Finding the Right IT Support Partner for Your Company
Finding the Right IT Support Partner for Your Company
Businesses use their IT systems every day, so it’s important to ensure reliable IT support is in place. Keeping IT use running smoothly allows a workforce to operate as efficiently as possible. Inconvenient IT issues can take your team away from their work and extend the amount of time required to complete tasks.
Before selecting an IT provider, it is important to assess your team’s needs. What particular elements of IT usage does your business require support with? How much contact do you require with your IT management team? What’s your budget?
In this blog from CAB IT Services, we outline some of the key things to look for in an IT company and offer some tips on finding the right one.
Response Times
Some IT support providers have a guaranteed response time for customer queries, others offer their clients response security through the promise of 24/7 monitoring. In the event of an IT issue, businesses want their IT provider to act fast so they can get back to work. As an incentive to attract businesses, many providers offer their clients certainty that their issues will be processed within a certain time frame – this isn’t to say that an issue will always be resolved within this time, but it does offer them peace of mind that the provider is working on the reported issue.
Issues with IT systems can really push the breaks on a business’ progress and guaranteed response times limit the length of time your team are left unable to work. In short – quicker responses mean a quicker return to business.
Credibility
Regardless of industry or service, any potential customer wants to be sure of a business’ credibility before signing contracts and parting with their cash. A good IT support provider will gain professional credibility and a reputation for top quality customer service over time. Look at reviews left by previous customers on online platforms or ask about the business’ services by simple word of mouth.
In addition to these basic methods, inspect the prospective provider’s industry accreditations which act as markers of industry expertise. Some IT support providers also have partnerships with recognised IT giants such as Microsoft, HP and Dell. Accreditations such as these give prospective customers peace of mind that their needs are being handled by highly qualified professionals and reduces worry about paying for an inadequate service.
What Support is Provided
As previously mentioned, when choosing an IT support business, it is important to establish precisely what the needs of your business are. Different IT support providers will be experts in different areas of the IT field and will consequently have different packages available for their clients. It is important to research these packages thoroughly to make sure you’re not paying for something that your business will neither use or need.
Some IT support businesses market themselves as being able to ‘support everything’ without giving details on their service – beware of these. Also make a point of establishing what isn’t covered by your contract. You don’t want to commit to a provider only to discover that they cannot offer the support your business requires.
Some support providers even offer businesses the opportunity to have their existing system reviewed to identify where additional support is needed. This way, your business has peace of mind that they are investing in support that is tailored to the requirements of their business.
Managed IT Services – Everything You Need to Know About Managed IT Services >
Contract Variety
Another key area for consideration is the type of contract offered by any particular provider. Some contracts are short term and available for regular review, others pose more long-term ties between a company and a provider. When looking into an IT support company that you haven’t worked with before, long term contracts can be risky. Fine details can easily be missed and result in ties to an unsuitable contract that is not only unhelpful to your business, but costly and difficult to be released from.
Experience
Similar to credibility, it can also be useful to look into the amount of professional experience possessed by a business and their employees. Why not check out the provider’s case studies to get a feel for the kind of project’s they have worked on previously?
Albeit a generalisation, younger companies with less experienced staff can be more susceptible to teething errors and offer a less reliable service. On the other hand, some young businesses offer an outstanding service with a potentially more contemporary approach. For this reason, it’s always important to get a good feel for the providers you are considering working with – not only when it comes to professional qualification, but customer experience also. Most businesses use their online systems every working day, so contact with your IT support provider is likely to be frequent. That’s why it’s best to avoid working with IT providers with an unpleasant service manner.
Managed IT Solutions with CAB IT Services
At CAB IT, we work to offer our customers support and access to the best IT services. Our expert team are available to lend their knowledge in helping businesses maximise how they utilise their IT systems. For more information about how we could help your business, get in touch for bespoke advice.
Telephones / VoIP
CAB IT Connect is a VoIP telephone system hosted within your own private cloud and designed to integrated.
Business Continuity
Recover critical data quickly Should you experience a server failure. Yhe SIRIS can have your Windows or Linux environment and data recreated in minutes from the local device or the Datto Cloud.
Office 365 / Cloud
Office 365 is a cloud-based service hosted by Microsoft that brings together familiar Microsoft Office desktop applications with business-class email, shared calendars, instant messaging (IM), video conferencing and file sharing.
Cyber Security
According to over 1,700 IT service providers, the lack of cybersecurity awareness amongst employees is a leading cause of a successful ransomware attack against an SMB.
Secure Destruction
Most businesses think GDPR only refers to personal data used for marketing and sales purposes, but…
The GDPR definition of data processing is wide, and a major part of the GDPR includes the erasure and destruction of personal data.
Procurement
Expert IT procurement plays an important role within the provision of IT services, especially as IT budgets are constantly under scrutiny and purchase decisions need to be justified.
Managed Networks
Modern offices seek a network infrastructure solution that intelligently combines voice and data networks. In order to optimize the performance of their converged network, it requires visibility, control and manageability…maximizing the productivity of users across the network.
Asset Management
As a key requirement of GDPR compliance for every business, it is important that the management of your IT Assets isn’t an admin task that is overlooked.
Web Design
We work with you to design and build a professional website that will truly represent your brand.
IT Support
We provide very flexible IT Support working effectively through one of our completely customised IT Support Packages.
Internet
Through a variety of connectivity partners CAB IT Services can offer a huge range of business connectivity services.
Wifi
Our Wi-Fi System is a scalable enterprise grade access point solution designed to be deployed and managed within any environment.
Network Infrastructure
In partnership with carefully selected third parties we provide network infrastructure data cabling installations in Bristol and throughout the South West.
