How to Choose an IT Support Company

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Your business runs on its computer systems, and you know they need work. But you’re a business person, not a techie. What do you do?

The answer is simple: hire an IT support company that has the know-how you need. However, not all companies are created equal, and selecting the wrong provider can create big headaches for your business. Below are four tips to help you choose the right IT support company for you.

    1. Make sure that your IT company isn’t working with third parties. IT companies sometimes partner with third party providers for important services, and if they do they have incentive to lock their clients into contracts that can be very hard to get out of.

For example, instead of opening an email address for your business through Office 365, they may offer to create a business email through a third party like GoDaddy, who pays your company for working with them. When that happens, it’s difficult to migrate to another service provider and get your passwords back. When you’re selecting an IT support company, make sure that they’re working directly with Microsoft Office 365 or Google Suite instead of going to a third party.

    2. Choose a company that will be responsive to your needs. Do they have phone support? How about quick on-site support? Make sure your IT support company has the options you need and are most comfortable with. It’s also important to ensure that your IT company will work on nights and weekends if disaster strikes.  Technical problems don’t wait until Monday morning.

    3. Ensure that you pick an experienced IT support provider. If you’re tempted to go with a less experienced, cheaper IT company, don’t. Experience will save you a   lot of money and headache in the long run, as it takes time and trial and error for an inexperienced support person to figure out an issue that an experienced person has seen – and fixed – a dozen times before.

    4. Make sure that all IT support contracts are a simple as possible. IT contracts can be very difficult to understand if the company uses a lot of technical language and jargon, and that doesn’t bode well either for their transparency or for how easy it will be to work with them in the future. Look for providers who can make it easy for you to understand the contract and the services they’ll be providing.

IT support providers can be a great consulting resource and a lifesaver in times of disaster, and it’s worth the time and effort to find the one that fits you best. Don’t hesitate to interview multiple companies, and carefully read IT support contracts before you sign them. Your business is too important to leave to chance.

Are You Making These Three Common IT Mistakes?

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Not everyone knows the ropes when it comes to IT – that’s why people need independent IT support.

That being said, there are some common IT mistakes that you can correct without necessarily going to the professionals. Below are three of the most common, and most problematic, IT mistakes that companies and home users make.

    1. Shopping without considering your needs. When you go to pick up software, hardware, or anything to do with your IT, make sure that you know exactly what you need and exactly what you’re getting. There are unique specifications for every software package and every device, and you can’t switch out one for another. Get it right the first time, or you’ll have to go back and pay for the right one all over again.

    2. Not caring about your security. This one is serious. Many smart, educated people don’t understand that they need an antivirus, antimalware, and other security solutions like a firewall, and don’t have the right security in their business or personal computers. They also don’t consider that they need to be careful with cloud services and that the cloud isn’t immune from attack – remember the celebrity photo hack? If it can happen to them, it can happen to you.

    3. Not backing up your systems. Did you know that only 60% of small business have a backup for their systems? And that of those, only 40% survive a disaster? Your computers run your business, and it’s a huge mistake to not backup your systems. If you do already backup your files, do it smart and create a backup image that includes not just the files, but also the software and computer settings you use. That way, if something happens to your computer, you can just switch computers, upload the backup recovery, and have everything up and running in no time.

There are a lot of wires you can cross and mistakes you can make when it comes to IT. The three common mistakes above are just the tip of the iceberg. We see many more on a regular basis, but there are steps that you can take to correct and avoid mistakes in the future. The most important step? Engaging an IT support company you trust to correct issues, prevent new ones, and help set you and your business up for success.

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