Digital Devon Wayfinder
Checklist
This is not a test – the Wayfinder works best when you know your starting point. Use this list to find your gaps, then jump to the waypoints where you need the most support.
Fast, reliable broadband in place for cloud, AI and video
You don't lose video calls, cloud tools don't lag, and uploads don't crawl. FTTP or equivalent in most cases.
Devices and operating systems less than five years old
No one is working on hardware too old to run current software updates. Anything four to five years and over needs reviewing.
Multi-factor authentication on all critical accounts
Email, banking, cloud storage, accounting - the accounts that would really hurt if breached. MFA on by default for every user.
Automated, off-site, tested backups
Backups happen without anyone remembering, they live somewhere other than the office, and you have actually restored from one to check it works.
Staff cyber awareness training in the last year
Phishing, password hygiene, what to do if something looks wrong. You can name when the team last did this.
GDPR obligations understood and documented
Privacy notice in place, you know what personal data you hold and why, and you have a process for handling subject-access or deletion requests.
AI tools in use or being actively explored
Doesn't have to be sophisticated. Copilot in email, ChatGPT for drafting, transcription tools - if AI is part of someone's weekly workflow, that counts.
AI and data acceptable-use policy in plac
Staff have something written down telling them what they can and can't paste into AI tools, and what data is off-limits.
A named senior owner for digital and AI
One person at director or owner level who is accountable for digital decisions. Not necessarily technical - just the buck-stops-here person.
Skills gaps identified and being addressed
You know which teams or roles need development, and there is a plan in place. Not just a vague intention to do some training.
HR and IT collaborating on workforce planning
When new tools or AI come in, HR is in the conversation early - not just dealing with the fallout afterwards.
What to do next
0-4 ticks: at the trailhead
You are at the beginning of your journey. That’s a great place to start – and the Wayfinder is designed to help businesses exactly where you are. Begin with Waypoint 1 (Connectivity), then move through Waypoints 2 and 3 (Systems & Hardware, Cybersecurity). These are the foundations everything else builds on.
5-8 ticks: on the path
You have made real progress. The foundations are mostly in place. Now focus on the waypoints where you scored gaps – particularly Data (Waypoint 4), AI (Waypoint 5) and Skills (Waypoint 8). These are where Devon businesses typically find the biggest next-step gains.
9-12 ticks: deep in the forest
You’re well on your way to being a future-ready digital business. The challenge from here is in the later waypoints: Trust (7), Culture (9) and Structure (10). These are where mature digital businesses differentiate themselves – and they tend to be the hardest to get right.
