It’s hard to understate how much managed IT services are growing. Hiring an in-house IT team is expensive, so many companies are now outsourcing the role. That’s why the managed IT market is expected to grow to a value of $311 billion by 2027.
However, you shouldn’t pick just any IT support company. There are a few things you must consider before you hire anyone. Below are five of the essential factors to know.
1. Skill Set
There are a lot of skills in the IT field. If you want to secure your business, you’ll need to find a company with a cybersecurity specialist. But if you want general support, having a helpdesk is a must.
Make sure you understand your IT needs when you start your search for IT help. Once you understand your needs, you can find a provider with the right skill set to handle the job.
2. Support Hours
You may need support after business hours these days. It’s not uncommon for people to work after everyone else leaves. The question is, how is productivity impacted when things break at night?
It’s a problem if it disrupts operations and makes it so people can’t do their jobs. Check to see what support hours are offered by your business IT support company to see if they can help at any time.
3. Industry Experience
Depending on your industry, you may have unique needs for your IT requirements. Take IT support for accountants, for instance. You have more of a duty to protect your clients’ financial data.
That’s where hiring IT services with industry experience helps. A company that knows your industry will know all the rules you must follow and help you comply with the law.
4. Response Time
Hiring a quick responder is a must if you want reliable IT support. Unfortunately, some companies overwork themselves and end up with slow response times. You can’t afford this if you experience severe problems.
Ideally, you’ll get a response for non-critical issues in under 24 hours. However, you should have someone you can call if you have an emergency and need help immediately. See which contact methods are available and if you can expect an immediate response.
5. Previous Feedback
Knowing what other people think of an IT solutions company is one of the best ways to determine if they can handle your needs. Reach out to your business contacts to see if they use managed services and what they think of their providers.
You can also ask the companies you speak with for references. Try to learn all the positives and negatives of working with a company. Even if a company has the right skills, that doesn’t automatically make them the best choice.
Hire an IT Support Provider Today
You have a lot on the line when you use technology in business. As you build reliance on your computer systems, it becomes much harder to keep things running when things break and go down.
That’s why you can’t go without IT support. Start reaching out to local IT support services today to learn what benefits your local companies can offer.
Head back to the blog if you’re interested in learning more tech tips that will help you run your business.
