The same faults keep coming back
An occasional issue is inevitable. A repeated problem deserves a different conversation: what is causing it, who owns it and what would prevent it? If workarounds have become normal, keep a short record of the impact on people and business activity. Patterns are more useful than a list of isolated tickets.
Your knowledge lives with one person
A colleague who knows every password, device and supplier may feel indispensable. But undocumented knowledge makes holidays, absence and changes harder to manage. Ask whether someone else could identify the important systems, access the right support contacts and understand how changes are approved. Do not put passwords into a general document; use an appropriately controlled approach.
New starters require a scramble
Joining and leaving should trigger a repeatable process. Device preparation, account access, licences and handovers need clear owners. If each new starter means urgent purchases or ad hoc permissions, a small amount of planning can make the experience more consistent and reduce avoidable access gaps.
Purchases happen only when something breaks
A replacement bought in a hurry may solve today’s issue without fitting tomorrow’s requirements. An asset list and a simple lifecycle plan give you a starting point for budgeting. Review which devices and systems are most important, their condition and any known dependencies before choosing priorities.
Nobody can explain the recovery plan
Knowing that a backup exists is different from knowing how work would resume. Ask what is covered, who would coordinate recovery and when a restore was last checked. Uncertainty here is a reason to review the plan, not a reason to assume an incident will happen.
Your next step
Gather three recurring frustrations, a rough view of your devices and your most important business systems. Use them to start a discussion about responsibilities, prevention and a realistic improvement roadmap. Fully managed support may suit a business without internal IT; co-managed support can add capacity to an existing team.