IT Trenches

May 13 2008   4:06PM GMT

To be done: an acquisition/merger checklist



Posted by: Troy Tate
anti-virus, antivirus, CIO, DataCenter, DataManagement, email, howto, LAN, malware, Metrics, Microsoft Windows, Monitoring, Networking, reporting, research, Security, tools, WAN

An acquisition or merger is not a frequent event for my organization. However, it seems like in the past year or so we have worked on a number of these activities. So, it seems like it may be time to create a formalized checklist for the IT department items that need to be addressed during an acquisition.

To get the ball rolling, I am listing some items that I consider to be important to the infrastructure/security folks like me. I know this list is not exhaustive or complete. It is a work in progress and will need to be refined for each event since they are all different. Some of these may be done in the due-diligence but the rubber hits the road during the implementation.

So, without further ado:
Absorbing a new acquisition – to do list (general & incomplete)

  • Private WAN connectivity – 30-90 days or more lead time depending on location
  • flexible IP addressing scheme to absorb devices on new network(s)
  • Internet firewall changes – ports, source addresses, NAT, etc.
  • DNS ownership and management
    • changing registrars
    • changing DNS nameservers – use a dig tool to get information concerning current configuration – MenAndMice
  • Network hygiene – how clean are the devices and what personnel habits need to be changed?
  • Device inventory – what effort will it take to do this?
  • Software licensing inventory
  • What about handling loss of staff & knowledge?
    • Documentation of processes, procedures, configurations?
  • Phone list sharing
  • E-mail addressbook sharing
  • E-mail system integration
    • anti-spam/anti-virus
    • calendar sharing
  • ERP process integration
  • Resource access permissions
  • Financial reporting integration – accounts payable, receivable, tax, etc.
  • Staff reporting structure
  • Other HR activities – benefits, payroll, etc.

I welcome your insight and experience on the many other activities you feel is important to address during a merger/acquisition.

Thanks for your time. Let’s be good network citizens together & practice safe networking!

Comment on this Post

Leave a comment: