The demand for managed IT services has tremendously grown in recent years. This could be attributed to small and medium-sized businesses [SMBs], who need access to the latest technology to maintain a competitive edge in their respective industries.
In this technological era, managed IT services are continuing to be crucial. So as a business owner, if you want your business to operate effectively and efficiently, you must seek the services of a professional managed IT service provider such as The ITeam.
But what are managed IT services? And how can you hire the right managed IT service provider? Well, keep on reading this article as we explore all of these.
What are managed IT services?
The term managed IT services simply refers to the practice of outsourcing your business IT needs to a third party. This may include services, such as cloud storage, infrastructure management, data backup & recovery, server maintenance, systems administration, network monitoring & security, etc.
The company that offers these IT services is what is called managed IT service provider. Generally, working with them can benefit your business in various ways. For example, they can provide a team of highly skilled IT experts who can handle your technical issues with improved efficiency. They can also minimize network downtime by regularly conducting maintenance and system updates.
However, with so many providers in the market, it can be pretty challenging to find the right one that will offer you excellent services.
But when you choose the right one, you can be sure that your business will benefit hugely because you will get the expertise you need, reduce labor costs, reduce downtime, etc.
With that said, let's look at how you can hire the right managed IT service provider.
How to choose the right managed IT service Provider
1. Industry experience
Of course, one of the most important things you should look for in a managed IT service provider is experience. You want to ensure that you work with only experienced professionals who can offer excellent services.
Ask the company how long they have been operating to gauge their experience level. The more the number of years, the more experienced they are. It is also advisable to choose a provider who has experience working in your industry. For instance, if you run an accounting firm, an IT expert with accounting industry experience will serve you better. Industry experience ensures your managed IT service provider will be able to foresee any potential problem, as well as anticipate your operational needs.
Hence, if you decide to hire a managed IT service provider, choose the one that provides reliable IT support to your industry. This way, you can rest knowing they have the proper experience to optimize your set-up, enhancing your team's efficiency and productivity.
2. Reputation
The reputation of the managed IT service provider also plays a crucial when choosing one. What are people saying out there about this particular provider? Of course, the last thing you want is associating your business with a managed IT service provider with a tainted image. It won't be good for your business. That's why you must pay attention to the reputation of the company.
You can start by reading online reviews about the company on the internet. It can be on the provider's site or review sites. If you notice that the provider has more negative reviews than positive reviews, it should raise alarm. The best thing you can do is to avoid such a managed IT service provider.
3. Request for references
A good managed IT provider should be able to provide their clients with references. Current and past clients can help you make a more informed decision. Ask the company for past and current clients' numbers. Contact them and ask them about their experience working with the company and whether or not they were satisfied with the company's services. Getting answers to these questions is crucial as it can help you determine if the company is right for you. If the managed IT service provider is not willing to provide you with references, that should raise an alarm.
4. Security
Security is also a crucial factor that you should pay attention to when choosing a managed IT service provider. A good provider should not only monitor your IT infrastructure but also offer strategic security plans.
Furthermore, they can provide compliance and reliable security. Since they keep up with all the policies in compliance with standard data security standards, they can protect your network and systems from cyberattacks and data breaches.
With rigid IT security, you can rest assured that your business confidential data, as well as your clients', will remain safe and secure as much as possible. A good managed IT service provider achieves this by securing all the endpoints. With this, you can guarantee that you will be able minimize the risks of data breaches affecting your business.
5. Availability
Another essential factor you need to consider when choosing a managed IT service provider is their availability. Of course, you will need their services all around the clock. That's why they should be available 24/7.
A good managed IT service provider should assign qualified IT specialists to watch over your IT systems on a shift basis. This guarantees 24/7 monitoring. Through constant support, these companies guarantee continuous delivery of high-quality managed IT services.
Determining the provider's availability is crucial as it allows you to access how capable they can be. Monitoring your IT systems 24/7 can allow the provider to detect IT issues promptly, which makes them quickly come up with methods to troubleshoot them.
6. Scalability
When choosing a managed IT service provider, your business growth should always be at the back of your mind. Your business demands today may not be the same in the next few months. That's why you must look for a managed IT service provider that understands your ever-changing business needs. A good managed IT service provider should offer scalable services. That means that the IT services will adjust to the technical needs of your business IT system. So you are assured that your IT infrastructure will keep up with your ever-growing business demands.
7. Cost
The cost also plays a crucial role when it comes to selecting a managed IT service provider. These providers generally charge differently for their services. Some are very expensive, while others charge reasonable prices. In addition to that, some charge on an hourly basis while other charge fixed rates. So you need to come up with a budget and see how much you can afford to pay a managed IT service provider. However, don't go for providers that charge extremely low prices for their services. It may translate to pathetic services.
8. Customer Service
In today's business environment, more downtime may happen, resulting in lost productivity and significant financial losses. Hence, when hiring a managed IT service provider, choose the one with 24/7 customer support. An IT partner who can provide better response and resolution is essential to minimize network downtime and its adverse consequences for your company.
Also, it's best to pick a managed IT service provider who designates an account manager to help you out with your technical problems. Directly coordinating with such a representative from a third-party IT company can ensure that specific IT issues are promptly addressed.
Lastly, make sure the one you select has reliable communication channels where you can contact them in case of emergencies. This can help streamline issue response and resolution.
Again, don't base your hiring decision on cost alone; consider the above-mentioned factors if you want a provider that will provide you with top-notch IT services.
