Running an information technology department is harder than you think

Sure, you can just wank out a couple of PCs, some switches, some servers-that-ought-to-be-PCs, play Quake and wait for users to call so that you can sneer at them. But that doesn't mean that you're running an IT Department. It means that you have your definition of IT wrong.

Doing it right is frickin' hard.

If you're doing it right, you're at least thinking about the following (and, man, I shoulda never started this... I keep thinking about more and more):

Documentation

• Network addressing
• Patch panel & cable labeling
• SOP
• Maps
• Change logs (SEE Network Management->change control)
• Documentation Automation
• Informal channels

  Desktop & User Management

• User provisioning / deprovisioning
• Standards, current & future
• Desktop OS
• Applications
• Policies
• Policy enforcement
• User-installed software
• Auditing
• Software / workstation inventory
• Remote Control
  • Central IT
  • 3rd party vendor (vertical apps)
• Application deployment & imaging
• Printing
• Backup

  Network Management

• Storage & backup
• Time synchronization
• Operating systems
  • Current
  • Planned
  • Patch management
  • Security
  • Internal hosts
  • Bastion hosts
• Polling & Paging
• Statistical analysis
  • Physical resource
  • Datalink
  • Network
  • Application
• Security - general
  • Perimeter
  • Internal LAN/WAN
  • External sites
  • Remote access
  • Active content
  • Partitioning
  • Logging
  • Authentication
  • Awareness / staffing
  • Auditing
  • Scofflaw issues
• Change control
  • Scheduling
  • Logging
  • Automation
• Addressing
  • IP
  • MAC
  • Name resolution
• Directory services/Authentication
• Problem resolution tools & standards
  • Proactive
  • Reactive

  Physical Plant

• Data Centers & Closets
  • Uninterruptable power
    • Battery
    • Generator
    • Automated shutdown & notification
  • Climate control
  • Cable routing
  • Building codes
• Telecomm
• Hardware maintenance
• Tools
• Inventory control
• Physical security

  Internal Staff Work Flow

• Primary/Backup responsiblity system
• Work order system
• Quality of work
• Follow up
• Staff capacity
• Efficiency
  • Economies of scale
  • Remote work travel
• Work Measurement / Metrics
• Experience, training, and retention
• Post-employment deprovisioning

Gimme a while to hardlink here... ;-)