The United States IT market is the largest in the world, accounting for $1.8 trillion of the global $6 trillion technology market size. The widespread adoption of technology in the country’s economic space is among the reason the sector continues to bloom. The place of technology in the modern market place is unquestionable.
But with technology comes huge threats too. Cybersecurity attacks, website outages, and other IT incidents are commonplace in today’s business world. These incidents can cost your business hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars every minute. It’s the reason investing in topnotch IT maintenance is vital.
For many businesses, the cost of running an in-house IT maintenance team full-time is out of reach. Fortunately, there are IT support companies that offer outsourced IT maintenance services. Partnering with one of these companies can help you make sure that your IT systems stay in top shape and remain up to date at all times,
But how do you determine the best IT support firm for your needs? Here are 9 proven tips to guide you with your information technology services.
1. Inquire About References and Previous Work
Hearing what other people say about an IT support company gives a good idea of what to expect from it. If a company is highly touted, chances are they will do a great job if you hire them.
Don’t be afraid to ask your potential IT maintenance services provider for references so you can see how they have helped other businesses in your position. Reputable IT support companies will not hesitate to give you a list of satisfied clients they have served in the past.
Don’t take these references at face value. Take your time to call two or three of them to verify whether what you were told is true.
You can also check online reviews to learn more about the company’s customer service. If you see a litany of satisfied customers, you can expect the same topnotch service from the company.
2. Verify Certifications and Partnerships
Top IT support companies will always be certified and licensed to work in your state. However, it is still important to verify this before hiring IT maintenance services. There are still a few bad apples out there, and you want to make sure you’re on the safe side by hiring a company that operates legally.
Next, find out what manufacturers they partner with. The best IT support service providers have partnerships with reputable tech manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon.
Ask whether their staff also have the appropriate certifications. It one of the ways to make sure you are going to receive topnotch services.
3. Ask About Experience
Your IT systems are a huge investment. You want to make sure their maintenance is handled by a technician who has enough experience to get the job done well. Go for a company with at least five years in the industry.
But it is not enough that the company has been operational for a considerable period. Ask whether they have experience in your specific industry’s technology.
4. Choose a Local IT Maintenance Service Provider
There is a good reason many businesses opt for service providers who are close to their headquarters when hiring IT support. In today’s competitive marketplace, you can’t afford to have your operations stalled for a long time because there is a problem with your IT system. Hiring a local IT support company means that it is possible to get faster service when a problem arises.
5. Ask Whether They Can Support Your Workstations and Servers
It is possible that your servers or workstations run on something different from Windows. For instance, you may be using Linux or Mac OS. You need an IT support provider with the appropriate skills and experience to handle your operating systems.
Most IT support experts can handle a variety of servers. However, it is still important to inquire how familiar your prospective IT support provider is with your infrastructure. If they have little to zero experience with your infrastructure, move on.
6. Find Out How Fast They Can Provide Service When Needed
Each IT support company has its processes for offering support to its clients. You will find that response times can vary vastly from one service provider to the next. To get a good idea of how fast to expect service, ask to see their service level agreement (SLA).
From the SLA, you will be able to see how quickly the company responds to requests for service. The agreement also outlines the amount of time it takes to resolve issues.
7. Inquire About Guarantees on Uptime
Every time your IT systems are down, you risk losing business and, consequently, serious money. Worse still, your company’s reputation takes a hit when you don’t meet your customers’ expectations because your IT system has issues.
To avoid this, you need to hire an IT support company that is willing to provide a guarantee on uptime. It is vital that your systems remain up 100% of the time, or as close to that as possible.
Top companies will have no problem offering a guarantee on the performance of both your software and hardware. Always ensure that all guarantees are put into writing.
8. Ask About Their Rates
You don’t need to go bankrupt paying for topnotch IT maintenance services. The best IT support providers, such as Lenet, charge reasonable rates, regardless of what maintenance services you require.
Ask for an upfront breakdown of their rates. This way, you can fit IT support services into your overhead costs and determine how much you can comfortably pay. Most IT companies will give you a personalized estimate depending on your unique needs.
9. Find Out Whether They Can Scale to Meet Your Needs
As a business, there are seasons when your IT support needs will grow and others when they reduce. The ideal IT maintenance provider should be able to easily scale their services up or down to meet your needs.
Choose the Right IT Maintenance Company for You
Your IT system is an integral part of your business, so you want to keep it running perfectly at all times. With the help of the right IT maintenance service provider, you can make sure that any IT issues are addressed quickly, so your operations don’t stall.
Would you like to read more great content on IT maintenance? Please keep visiting our blog, especially the Tech section to learn more about top IT maintenance and tech support solutions.
