Moving to a New Office: Your IT Checklist

Moving offices can be stressful, especially in the modern digital world, so you want to make sure that you don’t leave your IT relocation to the last minute! 

Relocating office IT equipment often requires a lot of preparation because any sort of issue or error could end up causing a delay in services, which could result in significant losses for your company. 

However, having an IT office move checklist can help you to make the move as safely and efficiently as possible. 

Below, we’ve outlined some of the things you might want to include in your IT office move checklist to make the move a little easier!

1. Do a Site Visit

Planning a site visit with your IT support provider well in advance of the move allows you to evaluate the surrounding environments and IT service providers covering the area, as well as data cabling requirements. It will also achieve the following: 

• Assess the network, connectivity, and telephony ports of the location
• Examine the location’s power supply terms and related regulations
• Examine whether the new office will accommodate current IT equipment, including servers
• Confirm the positioning of the IT equipment, including power outlets and telephony ports
• Evaluate configuration needs for the premise.
• Assess the security of the site in terms of IT usage and equipment and data safety
• Examine whether you require any door entry systems so only authorised visitors can gain access.

2. Do a comprehensive IT Equipment Overhaul

At this point, it’s always worth examining your current IT-related equipment, including identifying which repairs, changes, and new purchases are needed for easier office transition. So your IT office move checklist might include the following: 

• Creating an updated inventory of current IT equipment 
• Noting down reinforcements needed for faulty equipment 
• Decluttering or upgrading existing IT equipment in line with the new office needs

3. Create an IT Services Inventory List

Documenting a list of services that currently facilitate day-to-day business activities is vital, and this inventory should include the list of service providers supplying your office with IT services, including any active services and services the business could do without. 

Through this inventory, you can then identify what IT services are no longer required, which can help you to decide which contracts you want to maintain or terminate.

4. Plan for Connectivity

Timing is critical when moving to a new office, and since IT-related issues can delay office productivity, it is crucial to set a date for internet installation.

Planning the installation of any internet and phone lines earlier on can help to eliminate any sort of downtime.

5. Implement Risk Mitigation Plan

Implementing a risk mitigation plan weeks or even months before moving can facilitate business continuity. Your IT office move checklist plan should factor in the following mitigations areas:

• Effective ways to back up data
• Cloud disaster recovery solutions 
• Emergency contact list
• Strategies for forwarding calls during the office move period
• Business continuity plan of action

6. Pre-Moving Preparation

Before moving, including the following in the IT office move checklist can make a significant difference.

• Identifying a convenient IT hardware moving logistic service provider. 
• Dissembling and arranging IT equipment a day before to save time
• Planning for floor-moving logistics – this is especially important is the new office is in a multiple-floor building
• Labeling IT equipment according to positioning and fragility
• Reminding staff to take care of their personal IT belongings
• Testing the new office for the network, phone, and power connectivity a day before

Everything is Set and Ready! 

Whether you have an in-house IT department or an outsourced IT support company, with a well-orchestrated IT office move checklist, your business operation can make a low-risk successful move to a new office. 

Want to know more?

If you’d like to know more about moving to a new office without affecting work and productivity then get in touch with ICT Solutions today!