You’ve made the decision to outsource your IT support to a managed IT service provider. The hard part is deciding which IT support company will be best for you.
As you know, there are many IT companies available. Accent Computer Solutions has seen many IT companies leave and come as the IT industry changes over the 35 years we have been in business. Focustechs collaborates with the leading software developers to ensure we are able to draw on a vast understanding of. Delivering IT Support Skelmersdale services and strategies for mid- and small-sized companies across the UK and Ireland is our main area of focus.
How can you compare so many options? How can you choose the right one for your company?
We are here to assist you. These tips will help answer the question “How can I choose the best IT support provider for my business?”
Your advantage is their IT support agreement options
Outsourced IT has many support options. Every IT company has its own way of structuring their offerings. Be sure to align your expectations with the services offered by IT companies.
The outsourced provider can be fully managed or all-inclusive and you become your IT department. Fixed-fee agreements give IT management to the provider. This allows you to concentrate on your tasks and gives you the peace of mind that your technology is being handled with the appropriate expertise.
You may be looking for a co managed IT support agreement if you have an IT person within your organization. A co-managed, fixed-fee agreement allows the outsourced provider to work alongside your IT team. This will allow them to focus on more important tasks and give them additional insight on complex issues.
A diverse and strong team of IT support professionals is available to you
The modern IT environment for business requires expertise in cybersecurity, networking, support, systems administration, and other areas. To support your environment, you’ll need to ensure that there are enough IT professionals with different specialties. You should also ensure that they are available to assist if multiple employees have the same issue.
Many IT companies try to do it all with a small staff. This leads to people wearing multiple hats. IT professionals can double as salespeople or CEOs as lead engineers. This means that your provider may be busy with other tasks when you require help. You will get the best support if you work with a company that lets its employees focus on their jobs.
To improve your technology experience, we actively manage your relationship
Technology should be used to propel your business forward and not just keep it going. Your IT support provider should help you improve your technology usage, keep your technology plan on track, make suggestions, and follow through.
You should communicate with your Client Success Manager or Technology Advisor more than just support tickets. Meet regularly (weekly/monthly or quarterly depending on how quickly things change in your company) to review your priorities and assign resources. Also, report on the results.
They are able to identify the right organizations for their service offerings.
IT companies invest years perfecting their processes and procedures. They know who benefits from their services. But what they have created may not be the best for you. The service might not be enough for you if there are too many users. If you are more complicated than the typical client, their service or expertise may not be sufficient.
An IT service provider with experience will be able to identify the type and size of companies that would benefit from their services. They should also be open about not being the right fit for your company.
They are experts in your industry
You’ll see a difference in how they deliver their service when you partner with someone who knows your industry. They will be familiar with your industry’s compliance regulations and common issues.
Let’s say you are a medical group. You want to be able to treat as many patients as possible, while also providing the best care and data security. A healthcare IT provider can assist you in achieving your goals by providing the right support.
They are awarded, partners, and certified by their work.
IT is not the only industry that has things that make reputable companies squirm. Many IT companies promote awards they have won. While many of these awards are legitimate, some providers may pay to be “awarded.”
They go through a detailed, documented onboarding process
It takes time to get to understand each other, just like any relationship. While you both learn how to work together, it can be difficult to establish a relationship with your new IT support provider.
The IT provider should have a documented onboarding process in place to help you quickly access the information that you need. This will reduce the learning curve. It’s a lot of information.
Your immediate IT support needs will be addressed during onboarding. After all, you wouldn’t have changed providers if there weren’t any problems. These needs should be discussed upfront with companies that you are considering and inquire about their plans to address them.
They are serious about their security
This isn’t one of those “do what I say, not what I do” situations. Your support provider is the first line of defense for your business. Your business’s security is at stake if they fail to take cyber security seriously within their organization.
It is important to choose an IT support provider who listens to your needs and uses security best practices for their staff and infrastructure.
They have a proven track record of success
An IT company with more experience in providing a particular service is better equipped to offer it to your business.
A company that has a track record in IT support should be able provide customer reviews to show the quality and level of service they offer.
They have a documented procedure for dealing with support requests
Many IT support companies offer multiple ways to contact support. These include emailing, submitting tickets via a ticketing system or calling the help desk. It doesn’t matter what method of communication they use to contact support, there must be a documented process to handle requests.
Ask the IT companies that you are interviewing how they can help you and the support process.
