About
Technology deserves independent oversight.
actually. is an independent IT audit and advisory practice in Toronto. We examine technology, cybersecurity controls, provider commitments and spending so business leaders can make decisions on evidence.
The founder
Three decades in business technology.
For more than three decades, Andre has worked in business technology as an entrepreneur, advisor and technology-services leader.
He founded his first technology business in 1995 and built it from a part-time operation into an established technology management and consulting company serving small and mid-sized organizations.
Over the years, he saw the industry from both sides. He saw the value that strong technology providers create.
He also saw the structural problem facing business owners: the same company responsible for selling, implementing, managing and monitoring the technology is often the only company explaining whether everything is working properly. A major conflict of interest.
He saw a shortcoming in the industry that has still not been fixed, and that is oversight and governance. Plumbers need licenses. Why not IT professionals?
Most business owners are not equipped to independently assess those answers. They should not have to be.
actually. was created to provide that independent perspective.
The audit practice
Know what is being examined, and by whom.
Andre founded actually. after three decades in business technology. His experience on the provider and client sides informs the practice's focus: the evidence behind what leadership is being told.
When discussing an engagement, ask who will carry out the work, which criteria will be used, what access is needed and which systems or time periods are excluded. The scope should make those responsibilities clear.
Our reports distinguish observations from conclusions and identify the limitations of the evidence examined. See an illustrative finding or read examples of the evidence an audit examines.
Your internal team or appointed provider operates the technology and implements changes. actually. examines, reports and can verify follow-up work. Read what independence means for the engagement.
Mission
To bring independent oversight, evidence and accountability to business technology.
We believe every business leader should be able to understand:
The term
What is technology assurance?
actually. is an independent IT audit and advisory practice in Toronto that examines the evidence behind what IT providers report to the businesses they serve. It checks the evidence behind what is reported about security, backups, spending and strategy, and reports what it finds in plain language. It does not sell or manage IT, and it takes no vendor commissions, so it has no stake in the answer.
Vision
A business technology industry where trust is supported by evidence.
Our vision is not to undermine technology providers. It is to raise the standard of governance across the industry.
We want responsible providers to be recognized for good work, incomplete work to become visible and business leaders to make better-informed decisions.
Principles
How we do the work.
Tell the truth clearly
We do not hide important findings inside technical language.
Follow the evidence
A dashboard, invoice or verbal assurance is not always sufficient.
Respect the people doing the work
Technology is complex. Problems are not automatically evidence of negligence.
Put the business first
Technology should support safety, service, productivity, profitability and growth.
Recommend only what is necessary
More technology is not always better technology.
Make accountability constructive
The objective is improvement, not blame.
Know what is happening. Understand what matters. Decide what comes next.
Start a conversation.
Keep reading
Where to go next.
Why a second opinion on your IT provider
We do not sell the tools we assess and take no commissions. What that changes about the answer you get.
Case studiesTwo reviews, both kept their provider
What an independent review found in practice, and why neither business changed provider afterwards.
ContactRequest an independent review
A short form, a reply from a person, and a sample report if you want to see one first.