There are a lot of managed services providers out there. Some offer excellent service, others don’t. Finding the right team to manage your IT infrastructure on a monthly basis isn’t always easy, but if you follow these 5 steps, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the right virtual IT team working to keep you productive and secure 24/7.
#1 Don’t underestimate the importance of experience
It seems like new IT companies and consultants are popping up every day. As you might have guessed, not all companies provide the same level of service. When it comes to managing your IT infrastructure and maintaining the security of your valuable business data, you can’t trust just anyone to do the job right. You need to make sure you choose a managed services provider with demonstrated experience helping businesses take the hassle out of IT management. Companies such as Syntax, one of North America’s leading managed IT services providers, have demonstrated industry expertise and have the reputation for treating each client as a strategic partner and facilitating the complexities of their infrastructure management.
#2 Have they worked with businesses your size in the past?
Size matters when it comes to deploying IT support. Whether you run a small business or manage a global corporation, it’s important that you choose a managed services provider that has worked with companies your size successfully. The challenges faced by small business are different than those faced by corporations, so you need someone by your side that has a proven track record managing the IT requirements of businesses like yours.
#3 Make sure they offer 24/7 monitoring
There should always be someone on hand monitoring your network and ready to respond if something goes wrong. Simply put, 24/7 monitoring is a must. Any managed services provider that doesn’t offer around-the-clock monitoring shouldn’t be considered. In addition to 24/7 monitoring, the best managed service providers offer a guaranteed emergency response time, so you know you can get help quickly, whenever you may need it.
#4 Don’t get tied up in an annual contract
Your business is always evolving, and as a result, your technology needs today may not be the same as they are 6 months from today. That’s part of the reason you don’t want to get tied up in an annual contract with your managed services provider. You need the flexibility to switch plans or providers if your needs should ever change or if you’re just not satisfied with the level of service your IT company is giving you. Find a company that offers month-to-month, pay-as-you-go service plans.
#5 Price matters
While price should never be the only factor you consider when choosing a managed services provider, the reality is that it’s still important. Your business can’t be profitable if you’re spending more on your managed service plan than you need to. Spend time comparing pricing plans from trusted IT companies in your area. Look for a managed services provider that offers predictable, pay-as-you-go pricing so that you know exactly how much you’ll be paying every month.
Take your time when choosing a managed services provider for your business. Follow through on each of these five steps, and you’ll find the perfect IT partner.
About the Author
Daniel Clarke serves as the Director of Marketing at Dataprise, a leading IT consulting firm that provides network support and IT services for growing companies.