tend to come up repeatedly, and examples include:
-
Business Continuity: Ensure critical services can withstand outages.
-
Cybersecurity: Protect client data and comply with regulations.
-
Core Systems: Upgrade line of business applications.
-
Productivity Tools: Enhance collaboration via email, document sharing, and communication apps.
- Training & Adoption: Help staff make the most of existing tools.
#Budget and Investment Planning
Many businesses often view IT as a cost centre. A good IT strategy reframes this view, showing how technology can drive value, reduce risk, and create efficiencies.
-
Forecast Costs: Include estimates for software licenses, consultancy, training, and maintenance.
-
Phased Approach: Spread investments over time for affordability and manageability.
-
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Include potential savings (e.g. automation reducing admin time).
Transparency is vital. Comparing planned vs. actual expenditure helps ensure accountability and builds trust.
#Timeline and Delivery
Create a clear roadmap for delivering change. A timeline should include:
-
Quick wins (immediate start): e.g. reconfiguring an existing system to work more effectively or improve usability for staff.
-
Short-term wins (3–6 months): e.g. upgrading email security, rolling out multi-factor authentication.
-
Medium-term (6–18 months): e.g. line of business application replacement.
-
Long-term goals (18+ months): e.g. cloud migration or organisation-wide AI initiatives.
Each milestone should have owners, success criteria, and risks noted.
#Final Thoughts
Developing an IT strategy for your business might feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by understanding your current position, align with organisation's goals, and take a practical approach to bridging the gaps.
Done right, your IT strategy becomes a valuable tool, supporting the wider ambitions of the business such as growth, improving client service, and positioning your business for the future.