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If you’re thinking about switching IT support or if you’re about to sign on with a new provider, there’s some information that you should find out to help your business run smoothly. From what’s covered in your package to how they’ll manage the handover, here are five vital questions to ask any potential new IT provider.
What’s covered in the IT package?
It’s crucial to be aware of what exactly is covered in your IT support package before signing up with a new provider. For example, will they provide managed IT support, emergency out-of-hours help and a cyber security audit? Will there be any extra unforeseen costs such as anti-virus or emergency call-out fees? Finding out what’s included will help you be prepared for what to expect from your new provider and ensure you’re getting the right deal for your business.
There are great benefits to outsourcing your IT and many ways that IT support can help your business thrive. Some common services IT companies provide are:
- Managed IT support
- Emergency IT support
- Cyber Security
- Backup Solutions
- Hosted Telephony
Alongside these common services, it’s also important to find out what other services your provider can offer and consider whether you’ll need help with things like your hardware, or any specific support for any internal software you use.
What is the process for reporting issues?
Outsourced managed IT support is there to help your business run smoothly, and help when things go wrong. Before you sign up with a new provider, it’s important to understand what happens when you need support and how long it will take for issues to be resolved.
Another aspect to consider is how issues are reported and how they are dealt with. Do all issues need to be reported over email, or the phone? What type of support will they provide, will it mostly be remote or will they attend the office in person too for more major problems?
Your new IT provider should be able to provide you with a Service Level Agreement, which will outline the standard of service they will provide along with timeframes for resolving issues.
Is on-site support included?
On-site IT support will be crucial for your business for a number of reasons. If you’re planning to upgrade or change your hardware, install a new server, or if you’re having major IT issues, it will be imperative to have your IT team able to come to you.
Your new IT provider might not include this as part of your package, or if they are far away, they might not be able to attend your office in person. This is an important point to clarify to ensure your new IT team can provide the service you need.
How will they manage the handover?
Switching IT providers can be a smooth process, however, it’s important to understand how everything will be swapped over to your new IT provider. Whether your IT is currently being managed internally or by another company, it’s crucial to know how your new IT provider will manage the handover and when everything will be in place.
How will they maintain and improve your IT?
Do you know how your new IT provider will maintain the level of IT support you need and improve your overall IT systems? Will they regularly review your current IT software, hardware and systems to make improvements? This is an important point to clarify with your IT provider to ensure your systems will be properly looked after and your IT team will be proactive about looking after your business.
What do you think of these tips for signing on with a new IT provider? Did we miss any? If you’re wondering how to make the most out of managed IT support, get in touch to find out more about how we can help.
