Choosing the right managed IT service will have a big impact on the future of your business. A good service can help you support growth, run a more efficient operation, and avoid headaches. Making a wrong decision could open you up to significant risks like data breaches, compliance issues, and legal action. The best way to find a great IT service is to interview a few of them, listen to their answers, and verify them with outside information. Let’s take a look at a few questions everyone should ask when hiring managed IT service.
What’s Your Culture Like?
Don’t only speak with the salespeople when hiring a team;you also have to look at their team and how they work. You should at least be able to speak with your account representative. You have to know if they’ll be dedicated, responsive, and competent. Also, check their communication style and make sure it meshes with yours. If your people aren’t the most tech-savvy, they need to be able to answer questions in plain English. Any team that’s dismissive, defensive, or unresponsive should be avoided.
What Does Your Facility Look Like?
You should also be able to get an idea of what their installations look like. If they’re set up in a garage or warehouse, they might be cheaper, but they might not have the same staying power. Installations that are too luxurious could mean that you will have to pay a premium. Ideally, you should go with a managed IT support service that will have professional installations with nothing superfluous.
How Big is Your Staff?
This is an important question, and there’s no right answer here. It all depends on your needs. If you go with a smaller team, they might be more dedicated, but they will not have the same resources or expertise in-house. There is also the risk of one of their key players leaving which could put you and them in serious trouble.
You won’t have to worry about this with a bigger team, but there are other things you’ll need to think about. For instance, a bigger team might not be as interested in working with smaller clients. Not all bigger teams are impersonal, but many of them are, so double-check their culture and whether they only cater to or prefer working with corporate clients.
What’s within Their Scope?
A lot of people go into the process thinking that all teams will be able to do things like network monitoring, or deal with issues with their ISP. In truth, some teams may be highly specialized, and therefore limited. Some are just limited without the expertise. So, you have to ask exactly what they can or can’t do. This is especially important if you’re hiring them at a flat or inclusive rate.
These are all crucial questions that should be asked of any managed IT service you are thinking of hiring. This will give you a better idea of their work ethic and what you can expect from them.
