His team uses reports in numerous ways, including as a way to show server and network performance. "The application that we use allows us to show our percentage of uptime across the enterprise," he says. This allows him to prove IT's successes throughout the year.

Reporting is also useful to help efficiently schedule maintenance. Moeller says he can see when his servers and other enterprise equipment are available to be worked on with minimum disruption to users.

Finally, reporting programs show his team network anomalies and allow him to be proactive in fixing problems. "I don't want my boss to find something wrong before I do," he says.

4. Review your event logs

With enterprise use easing up over the holidays, Moeller says his team will take the time to closely review event logs. "We'll be able to identify any possible intrusion attempts and security breaches," he says.