Quick, did you hear that? It was your network calling you, pleading for an upgrade. Oh wait, was that the sound of weeping desktops begging for a refresh? You know they’re there — the warning signs that it’s time for change. We tend to ignore them for a variety of reasons. For starters, change causes work stoppage, overtime, and budget explosions. But eventually, there’ll be no choice. Before that time comes, it’s best to heed the signs. Let’s examine 10 clear indications that your IT landscape is in need of change.

1: You can’t remember the passwords to your security equipment…

… and you’re not sure resetting them to factory defaults will actually work. When equipment gets old enough, you never know if a factory reset will even come back to life. The loss of passwords could easily lead to such a situation. Oh sure, the lesson here is to never forget your security information. But more than that, when passwords are lost, it could be a sign that it’s time to start replacing those ancient pieces of hardware.

2: Your support contracts have all run out

Some companies live and breathe by their support contracts. Without the contracts, those companies would surely die a slow, painful death. Many companies rely on support contacts only for particular pieces of software or hardware (especially when they’re costly). Other companies use support contracts only when absolutely necessary. Regardless, when all those support contracts have ended, it’s a good sign your software is out of date and in sore need of upgrading.

3: You’re still using ancient software

When was the last time you walked through your company to find out what versions of various software products were deployed? During that pass, did you happen to see anything seriously out of date? You’d be surprised at what’s out there. On occasion, I still see Windows 98 or NT machines or Windows XP machines running Office 2000. Ancient software can cause far more issues than you think. This is especially true when users collaborate with people in other companies (who are most likely NOT running Microsoft Office 98 or StarOffice).

4: Your company has become a hackers’ playground

If you keep getting hacked, something is amiss. Depending upon what is being targeted, this could be either hardware or software related. Either way, you may be facing poorly configured security hardware, buggy (or ancient) software, or lax security policies. One break-in is understandable. Multiple hacks? Not so much. If you’re attacked more than once, it’s time to make some major changes.

5: You’re falling way behind your competitors

There are companies out there not keeping up with the Joneses. Some might think this silly, but when other companies are passing you by, they can offer clients and customers a lot of features and products you can’t touch. Your competition can do this because they’ve taken advantage of the latest technology or they’re leveraging their systems and resources with imagination and groundbreaking innovation. You, on the other hand, have stuck with “what works” for so long it no longer works. If your competition is smoking you, it’s time to step back and examine your landscape to find out why you’re being left in the dust.

6: Network slowdowns are crippling business and productivity

How often do your end users complain of network slowdowns? Are your clients able to get quick access to your services or sites? If complaints are coming in faster than you can troubleshoot, it might be time to revisit that backbone. The amount of data being transferred through your pipes isn’t the same as it was five or 10 years ago. With so many more Web-based tools in play, data usage is through the roof. That ancient DSL or cable line needs to be upgraded in the worst way. Slow data means slow workers means a slowdown on profit. Share that with the board or the CEO and see how quickly they move on upgrading those data pipes.

7: You haven’t embraced mobile devices

How long have you shunned the mobile device? Are you still not allowing users to get their email on their smartphones? Do you not allow wireless on your network? If that’s the case, it’s time to wake up and join the new world order. Not only do you need to allow those devices on your network, you need to open up the Exchange floodgates for iOS and Android devices.

8: Your employees are jumping ship

There are many reasons why employees leave. But when you start hearing rumors that one of those reasons is horrible IT policies or support, you know it’s time to rethink things. No, you do not want end users to attempt to dictate IT policies. But at the same time, you don’t want your policies to be a contributing factor to high employee attrition.

9: You can’t support telecommuters

People need the ability to work from anywhere and everywhere. This isn’t nearly as difficult to manage as it once was, yet some businesses still refuse. Why? In some cases, their network infrastructure simply won’t handle the load or the task. If your infrastructure can’t handle a few telecommuters, it’s seriously time to upgrade.

10: You keep seeing HIPAA red flags

If your company falls under the HIPAA jurisdiction and you’re tossing red flags left and right, run (don’t walk) to the front of the infrastructure upgrade line and get your network/software/topology to follow the rules and guidelines set in place by HIPAA. This isn’t one of those situations where you have the luxury of dragging your feet. You have to move. Otherwise, you face some serious fines.

Time for a change

In all honesty, is your IT landscape up to par? Does it meet today’s needs and follow best practices in today’s demanding IT-centric world? If not, it’s time to take a hard look at what needs to change. If any of the problems listed here sound familiar, it may be time to shake off the shackles of “If it’s not broke…” and migrate to the here and now.