How to Choose a Managed IT Provider

As your business grows, so do your information technology (IT) needs. You’ll know when it’s time to increase your IT team when you spend as much, or more, time fixing equipment and software as you do helping customers. But how do you choose which provider to go with? Here are a few questions to help you with the process.

Does the Team Perform Regular IT Maintenance?

This question is up first because if the provider doesn’t perform regular maintenance for your devices and software, they aren’t really a managed IT provider. Some companies employ a break-fix IT program where they help you when you reach out to them. Managed IT services include regular maintenance so your IT issues are not only getting fixed, but are prevented from ever occurring.

Will They be Available When You Need Help?

Your business may not be open 24/7 but your website and network still need to run smoothly! A great provider is an extension of your team and is available to help you around the clock. Ask the company you’re considering about their after-hours policy. They should be able to tell you how they will respond in the event that you need help after the office is closed for the day or on the weekends. If they don’t have a policy or plan ready, that’s a good indicator that they won’t be prepared to help you in an emergency.

How Fast Will They Respond to Your IT Tickets or Questions?

Obviously, when you have an IT issue, it needs to be resolved quickly! Many companies, especially after moving to remote work in 2020, can’t function if they’re having problems with equipment or software. Waiting hours or days for your IT support to respond is a waste of time and money for your business.

Do They Know How to Comply with Your Industry Standards?

A good IT team is equipped with members who are experts in major industry compliance standards such as:

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
SOC – Security Operations Center
PCI – Payment Card Industry
WCAG – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation
CCPA – California Consumer Privacy Act

An IT team with compliance experts is equipped to help you prevent the need for litigation, but most importantly, will protect your business and your customers.

What is Their Disaster Recovery Planning Approach?

A managed IT provider will perform a risk assessment of your business and then develop a disaster recovery (DR) plan from there. Because each business requires different equipment, software and network solutions, a great DR plan will be a custom plan. If a company has set DR packages, it may not be the right fit for you!

Will They Fit Your Budget?

One of the top reasons that companies choose to partner with a managed IT service is that it can be more fiscally responsible. You’ll want to compare how much it will cost for monthly Managed IT in comparison to hiring a full-time employee. Between training, annual salary, employee benefits and vacation time, a Managed IT provider should be less expensive.

If you have more questions about managed IT services, our team is always willing to help! Just fill out the contact form below and we’ll be in touch shortly.