Specialists to help you harness the power of IT for the success of your organization

More and more often managers are coming to our technology consulting team with questions. Can they get more value from their existing IT systems or do they need new systems, they ask. Do they have the right staffing? And because they depend so heavily on their IT systems, how do they manage the risk?

They also talk about being squeezed between customers who want access to the latest capabilities and their budgets. You could say this pinch is because of the slow economy, but for several years now IT departments have been asked to do more with less. And through a wide array of services, including IT assessments, our information technology consulting services have been successfully helping them increase the value they get from their technology investments, as well as improve IT processes and develop long-term strategies that make sure each new IT investment is the right one. 

Get a good return on your IT Investments In fall 2008, a survey by Computer Economics found 63 percent of the organizations surveyed would spend about the same on technology in 2009. 25 percent expect to spend less, and 12 percent expect to spend a bit more. We offer some suggestions to make the most of your IT investments.

IT assessment and strategic planning

Our technology consulting professionals have developed IT assessment and strategic planning tools that allow us to help clients develop a clear picture of where they are now and where they want to be in the future. Having this IT roadmap is important to achieving the efficiencies, effectiveness, and services that organizations expect as a return on their IT investments.

As a leader among technology consultants, our specialists at Plante & Moran bring a “business approach” to projects, so they help you support your strategic plans with suggested IT governance policies, administrative structures, and mechanisms to manage your technology investment and ensure accountability. 

Independent representation is best

And because of their independence, our technology consulting team can be the partner you need to implement your plans. You can depend on team members to help you develop RFPs, analyze proposals, and get you the best IT solutions at reasonable prices. In other words, our experienced professionals help you filter through the noise and find the solutions that fit your unique situation. 

Securing your data: managing risk

Concerned business leaders are asking us how to secure the IT systems and networks they are increasingly dependent upon. They want to keep their customers’ personal information safe. And they want to ensure the validity and integrity of the information they and their customers depend on.

Our technology consulting team includes specialists in security assurance and privacy compliance (HIPAA, SAS70, PCI, and GLBA). They have developed industry-specific methodologies to help you assess your existing controls and locate areas of risk through comprehensive IT risk assessments. When risk potential is uncovered, they will also offer suggestions to correct the weaknesses. 

Leveraging the web

Another group of specialists on our technology consulting team focuses on helping clients explore the potential of the World Wide Web and what it can mean to greater connectivity among its employees, business partners, and customers.

Always the technology consulting team is looking for ways to better harness the power of technology for the organizations we serve.