Task list for an IT Manager

Effective IT management requires a well-organized approach to ensure smooth daily operations, timely issue resolution, and strategic growth alignment. This comprehensive task list for IT Managers categorizes responsibilities into Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly activities, providing a clear roadmap to maintain system health, enhance security, support users, and plan for future technology needs. By following this structured breakdown, IT leaders can balance immediate operational demands with long-term strategic initiatives, driving efficiency and resilience across their organizations.

Here is the task list for an IT Manager categorized into Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly tasks. This structured breakdown ensures proper operational oversight, proactive planning, and strategic alignment.

✅ Daily Tasks

Task	Description
Monitor System Health	Check performance of servers, network, backups, and cloud services.
Review Helpdesk Tickets	Assign, follow up, and resolve support issues in a timely manner.
Security Checks	Scan for malware alerts, review logs for suspicious activity.
User Support	Handle escalated user requests, access issues, or urgent hardware/software needs.
Email and Communication	Respond to internal queries, vendor updates, and project correspondence.
Check Backup Status	Verify that overnight backups were completed successfully.
Team Coordination	Quick sync with team members, set priorities for the day.

📅 Weekly Tasks

Task	Description
Backup Testing	Test backup integrity on sample files or databases.
Patch & Update Review	Deploy or schedule OS, software, firmware, and application updates.
System Performance Review	Analyze system utilization, bandwidth, and bottlenecks.
Helpdesk Performance Review	Analyze ticket trends, user satisfaction, SLA compliance.
Weekly IT Team Meeting	Review progress, roadblocks, task assignments.
Project Updates	Track ongoing IT project milestones and timelines.
Asset Movement Tracking	Update inventory with newly assigned or retired equipment.
Internal Training or Knowledge Sharing	Conduct mini sessions or send educational resources.

📆 Monthly Tasks

Task	Description
Security Audit Review	Review firewall logs, login attempts, permissions, and audit trails.
Capacity Planning	Evaluate storage, memory, network usage to forecast future needs.
Disaster Recovery Drill (or Readiness Check)	Ensure DR plan is updated and staff are trained.
Software License Compliance	Check for license expirations and usage against entitlements.
Vendor Performance Review	Assess service quality and support from IT vendors.
IT Budget Monitoring	Track IT expenses against budget, identify cost overruns.
User Access Review	Validate permissions and disable unused accounts.
Documentation Updates	Update system diagrams, SOPs, and knowledge base articles.
Management Reporting	Submit summary of KPIs, incidents, and progress to leadership.

📈 Yearly Tasks

Task	Description
Annual IT Strategy Review	Align IT goals with business objectives; update IT roadmap.
Budget Planning for Next Year	Prepare and submit IT budget proposals.
Full Security Audit	Conduct penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance checks.
Disaster Recovery Full Test	Simulate a complete DR scenario and assess recovery time.
Hardware Lifecycle Review	Plan for upgrades/replacements of aging devices and servers.
Software License Renewals	Renew or renegotiate annual contracts and subscriptions.
Employee IT Training	Organize formal training for cybersecurity, new tools, etc.
Review and Update IT Policies	Refresh AUP, security, BYOD, data handling, and privacy policies.
Performance Reviews	Evaluate IT team performance and set new KPIs.
IT Asset Audit	Conduct full inventory check and reconcile with records.
Cloud & Infrastructure Cost Optimization	Review and optimize cloud usage and hybrid infra costs.