Are you ready to upgrade your IT department? That’s not surprising. With how vital technology is these days, you can’t afford to use outdated computer equipment.
That’s why many people turn to managed IT companies to help. It’s so popular that the IT consulting market is now a $526 billion industry.
The question is, do you know what to look for when you hire a managed IT company? Keep reading to learn how to find managed IT services in your local area that can do the job.
Look for the Right Expertise
A lot goes into IT infrastructure, and your company may not need everything. Every business is unique, so it pays to understand your needs before searching for an IT provider.
Look over your current infrastructure to see where you can improve. It could be a server with some networking, or you may need to expand to the cloud to allow your employees to work remotely.
Once you better understand what your company needs, you can start searching for an IT company that can provide those services. Some managed IT services specialize in certain areas, so field experts are worth looking for.
Ask About Availability
In today’s connected world, it’s common for employees to work at home and in the evening. There are more demands than ever, so people need all the access they can get to technology tools and their work.
However, things don’t always work correctly. There are times when your computers won’t work during the evening. The question is, will you have IT support during those evening hours?
Check with your IT providers to see the times they offer support. Ideally, you’ll work with an IT company that offers 24/7 support to ensure your team has help at any time.
Consider Security
Even if security isn’t your top concern when you search for IT providers, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t factor into your decision. With how dangerous the web is these days, you can’t afford to take internet security lightly. One small mistake will open the door for hackers to infiltrate your business network.
The good news is that many IT companies keep security experts on their payrolls. You can use this to your advantage and get an audit of your current IT setup. A security specialist can find security holes and help you come up with a plan to fix them.
Your IT provider can also help you purchase security hardware and software. It’s tough to find the right products to keep your company secure, so you need all the expert insight you can get.
Find the Right Pricing Structure
You have many pricing options when you work with managed IT companies. IT services will modify their pricing structure based on your needs, so it pays to learn about each one before you buy.
Pay Per Hour
Charging per hour is standard for IT companies that only do a small amount of work for companies. You won’t get a hefty bill for work you don’t need, and the IT company still receives a fair price. This is an excellent choice if you only need help now and again.
Monthly Retainer
A monthly retainer is a great choice if you need regular service from an IT company. You pay a fixed amount every month for a certain amount of service. It’s a great way to get the help you need for a predictable price.
Pay Per Service
One less common pricing method in the IT industry is the pay-per-service method. For this payment model, you’ll look through a list of services an IT provider offers and pay for them to do it once. If you only need a service one time, this is a choice to look for.
Consider Proactive Monitoring
You don’t only need a response-based IT department. Every minute your equipment is down is lost revenue and productivity. It pays to monitor your equipment for potential issues.
IT companies like Velocityit.net can install monitoring software on your computer hardware to monitor for those problems. They’ll get alerts whenever something looks wrong on your systems. Because of that, they can tackle those issues before they get more severe and cause downtime for your company.
Ask About Outsourcing
Even though you’re outsourcing your IT department to another company, that doesn’t mean they won’t do the same thing. Some IT companies act as the face of the business and don’t do any of the work themselves.
These companies outsource the technical work to other companies. While this may not be a dealbreaker, it’s something you need to know before you buy. If you expect the company you hire to employ people to do the work themselves, you can’t work with an outsourced business.
Look for References
You’re forming a long-term partnership when you hire a managed IT company. You’ll rely on them to create or supplement your IT department. The last thing you want to do is hire a company that can’t handle your needs.
That’s why you should look for past customers of managed services companies to see what their experiences were like. To start, ask the managed IT companies you’re considering for references.
When you speak to previous customers, you can learn what it’s like working with a company from the customer’s perspective. You’ll learn the good and bad about an IT company this way.
Also Read: Why the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) Is a Hot Topic?
Don’t Hire the First Managed IT Company You Find
While technology has advanced a lot over the years, IT can still be complex to set up for businesses. That’s why it’s vital to find a managed IT company in your area with the skills required to do the job.
Keep the things above in mind during your search to find the best company in the IT industry in your area.
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