Managed IT services are becoming more popular, so popular that the managed services market will be worth almost $330 billion by 2025. This is why now is the best time to invest in managed IT.
Choosing an IT company is no easy task; the IT company will be handling your sensitive business data and technological solutions, so you need to choose the most reliable managed IT service.
The best course of action is to ask a managed services provider these 8 questions to ensure you’re getting the best service.
One of the benefits of managed IT is you get multiple services in one bundle. But it’s essential to know what exact services you’re getting. Some of these services may include data backups, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, network security, and more.
Asking this question also offers more benefits. You may potentially avoid extra fees for services you don’t need and of the general capabilities of the IT company. Request a quote, if you can.
When you discover what services the managed provider offers and the quote, compare this to competitors. See which service offers the most while saving money.
Most managed IT service providers work with specific vendors to sell their technological products. Looking at these vendors will let you know the managed service provider’s reliability.
You should not only look at the vendors they work with but also the resources they have available. For example, they should provide training so you and your team know how to use the vendor’s products.
The managed service provider should also be investing in new products. Technology changes constantly. If your managed service provider keeps up with the latest technology, they can implement these products into your business.
Sure, you can look up reviews to receive this answer. But it’s still worth it to ask the managed IT service what their customers are saying. This will tell you many things about the IT service, such as their responsiveness to customer insight and what others are saying about their services.
There are also ways to look outside of traditional customer reviews. Many brands offer case studies on their website. You should read a few of them to understand how the managed IT provider helps their customers.
Even if you use the best technology, you’ll inevitably experience disruptions at some point. How will your managed IT service handle any technology disruptions? What if you endure a data breach? The top managed service providers have solutions already set in place for this to occur.
Any business disruptions, but especially a data breach, can result in lost funds and a damaged reputation.
You’ll specifically want to look at these specifics in their plan:
• Monitor your network and immediately respond to abnormal events
• Protect your critical information and data
• Train staff to recognize signs of hacking and other cybercrime activity
• Will resolve the issue immediately to continue daily business operations
Overall, the managed service provider should handle any disruptions immediately.