What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Managed IT Company?

Great technology is paramount if you want to run your business operations in the smoothest and most effective ways. But as the owner of a small or medium-sized company, you might find it hard to handle your ever-changing and demanding IT requirements.

That’s why you should consider working with a managed IT company. A quick Google search for “managed IT services” will show you right away that there are countless outsourced IT companies out there. So, how can you pick the right one for your needs?

You’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll reveal what important questions you should ask your managed service provider before hiring them.

What Are Your Pricing Options?

As you may already know, one of the most compelling reasons why companies like yours choose to outsource their IT services is because it’s very cost-effective. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that all managed service providers offer the same fair and flexible rates.

Before hiring someone, you will need to check whether their pricing options and financial plans suit you. Some providers will be happy to consider your budget and do their best to offer pay-per-use rates. This will help you to save a lot of money while still enjoying the best-in-class support.

Do You Offer Around-the-Clock Remote Support?

Another great advantage of working with a managed service provider is IT support. In fact, should a sudden IT problem occur, they are available 24/7 to help you fix it. Again, this is something that most providers offer, but not all of them.

Before you decide who you want to hire, you will need to make sure that their support is exactly how you need it to be. It’s also critical that your IT support team can deliver the required type of help remotely.

System downtimes and other issues often occur at very inconvenient times. This makes it difficult (if not impossible) to arrange for a helpdesk team to come to your offices. But with the remote provision of support services, you can have the peace of mind that your operations are always going to be up and running, day and night.

Do You Have Any Experience With Clients From My Industry?

You might think that just because they handle IT requirements then any managed service provider will be able to do what your company needs. This, though, is not always the case. A small retailer, for example, has different requirements compared to a financial company.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to inquire about the type of industry expertise (and experience) that the provider has. Have you found a managed service provider that can prove they know your sector like the back of their hand? Then you’re in a much better position to receive more efficient and tailored services.

How Do You Handle Data Security?

Data security is a vital aspect of the smooth and safe running of business operations around the world. At the same time, it’s also a fairly complicated area and one that particularly calls for the expert help of an IT specialist.

Cyber attacks, malware, and other critical IT threats are in constant evolution. In parallel, hackers are becoming more and more savvy and malicious. 

If you want to be able to protect your data, information, and systems, then you need to work with the best security tools and protocols. When searching for your IT provider, remember to ask how they manage data security, as well as system monitoring and threat identification. You will want to work with a company that deploys the latest, most sophisticated security software.

How Long Have You Been in This Business For?

AKA: find out as much as you can about the provider’s team. You will want to know how long ago the company was established and how long the current team has been there. It’s also very important to discover what type of training and knowledge its staff has.

A brand new IT company isn’t necessarily worth less than one that has been around for decades, though. For this reason, you should also make sure that you take into consideration their qualifications, certifications, and awards, and whether their staff undergoes regular training.

Do You Have Any Customer Reviews?

Last but not least, it’s also important to know a bit more about what type of people you will be working with. Yes, IT knowledge, industry expertise, and financial flexibility are essential. However, it’s also crucial to have a collaborator that you actually enjoy working with and who is committed to your success.

So, take a look around the web and try to find some honest customer reviews about your provider. Sometimes, the company itself features them on its website, or you can easily find them on Google.

Is neither of these methods proving successful? Then, you can always reach out to the provider and ask them to send you some customer references via email.

Any good, reputable and honest IT company will be more than happy to show you their great references. If they don’t, you might want to move on with your search.

Ask the Right Questions, Find a Great Managed IT Company

If you are serious about working with the best managed IT company to help lead your small business to success, then our guide can help. It’s essential that you know exactly which questions to ask before you decide who to outsource your IT department to.

Would you like more information on how SkywardIT can help your business thrive through the provision of exceptional IT services? Then, get in touch with us today.