Are you looking for IT support for the computers and systems you use in the daily operations of your business? If you were simply to type in IT support firms, you would be inundated with search results. There would be simply too many to read through, let alone decide which is the best from which is the worst. Therefore, to help you out, we have put together this guide that will highlight some of the main considerations you need to make when you are looking to hiring a computer support company.
Find a Local Team
It is better to have onsite support whenever you need it. The last thing you want is your computer network or individual systems breaking down and holding up your business operations. Especially if there is going to be a long wait for the help you need to get your systems back up and running properly again because the technician is located a fair distance away. It is much better to find an IT company that is based in the same town as your business, if possible.
Not only will you receive a quicker service, but it is likely to be cheaper too.
Are They Experienced In Your Industry?
It’s all very well finding an IT company with many years’ experience and recognizable qualifications. However, if they do not have the relevant experience working with computer systems in your industry, they are not going to be nearly as helpful when you have issues or need upgrades. Technology is not the same across industries. Find a company that is familiar with yours, rather than just computers in a general way.
Can They Offer Support to Your Workstations and Servers?
Just as technology varies from industry to industry, the operating systems used can vary from industry to industry, but also from company to company. You need to make sure that the IT support firm you hire has worked with the operating systems you use in your business. Just because they know their way around a Windows server, doesn’t necessarily mean they will understand issues related to Mac OS or even Linux. Make sure this is something you ask very early on when you are seeking quotes.
Can They Offer Support For The Specific Software You Are Using?
It’s not just workstations and servers you need to make sure they have experience working with. Although there is lots of software that is commonly used like Office360 etc., you may use industry-specific software, that requires specialist knowledge. Even if you have a fully bespoke and customized computer application or software that only your company uses, they are unlikely to know the ins and outs of it, but they should still be able to work at triaging and troubleshooting any problems.
How Quickly Can They Offer Their Services?
You will find that all IT and computer support agencies have different operations and processes they use to support their clients and the response times can vary significantly. When obtaining quotes be sure to ask their response time metrics or Service Level Agreement, which includes:
- How quickly will they respond to any issues you are having
- How fast will it take to resolve them
- How long is required for onsite support?
Any company can say they are quick. It’s whether they can prove it or not. Ask for any evidence or even customer testimonials that back their claims up.