A technical audit is an in-depth evaluation of an organization’s technology infrastructure. The objective is to determine weaknesses and strengths in the tech stack and ensure that it aligns with the business objectives. It’s a crucial step to take before beginning an exciting new project. It provides valuable information about how the technology will perform.
Tech audits differ from IT reviews and security assessments which focus more on evaluating systems for security and compliance. Tech audits look at all of the tools that your organization uses to do work, and analyze their effectiveness, efficiency, and integration with other technologies.
The details of a tech review will depend on the person performing it. It might be requested by the CFO who wishes to reduce costs for software, or by a team of leaders who want to become more efficient and agile.
A tech stack audit usually shows that different tools are used to perform the same tasks. As an example marketing teams could use Asana and Wrike and engineering might use Jira. Data doesn’t flow smoothly between departments, and there is no single source of truth.
Another frequent observation is that non-sanctioned applications are being used by certain teams or departments. While some of these may be useful and add value, they can also be risky when they’re not verified for security and integration with other technologies. A tech audit can give leaders a clear picture of what these tools are and how they’re being used, helping to determine whether they are appropriate to integrate into the overall technology stack.