There are thousands of financial firm it support companies (and general ones) to choose from, but there is no guarantee of how well they will perform. Whether it is data backup, or fixing IT issues, you need to find a company you can trust.
IT issues are a headache for every individual and business on the planet. Choosing the right one can save you a lot of time, energy, and money in the long run.
To help you make the best decision possible, here are 10 things to consider when choosing IT support in New York.
Things to Consider Before Choosing IT Support for Your Business
Let these 10 considerations serve as a checklist before you go ahead and sign up with a company.
1. Are they close to your head office?
Why? Because some IT issues just can’t be solved over the phone. In some cases, you just need all hands on deck, which means getting your IT guys in the office.
Local IT support firms can provide you with much quicker service, and if all hell does break loose and the computer set on fire, they aren’t too far away.
2. What experience do they have in your industry?
It transcends industries, as most companies use similar devices and software in their offices. However, there are considerable benefits to hiring an IT team with experience in your particular industry.
That experience will likely have included similar issues that you’re invariably going to face someday, this means the team will be quicker in solving those issues.
Depending on your industry, you may have specialist technology and systems that require a team with knowledge and experience in working with them.
3. Are they nice guys?
Issues with IT teams is one of the most significant problems for many companies. Some feel that IT support team members are not approachable or speak in ways that their staff can not understand.
Make sure you click with the company. The sign of a great IT support officer is one that can make very complex issues understandable. They will have good patience and won’t make you feel like an idiot just shouting, “turn it off and on again” down the phone.
4. Can they support your operating systems and servers?
Your servers may not operate on Windows, like most companies. You may be running Mac OS or Linux. Having an IT team that understands these systems and is experienced in using/fixing them is vital.
Nobody wants an IT team that keeps telling them how bad their system is simply because they’re not familiar with it. Plus, it’s not easy to just switch your operating system to suit your IT team.
5. Do they have experience with your company software?
Companies today use all sorts of software and applications from secure file-sharing to enterprise CRM systems. This has meant IT support teams have to be on the ball and continually try to understand and learn about these systems to help their clients.
You can’t expect your team to know about every bit of software you use, but if you can find a team with experience in your most important and most used software, that is a huge bonus.
6. How quickly can they help you?
They say they’re 24/7, but if global secure cloud service suddenly goes down, how quickly are they able to help you out? You need an IT support team that is easy to get hold of and can help you immediately.
Before hiring them, make sure you get details on their average response time and how quickly they can get onsite if you need them urgently.
7. Can they support a company of your size?
Let’s say you’re a global enterprise and have hundreds of offices worldwide. You need an It company that can support a company of your size. Ask them how many engineers they have and case studies from businesses of a similar size.
The last things you want to hear when your global systems go down is “sorry, we can’t deal with this, let me refer you to a third-party IT company.”
8. Do they have room to scale?
Who knows what success you may have. Your company may suddenly need to scale up and quickly meet the demands of your customers and clients. Is your IT team ready to support that scaling and maintain business continuity? Can they still provide the same excellent service as your company begins to expand?
9. Are they qualified?
Make sure they’re a reputable and well-certified organization before hiring them. Ask them for their qualification and any accreditation they have achieved. Their staff should also hold certification, which proves they’re capable of providing the best service possible.
10. Is the contract a good deal?
You must always check that the contract between you and the IT firm works for both parties. You want a good deal, and so do they. You both want a win-win.
Specific conditions should be avoided, such as block time and monitoring contracts. These types of agreements make it advantageous for the IT firm when you have problems that can lead to some unscrupulous IT first to create issues for you.
Instead, look for contracts that are proactive and reactive. You want an IT firm that prevents problems and not just fixes them all the time. A good IT support company will frequently offer you advice on how to improve cybersecurity, how to avoid issues, inform you on updated anti-phishing scams and actively try to prevent future IT issues.
Final Thoughts
The more knowledge and information you can get on a firm, the better choice you will make. The aim is to set up a contract that works for both organizations to foster a healthy business relationship and help each other grow.
