12Jan 2027
Windows Server 2016 leaves support
After 12 January 2027 Microsoft stops shipping security fixes for Windows Server 2016. A roadmap that ignores that date becomes an unbudgeted emergency.
Source: Microsoft Lifecycle Policy
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An IT strategy your board can read and fund.
Most IT spending is decided one invoice at a time. A roadmap turns it into a plan: what you will invest in, in what order, at what cost, and why each item matters to the business.
What it covers
IT strategy and roadmap
Current state assessment
Systems, contracts, staff, risks and obligations reviewed together, so the plan starts from what you really have, not what the last provider said you have.
Priorities tied to the business
Every initiative is linked to an objective: growth, client service, regulatory standing or risk reduction. Anything that cannot be linked is questioned.
A costed, multi year roadmap
Typically three years, with costs, dependencies and timing for each item, so big expenses arrive as planned rather than as emergencies.
Budget and cost control
Running costs separated from projects, licences and contracts reviewed for duplication and waste, and spend reported against plan.
Lifecycle planning
Hardware refreshed on a schedule and software retired before support ends, so the roadmap never collides with a vendor deadline.
Quarterly review
The roadmap is a working document: reviewed with management each quarter and updated as the business changes.
- COBIT
- ITIL 4
- Microsoft Lifecycle Policy
How we do it
Assess
We interview leadership, review systems and contracts, and document risks and obligations.
Prioritise
Initiatives are scored for business value, risk reduction, cost and effort.
Plan
You receive a costed roadmap and budget, phased over the planning period.
Review
We track delivery and spend, and refresh the plan every quarter.
Field notes
Worth knowing
3–5years
Hardware ages on a schedule
Most firms plan laptops on three to four years and servers on five. Spreading the refresh into a monthly line removes the capital shock.
GABCO field practice
What you receive
- IT health assessment and findings report
- Costed, multi year technology roadmap
- Annual IT budget with spend tracking
- Hardware and software lifecycle register
- Quarterly roadmap review with management
Questions
How long does it take to produce an IT roadmap?
It depends on the size of the organisation and how well documented the current environment is. We agree the timetable at the start, after a short scoping conversation.
Do we need a roadmap if our IT works today?
Yes, if you want it to keep working. A roadmap catches end of support dates, contract renewals and capacity limits before they become urgent, and gives the board a clear view of what is coming.
Can the roadmap support a budget request to the board?
That is one of its main purposes. Each initiative carries its cost, timing and business case, in language a board can approve.
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Talk to us about IT strategy and roadmap
Tell us what you're working on. We'll listen, ask the right questions and recommend a practical next step. No obligation.
info@gabcoenterprises.com+1 345 769 4222