Understanding Redeployment: How a Managed IT Service Can Help

In IT, redeployment involves resetting your company’s technical assets or using them for a new purpose. These assets could include hardware (such as computers) or software applications.

Over time, your business is going to grow and change, which means that your technical needs will change too. When this happens, you’ll need to redeploy the technologies you already have and make room for new ones.

There are many scenarios in which a redeployment could be necessary, and it’s always helpful to have a redeployment strategy in place ahead of time. Keep reading to learn why redeployment is so important and how a Managed IT Service Provider can help.

Key Takeaways

• Redeployment is the process of resetting or repurposing assets like equipment or staff.
• Redeployment is often necessary in IT to keep your systems up-to-date and running efficiently.
• Planning for potential redeployments ahead of time will make the process less disruptive.
• Managed service providers can help you redeploy your existing equipment in a way that supports your technical needs and goals.

What is Redeployment?

In IT, redeployment is a process used to reset or reassign tech equipment and tools.

There are many reasons why you might use redeployment in this context. Some common examples of redeployment in IT include:

• Moving or repurposing equipment: Just because you’ve invested in new hardware doesn’t mean you should throw your old equipment away. Redeployment might focus on using old machines for less critical tasks or reconfiguring your servers to accommodate changing demands.
• Resetting or migrating applications: When your team starts a new project, you might need to reset an application you’ve used in the past. In this case, redeployment is necessary to give your team a fresh start and ensure they have the right digital framework to do their jobs. Applications may also need to be redeployed when moving from on-premise servers to the cloud.
• Recovering assets: If you experience a cybersecurity incident, you may need to redeploy your equipment to get your systems up and running again. For example, you may need to re-organize your servers for more secure data storage or redeploy software to restore your normal operations.

Why is Redeployment Important?

Most organizations with digital operations will need to conduct some form of redeployment at some point in their work. In many cases, redeployment is essential to the long-term success and efficiency of the organization. 

Here are 3 reasons why redeployment is important for your organization:

1. Adapt and Compete: Redeployment helps you adapt to the current tech landscape and stay competitive. It allows you to rethink the way you’re currently operating and implement new, more powerful technology. 

Redeploying software to the cloud is a great example of this. Before the widespread use of cloud technology, many companies had to use on-premise servers to keep their systems running. 

However, as cloud technology became more widely accessible, on-premise servers became an unnecessary expense. Redeploying to the cloud helped companies cut costs while maintaining their operations. Now, 87% of organizations have a multi-cloud strategy. 

2. Recover: Having a redeployment policy in place also helps your organization recover quickly in the event of a data breach or other cybersecurity incident. It’s important to be able to reset your systems quickly to prevent financial losses and damage to your reputation. This approach can also help you bounce back faster from internal errors.

3. Sustain: Finally, redeployment is key to the long-term sustainability of your organization. Getting rid of your old hardware every time you need to implement new technology creates unnecessary waste. It can also be difficult to dispose of old technology safely. 

Redeploying this hardware will help you make the most of your technology for as long as possible.

Tips for Equipment Redeployment

Use these tips to help the equipment redeployment process run smoothly.

• Develop redeployment plans early. When you acquire a new piece of equipment, consider what redeployment will look like when that asset reaches the end of its lifecycle. Even if redeployment is several years away, it never hurts to start planning ahead of time. This way, you won’t have to scramble in the event of an emergency.
• Consider system compatibility. Before you redeploy a piece of equipment, consider how this shift will affect the rest of your operations. For example, if you are redeploying a server, will this affect your data storage? Will you need to reconfigure your software programs? Address these considerations now so that redeployment does not disrupt your workflow.
• Keep up with equipment maintenance. If you notice a potential problem with a piece of equipment, address it right away. Keeping your equipment in good condition will help extend its lifespan. Test each piece of equipment thoroughly before redeployment and correct any bugs or other issues. You may also need to refurbish equipment as part of your redeployment strategy.
• Evaluate the financial impact of redeployment. Consider how redeployment will affect your budget. Ideally, redeployment should reduce your equipment maintenance costs, even if it requires some up-front investment. In many cases, redeployment will also improve your team’s productivity, which can benefit your organization’s bottom line.
• Offer redeployment training. Prior to redeployment, train your employees on your new system configuration. This way, they’ll be able to dive right into work as soon as redeployment is complete. This also gives your team an opportunity to ask questions ahead of time and prevent confusion among your team members.
• Consider compliance ramifications. Many organizations have strict digital compliance standards to adhere to, particularly in industries like finance and healthcare. If this is the case for your organization, consider how your redeployment will affect compliance. Once your new equipment is in place, make sure it is properly configured for compliance, particularly in terms of customer data privacy.
• Plan for downtime. No matter how organized you are, you’re likely to have some system downtime during the redeployment process. Schedule this downtime so that it doesn’t interfere with your normal operations. For example, you may need to launch the redeployment at night so that the rest of your team can still get work done during the day. If your website will be offline, let customers know ahead of time as well.
• Monitor your systems afterward. Keep an eye on your systems for a trial period after redeployment. Correct problems quickly to prevent them from escalating. Observe what went well and what could be improved for future redeployments.

How Can a Managed IT Service Provider Help?

Managed service providers are third-party IT experts who can work with your company to handle IT services. Managed service providers help growing companies implement, maintain, and scale their IT operations. 

Working with a managed service provider is a cost-effective option for organizations that don’t have the budget for a full in-house IT team, or who need specific expertise they don’t have in-house.

A managed IT service provider is an invaluable ally in the redeployment process. They will keep a very close eye on your systems and can identify opportunities for improvement. 

If you’re running a risk of redundancy or have systems that will soon become outdated, they will let you know as soon as possible. Then, you can work together to develop a strategy for redeployment.

Many small companies don’t have the time or budget to conduct a redeployment on their own. If this is the case for you, a managed IT provider will help you plan and execute your redeployment. This way, you can make your operations more efficient without compromising the rest of your operations.