...Before Letting Them Touch Your Network
As businesses have become ever more dependent on technology, IT services providers have been popping up left and right. Theyâve all got different strengths, capabilities and price points to consider. Some charge you by the hour and, while available to address any concerns you may have, they are pretty hands-off. Others are working on your network around the clock but charge more in turn. Many may boast an impressive record when working with a broad range of companies, but lack the experience necessary to understand the ins and outs of your specific industry. Some cost way too much month-to-month, while others try the âbargain binâ approach, but as a result, canât afford to field the staff needed to respond to issues in a timely fashion.
Thereâs certainly a lot to consider when looking for an IT services provider for your business. And if youâre not particularly knowledgeable about information technology yourself, it can sometimes feel like youâre going into the process blind.
To suss out whether an IT company will mesh with your businessâs workflow and industry specific requirements, itâs important to vet them thoroughly. The key is to ask the right questions. Here are four that will allow you to zero in on any IT companyâs priorities and strengths, and help you determine whether theyâre a good fit for your organization.
1. DO YOU TAKE A PROACTIVE OR âBREAK-FIXâ APPROACH TO IT?
When your car breaks down, you take it to the shop and you get it fixed. The mechanic charges you for the work done and for the parts, and then sends you on your way. Many business owners consider their computer network to be the same kind of deal. Why not just wait until an outage happens and then call up somebody who charges by the hour to fix it? That way, they imagine, they wonât be paying for âextraâ services they think they donât need.
But unfortunately, unlike your car, when your network is out, youâre losing dollars every single minute. The cost of a network outage is difficult to overstate â not only will it bring your business to its knees while itâs out, but itâll frustrate customers and employees and result in a cascading set of problems.
Instead of a âbreak-fixâ technician on hand, you need a managed IT services provider. These experts work directly with your company to optimize your network and its security at every turn, and are available nearly any time to address your concerns. And theyâre genuinely invested in providing the best service possible, since itâs in their best interest as well.
2. WHAT IS YOUR GUARANTEED RESPONSE TIME?
Weâve all needed something fixed before and had to wait for hours, days or even weeks before anyone bothered to come by and solve the problem. Donât let that happen to your business. If a company canât guarantee a response time, itâs probably not a company you want to be working with.
3. WHAT WILL COST ME EXTRA?
This question is particularly important if youâre looking at a managed services provider (which you should be). The last thing you need is for a crisis to strike, only to discover you need to shell out a bunch of surcharges to get your network back up and running. Make sure the costs and services included are crystal clear before you sign anything.
4. HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?
As scrappy as the ânew kid on the blockâ may be, you donât want them in charge of one of the most important aspects of your business. Make sure any IT professionals you do business with have extensive experience not only in IT, but in your particular industry as well. That way theyâll know exactly what to do to optimize processes and keep your data under lock and key.
Have any questions? Would you like a free third party review of your current network and cybersecurity solutions? Call CTTS today at (512) 388-5559.