6 Tips on Hiring Managed IT Providers for Small Businesses
Modern businesses rely heavily on technology, with as many 99% of businesses using technology every day at work. As convenient as this is, it only takes one tech glitch to bring your business to a standstill.
You don’t need to hire an expensive team of in-house IT experts to keep everything up and running. A managed IT provider can take care of all your IT needs at a fraction of the cost of hiring an in-house team.
There are our top tips for hiring managed IT providers to help streamline your business operations.
1. Research Their Credentials
Reading online reviews is one of the best ways to find reputable companies nowadays. You can also look for IT provider options according to BBB ratings, or ask other business people in your area for recommendations.
2. Hiring Managed IT Providers For Your Industry
When you hire an IT services provider, it’s critical to choose one with experience in your industry. These people know all the ins and outs of compliance and other industry-specific aspects.
Nowadays, you can find teams of small business IT services, automotive IT services, retail IT services, and more.
3. Consider Managed IT Experience
When you first contact an IT provider, make sure you ask about the qualifications of their personnel and whether they undertake ongoing training to stay up to date.
Always work with the most experienced people you can afford. They’ll know how to keep all the latest technologies, as well as some golden oldies, ticking over like clockwork.
4. Comparing Provider Costs
Unlike hiring an in-house team, you only pay for the services you need when you outsource your IT. What’s more, you can scale these services up or down as required.
These are types of services offered:
- All-Inclusive support at one monthly fee
- Partial support that covers core functions, with extra charges for anything else
- Monitoring and Alerting that covers only the basics, like software upgrades, backups, and security monitoring
Be sure to compare apples to apples when you’re working out costs. Sometimes the all-inclusive plan works out the cheapest after all.
5. Request a Dedicated Technician
Most managed IT providers will assign one of their personnel to deal with your business. Having one point of contact helps streamline any queries you have since they’re already familiar with your systems.
Your employees will also feel more comfortable working with a familiar person when they have tech issues.
6. Good Communication is Vital
While you’re interviewing potential IT service providers, pay attention to their communication skills and service levels.
Do they answer your calls promptly? Are they knowledgeable and patient when sharing complex information? These early interactions reflect how the MSP is likely to treat you if you decide to hire them.
More Tools For Business Growth
Hiring managed IT providers is an increasingly popular option for all kinds of businesses nowadays. When you have a top-notch IT team on call, you never need to worry about downtime or security issues again.
Instead, you can focus on growing and marketing your business. Would you like some more tips on how to thrive in modern times? Browse some more of our business and tech articles.