List the systems the business cannot operate without
Record email, files, accounting, line-of-business applications, websites, internet, phones and important devices. Note who owns each account, where administration access is stored and what would happen if the system stopped for a day.
Review users, administrators and old access
Confirm each current staff member has an individual account, remove access for former staff and avoid sharing administrator credentials. Use MFA, separate daily and administrative accounts where appropriate, and protect account recovery details.
Check whether backups are complete and restorable
Identify which cloud and local data is actually backed up, how long versions are retained and who receives failure alerts. Restore a sample file. Synchronisation alone may copy deletion or corruption rather than preserve a clean recovery point.
Check devices and network basics
Record computers, operating-system support, endpoint protection, warranty status, network equipment and Wi-Fi coverage. Look for unsupported systems, unmanaged personal devices, exposed remote access and recurring faults that have never been properly diagnosed.
Turn findings into a short priority list
Separate immediate security or continuity risks from improvements that can be scheduled later. Assign an owner, expected outcome and budget range to each item. If the list keeps growing, a Support Pass or Managed IT arrangement may be more efficient than repeated emergency work.
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