Time spent on trying to figure out the technology in your business can be costly. The reality is that, while your staff are doing that, they aren’t focusing on your business needs. Which can have a negative impact on both business growth and customer satisfaction.
This is where IT support providers come into play and your business can benefit a lot from working with one. They enable you to outsource hardware and computing-related services, such as managed IT security and cloud computing. IT providers can also provide broader, more comprehensive IT support solutions that ensure your business is working from a robust IT infrastructure as a base.
While there are numerous IT providers to choose from, not all of them are equal. And it is not every IT support provider that can accommodate your business’s specific needs. And choosing the wrong provider can actually drive your IT performance and budget in the wrong direction by increasing spend on irrelevant services etc
EIGHT MISTAKES TO AVOID
So, you need to be extra careful when selecting your team. And the only way to avoid disappointment is to steer clear of these eight common mistakes.
MISTAKE #1 – PROVIDERS INSISTING ON THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
Many providers want to force you into believing that the latest technology will resolve all your issues. For example, while the newest virtualization techniques can boost operations in many businesses, they might not suit yours.
So, don’t let the hype surrounding new products dazzle you.
Carefully consider the results your IT provider will help you achieve and determine if the investment will enable you to fulfill them. Your provider shouldn’t confuse you with state-of-the-art features – they should guide you based on your business needs and the tech solution should fall out of that.
MISTAKE #2 – BEING VAGUE ON RESPONSE TIMES
Determining the response times or SLAs of your new prospective IT provider is essential. You need to ask them how long they usually take to reply to queries and resolve problems. Be sure to gauge their onsite support efficiency, too.
You also want to ask about availability. Your IT team should provide round-the-clock services, including specialists that will proactively monitor your systems including 24/7 security monitoring services.
Constant monitoring and availability can help ensure you can detect IT issues early. With this, the provider can immediately administer patches and updates to safeguard against potential breaches.
Your IT provider should also offer simple access to their helpdesk. You should be able to contact them via email, phone etc for rapid guidance.
MISTAKE #3 – NEGLECTING THE SECURITY ASPECT
Disregarding the security capability of your IT provider might be the most costly mistake you can make. IT support providers with poor defense mechanisms can’t shield your system from cyber attackers. Which increases the risk of losing data and access to resources.
To avoid this, look for IT providers that can protect you from malware and other threats. They also need to prioritize protecting your business’s confidential data, like important IP and customer information.
When it comes to specific security measures, your IT provider should have features that prevent data intrusions instantly upon detection. So, make sure you are covered in key areas like phishing attacks simulations, web content filtering, DNS security, endpoint protection and dark web protection.
MISTAKE #4 – A LACK OF ACCURACY AROUND IT COSTS
Many IT companies operate under pay-as-you-go pricing schemes. Although this helps you minimize upfront investment, it might not be right for your business as adopting a large number of services simultaneously without considering the recurring costs can cripple your finances.
So, think twice before signing on the dotted line.
Look for an IT support provider that is willing to provide an “all-in”, single and cost-effective monthly fee for a Fully Managed IT Support service. This is a great way to create certainty in your monthly IT costs and be clear about the services that you are paying for.
MISTAKE #5 – NOT DETERMINING SCALABILITY
One of the biggest impediments to growing your company is choosing an IT provider with poor scalability. One that can’t match your growth needs.
By contrast, scalable IT teams allow your business to evolve and grow. They can continually extend their services to accommodate your company’s goals, even if these goals change.
MISTAKE #6 – OPTING FOR A NON-RESPONSIVE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
Service level agreements (SLAs) hold IT providers accountable for their services. It establishes standards for responsibilities, quality, scope, and delivery time in writing. Without it, you’ll have no way of ensuring a transparent view on services being delivered.
A forward-looking IT provider is going to want this in place – so that they can work as a true partner of your business. And both parties are clear on expectations both side of the fence.
MISTAKE #7 – LACK OF TEAM TRAINING AND FEEDBACK
The story doesn’t end once you’ve found and partnered with a trustworthy IT provider. New technologies won’t magically reduce your downtime and improve staff performance.
To accomplish your goal, your employees will still need to understand how to use your new tech solutions. But bear in mind that not every team member may be able to grasp new tools easily. Some may even prefer the existing platforms.
A good IT provider is going to build in onboarding and training for staff, as and when they see a need. To ensure that your team and your technology are working effectively for your business.
MISTAKE #8 – IGNORING EXPERIENCES WITH PREVIOUS CLIENTS
Choosing an IT provider is no different to buying any other business service. And failure to check what existing customers say about them can often lead to disappointment.
To get a clear picture of a prospective IP provider’s capabilities, take a look at their current and previous clients. Look for reviews, testimonials, and ask the provider for a list of projects and references.
FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Nobody wants to end up with a poor IT provider that can’t deliver great results for your business.
Luckily, we can show you a way out.
If you feel you can help. Contact us and let’s arrange a quick, 10-15-minute obligation-free chat. We can discuss your current IT issues and propose some solutions to fix them. We look forward to hearing from you.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
