In our modern, fast-paced world driven by the ever-changing digital landscape, it’s never been more important for large and small businesses alike to employ the assistance of an IT support company. However, if you’ve narrowed down your choices and are about to sign a contract with an IT support service it’s also important not to rush into things. Have you done your homework? Are you familiar with the company’s ins and outs?
A quick online search will reveal hundreds, if not thousands, of managed IT companies who provide (and promise) a variety of digital services for the modern organization. While you will have little to no trouble locating a local IT service provider, it’s important to do your due diligence. Sure, finding a company is easy – but how do you know they’re the perfect fit for you and your own business? And what is an IT support service anyway?
What is IT Support?
IT support is an absolutely critical component of any modern business. Available both in-house and remote, an IT support service can provide proactive maintenance for the crucial digital assets and IT infrastructure your business relies on, such as your internet connection and unified comms.
So how do you know you’ve found the right IT support company? Before signing your contract, it’s important to do your due diligence by asking your IT company the following questions.
What Levels Of Support Do You Offer?
A professional IT support company will offer a variety of different service levels and will be able to tailor their packages to suit the needs of your business for a truly bespoke solution to your digital woes.
These levels of support should include a pay-as-you-go service, a break-fix service, and of course, a proactive fully managed service.
Pay-as-you-go support
Pay-as-you-go is the way to go if you are requiring IT support for a limited period of time or just simply when you need it. Pay-as-you-go normally entails an hourly rate or a fixed amount. It will be accessible when you need additional assistance.
Break-fix support
Break-fix support almost works like insurance. However, unlike pay-as-you-go, this level of service usually entails a fixed-price contract. Essentially, your IT support company will assist you in picking up the pieces after a disaster or crash. It’s important to note that with break-fix support, there will be no preventative measures in place to stop your tech from going off the deep end. Your IT support company will pick up the pieces though and get you and your business back on track.
Proactive support
With proactive support, your IT support company will essentially take full control over your digital assets and IT infrastructure. In return, your business will benefit from up-to-date software, a thorough disaster recovery strategy, and help with your internet connectivity as well as the implementation of cloud-centric apps and technology. Perhaps most important, a proactive service will see your digital system maintained and managed fully. This means any potential issues can be resolved before they escalate, which can further cement your business continuity, nurture growth and boost productivity.
Does The Contract Tie My Business In For A Specific Period?
The majority of IT support companies anticipate contracts with a minimum commitment and a cancellation notice period. It’s critical that both you and your chosen organization understand what to expect from one another.
What are your response times?
Although a ‘guaranteed’ response time does not always imply that your IT service provider is available at all times, your chosen company should still deliver a decent response time. If a problem with your digital infrastructure or internet access threatens your business’s continuity, your selected IT support provider should be there to help you as soon as possible – after all, that’s what you’re paying them for!
Do you provide remote management and monitoring?
Your IT service should be able to deliver both local and remote tech support – in fact, some companies even offer 24/7 monitoring and surveillance. For the security and stability of your business or organization, preventing an issue from escalating is obviously a concern. As a result, it makes sense to utilize a digital solution that actively monitors your network and IT infrastructure at all times.
Remote management also saves money on travel and can turn time-consuming issues into a series of brief, manageable tasks for your tech company. This translates to less downtime for you and your team.
Do you supply the IT infrastructure as well as tech support?
The benefit of outsourcing the management of your tech to a professional IT support company is that you’ll have a single point of contact for any issues that emerge. So, when it’s time to replace your IT infrastructure, whether that be physical hardware or digital assets, you should be able to ask your IT company to advise install and manage your new technology.
It’s also reassuring to know that your support business can locate any replacement parts for your technology if necessary. For that reason, it’s important to choose an IT support company that specializes in your specific infrastructure – so if you use Windows, for example, make sure you chose an IT company that has the expertise and knowledge in that particular operating system.
Final thoughts: Finding the right IT support company for your business
While finding tech assistance is a simple task, finding the correct support for you and your business can be a little more complex. Your chosen organization should align to the same values as your own, as well as take your business goals and aspirations into consideration.
To start off with, try searching a few different keywords with your location. You might try ‘IT Support Plymouth’ or ‘Tech Management Bristol’. It should be simple enough to filter down your options from there until you locate a provider that fits your needs. Just don’t sign with the first company you find!
Finding an IT support company for your business doesn’t have to be a hassle. At the end of the day, the organization you choose will come down to the distinct needs of your own business.
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