What should I look For in a Managed IT Services Prover?
When the time comes to make the switch to Managed IT Services. it’s crucial to know what you are looking for from a provider. As most business owners have realized, or are beginning to realize, there are plenty of benefits to bringing on a managed services provider to address IT and other needs. To get the most from your managed services contract, you must carefully compare all potential providers to ensure they are willing and able to provide the services you need to keep your business moving forward. If your managed services provider cannot supply the following three things (at minimum), keep looking until you find a company that addresses these issues.
1. Security
The managed services provider you choose should work with vendors that guarantee security. This is imperative when trusting an outside party to handle and maintain private and confidential data crucial to the running of your business. Service providers should provide detailed proof of security procedures and explain how they intend to keep abreast of changes in the industry.
2. Recovery
Managed IT Services providers are not only contracted to help keep the day-to-day running of your business smooth but are also an important part of any recovery situation following a natural or man-made disaster. It is important to discuss with potential providers what procedures they have in place to guarantee your downtime will be minimal and that you will be up and running as soon as possible after an emergency. These precious minutes and hours can make or break the recovery of your business.
3. Customer Service
As with any other business, if there is no customer support backing up the products or services, there isn’t much of a commitment from the provider. Ensure that your managed services provider offers robust customer service to address any issues promptly and effectively.
Why Are These Three Things Important?
To understand, you must consider the Managed IT Services model. Managed IT Services providers are hired by a company to provide any or all of the following services:
- Website hosting
- Network monitoring
- Network security
- Remote data backup
- Recovery services
Originally, these services were provided to large corporations, while small to medium-sized companies struggled to maintain an IT budget that was often more expensive than beneficial. Managed IT Services providers charge a flat or monthly fee, making it possible for smaller businesses to reap the benefits offered at a much lower price than in-house IT staff or outsourcing on an as-needed basis.
The Managed IT Services platform continues to grow as many businesses look for ways to reduce costs in this tough economy. By offering technological services that might otherwise be beyond the reach of a small business budget, Managed IT Services. make it possible for smaller businesses to remain competitive with others in their industry. Small business owners must take the time to carefully review and research each provider before signing on the bottom line. A good managed services provider can change the way you do business in a positive direction, whereas the wrong choice could be a costly mistake that does more harm than good to your business.
Click here to request a Free IT Assessment and we will work with you to put together an action plan for you to implement Managed IT Services.
