A small business owner always has a lot on their plate. You are most likely your own boss, human resources (HR) department, and might even handle your own accounting.
Information Technology (IT) service is something that you should always leave to the pros. It’s a $5.2 trillion industry, and these services are increasingly necessary to pros in all fields.
So, what can you do to find the help of the best IT pros around?
These tips will assist you when you’re looking for a managed IT company that can look after all your company’s tech needs.
Make Sure They Understand Your Industry
Managed IT services will help you in specific ways that are relevant to your field. This is important because companies today have differences with everything from hardware equipment and Software as a Service (SaaS) packages to compliance and legal tech issues.
You can count on smart management of your IT assets and infrastructure as long as you retain the help of a company that understands what you do.
Ask About Their Cybersecurity and Protection
Companies in the ITÂ industry have to be familiar with all things cybersecurity in order truly provide for clients. Attacks are commonplace and small businesses today get hit from all angles.
In fact, 43% of all attacks are perpetrated against small or medium-sized companies.
Here are some attacks that are commonplace right now:
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
- Malware
- Phishing attacks
- Ransomware
- Stolen passwords
Your company is vulnerable if you don’t have the help of a company that uses professional or military-grade encryption and other steps to control and get rid of malware, viruses, and other attacks.
For instance, you can check here to learn more about Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliance:
https://www.usitservices.com/compliance/dfars/
They should also be on top of matters like helping you set strong passwords, making sure they’re changed regularly and using two-factor authentication.
Study Their Metrics
An IT company today needs to also have strong metrics that you can study. Consider their uptime, internet upload and download speeds, responsiveness, patch management, and more.
These companies should also have a strong use of analytics to make accurate decisions in a timely fashion.
Find Referrals and Gauge Their Professionalism
Finally, be sure that you choose a managed IT company that comes highly referred by other professionals. Look into the work they offer in the community and ask if they are a part of professional guilds and other organizations.
Research their license to learn how long they’ve been in business, and consult Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to make certain they conduct business above board and thoroughly.
Hire a Quality Managed IT Company
The points above are useful when you’re looking into working with a managed IT company that can handle business for you. Good business ownership means knowing which pros to delegate to, so put these tips to use when you’re looking for IT help.
Start with these points and browse our other articles related to business, finance, cybersecurity, and so much more.
