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Before you let go

The exit plan.

If you're thinking about a change with your IT person or provider, collect and verify these first, while cooperation is still possible. They are numbered because the order matters.

Non-negotiables

Secure these before anything else.

  1. 01

    Who owns your domain?

    Your domain is the front door to the website, the email and most of your logins. Get the registrar name and the login. If it sits under someone's personal account, move it before anything else.

  2. 02

    Who has admin on your email?

    Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, someone on the leadership team needs the global admin login. If one person holds it and leaves, every inbox in the company goes with them.

  3. 03

    Do you have admin on your business software?

    Accounting, CRM, the tools your trade runs on. For each one, a leader needs an admin login of their own. Not a shared one. Not a borrowed one.

  4. 04

    Where are the backups, and can you reach them?

    Ask where they live, how often they run and when one was last restored. If the answer is vague, or only one person can get to them, treat them as missing.

  5. 05

    Is anything written down?

    Network diagram, password list, vendor contacts, licences, how-tos. Get a copy. If there isn't one, that tells you something too.

Next

Then these, in the same week if you can.

  1. 06

    Who controls the phone system?

    RingCentral, Teams Phone, 8x8. They all run from a web portal. If it was set up under a personal email, transfer it now while everyone is still talking.

  2. 07

    Who manages the security tools?

    Antivirus, firewall, remote monitoring, VPN. Whoever holds those consoles holds your security. Make sure that's you.

  3. 08

    Are the licences in the company's name?

    Subscriptions and cloud services should be billed to and registered under the business. Check the payment method and the account owner on each one.

  4. 09

    Can you get into your network gear?

    Routers, firewalls, switches, access points. Each has an admin password. If nobody else has them, you're one departure away from a network you can't touch.

  5. 10

    Do you have a list of every IT vendor?

    Internet, phone, software, hardware warranty, hosting. Make sure the company has its own account with each one, not a relationship that runs through one person.

This is a starting point. Every company is different. If you want someone to walk through it with you before you make a move, it stays confidential.

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