01 · IT Strategy
Know where you stand. Know what to fix first.
An independent review of your technology, security and costs, written as a ranked plan you own.
Sample roadmap
Quick winsBig projectsFill-insReconsider123456ImpactEffort
1
Turn on MFA for every account
2
Test a real restore
3
Replace the 2016 server
4
Cancel unused licenses
5
Move file shares to the cloud
6
Rewire the closet
Illustration with a fictional business
Dates that force decisions
After support ends there are no new security updates and no assisted support. These Microsoft dates are on the calendar.
Jul 14, 2026
SQL Server 2016, SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019
Oct 13, 2026
Office 2021, and the last year of paid extended security updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2
Jan 12, 2027
Windows Server 2016
Oct 12, 2027
SQL Server 2017
Dates vary by edition, so we check the ones you actually run. Sources: Microsoft Lifecycle, ending support in 2026 · Microsoft Lifecycle, ending support in 2027
Six questions a good plan answers
NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 organizes risk around these six functions. This is the plain-English version.
Govern
Who is accountable for technology decisions and risk?
Identify
What do we own, and what do we depend on?
Protect
What stops the common attacks and mistakes?
Detect
How would we notice something wrong?
Respond
Who does what when it happens?
Recover
How fast could we be back, and how do we know?
Source: NIST CSF 2.0 Small Business Quick-Start Guide (SP 1300)
Six areas, checked against evidence
Infrastructure
Hardware, network, servers and cloud, inventoried and assessed.
Security gaps
Endpoints, access and backups: where the plan has holes.
Software and licenses
What you pay for, what sits unused, what you need.
Cloud readiness
Cloud, on-premises or hybrid, and what each move involves.
Vendors and costs
An unbiased read of your invoices and contracts.
Backups and recovery
Evidence that backups restore, not just that they run.
Small organizations run an average of 152 SaaS apps, by one vendor’s count of its customers. A review finds which ones you still use. Zylo, 2025 SaaS Management Index
A plan you can hand to anyone
It is yours outright. Share it with staff, your accountant or any IT provider.
01
Findings
What we saw, where, and why it matters.
02
Roadmap
Now, next and later, in plain English.
03
Action plan
Ranked by risk, cost and business impact.
Roadmap sample
Now
MFA on every account
Test a restore
Next
Replace the 2016 server
Consolidate licenses
Later
Cloud file migration
Five questions to ask any assessor
A free assessment that ends in a sales pitch is not independent. Ask these before you say yes.
Ask
Our answer
Do you sell what you find?
No. We take no referral fees and carry no reseller quotas.
Who owns the report?
You do, outright.
Can another provider act on it?
Yes. It is written so any competent provider can.
Is every finding backed by evidence?
Yes: what we saw, where, and why it matters.
What if my setup is already fine?
We will say so.
Four steps, no surprises
Timing is set in the scope, because it depends on your size and complexity.
1
Scope
We agree what is in and out.
2
Look
We inventory and test, with as little disruption as we can.
3
Report
Findings and a ranked plan, in plain English.
4
Debrief
We walk through it together.
A good fit, and when it is not
A good fit when
- You have never had a formal IT plan or budget
- Your business is growing faster than your tech
- You are paying for tools you barely use
- You had a security incident, data loss or a close call
- You are weighing a move to the cloud
- You want an independent second opinion
Probably not needed when
- You already have a current, written plan that someone owns
- You need one specific fix, which is a support call, not a review
Built on real operations experience
Abe Garcia ran IT for a 200-person company before founding BitNetica. The roadmap comes from someone who has had to live with the decisions.
16 years
as Director of IT at a company of about 200 people
100+
virtual servers run in a VMware datacenter, with disaster recovery
M365
migration from hybrid Exchange, plus SOC 2 support work
10 · Next step
Stop guessing. Start with a conversation.
A free, no-obligation talk about your technology, and an honest read on whether a review would help.
FAQ
IT Strategy Consulting: common questions
How much does IT strategy consulting cost?
Every engagement is scoped to your situation. BitNetica doesn’t use one-size-fits-all pricing — you’ll get a clear estimate after your free consultation, with no obligation.
How long does an IT audit take?
It depends on the size and complexity of your environment, so we agree the scope and schedule up front. You’ll have a written report and a debrief call at the end.
Do I need to sign a contract?
No. BitNetica doesn’t require contracts or retainers. You pay for the engagement, and you own the results — including your roadmap document — outright.
Can you work alongside our existing IT person or vendor?
Yes. Some clients bring us in for an independent assessment while keeping their current IT support in place. The roadmap we deliver belongs to you — share it with whoever you choose.
Do you serve businesses outside of Woodstock?
Yes. BitNetica serves businesses across McHenry, Lake and Walworth Counties and northwest Chicagoland, including Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Barrington, Lake in the Hills, Gurnee, Libertyville and surrounding communities.
What size business do you work with?
Typically 5–100 employees. Small enough to need a personal relationship, large enough to have real technology complexity. If you’re not sure if you’re a fit, just call — it’s a free conversation.
What will I actually receive?
A written findings report, a plain-English roadmap with now, next and later, and a ranked action plan, followed by a debrief call. You own all of it.
Do you sell the hardware or software you recommend?
We take no referral fees and carry no reseller quotas. When we recommend something, we show the reasoning and the alternatives, and you buy it wherever you like.
Service area
IT Strategy Consulting across our region
We deliver this service on-site and remotely throughout McHenry County, the NW suburbs, and SE Wisconsin.
Related services
Businesses often pair this with
Managed IT Services
Flat-rate IT support and proactive management that keeps your whole business running, so you stop firefighting…
Cybersecurity
Layered protection against ransomware and phishing: MFA, endpoint security, email defense, and backups you can restore…
On-Prem / Cloud / Hybrid
The right home for your servers and data — on-premises, cloud, or hybrid — designed for…
Network Design, Setup & Support
Business networks built on Cisco, HPE/Aruba, and Ubiquiti — designed, secured, and supported by a local…
Ready to make your technology an advantage?
Free consultation, honest answers, no obligation.