8 tips when searching for the right IT provider

Your business can benefit a lot from working with an IT partner. However, there are several key tips to bear in mind when choosing your IT partner.

Time spent trying to figure out the technology you use in your business can be costly. While doing that, you can’t focus on your business needs, which can then result in poor customer satisfaction.

This is where IT partners come into play.

They enable you to outsource hardware and computing-related services, such as managed IT security and cloud computing. IT partners can also provide a robust IT infrastructure so that you can direct your attention to revenue-generating activities.

While there are numerous IT partners in central Scotland to choose from, not all of them may accommodate your business’s specific needs. Integrating with the wrong team can raise your spending due to irrelevant services, recurring security issues, data backup problems, and downtime.

Therefore, you need to be extra careful when selecting your team. The only way to avoid disappointment is to follow these 8 tips when looking for the right IT partner.

THE EIGHT TIPS

TIP #1 – DON’T BE FOOLED INTO ‘NEEDING’ THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY

Many advertisers want to trick you into believing that the latest technology will resolve all your issues. While the newest virtualisation or cloud offerings can boost operations in many enterprises, they might not suit your business.

Don’t let the hype surrounding new products dazzle you.

Carefully consider the recommendations from your IT partner and whether the investment will help you achieve your goals. Your partner shouldn’t confuse you with state-of-the-art features – they should guide you and allow for seamless integration.

TIP #2 – CONSIDER THE RESPONSE TIMES

Determining the response times of your prospective IT partner is essential. You need to ask them how long they usually take to reply to queries and resolve problems. Be sure to gauge their onsite support efficiency, too.

Not inquiring about their availability is a grave error. Your IT team should provide when you need them, including specialists who will monitor your system.

Constant monitoring and availability can help ensure you can detect IT issues early. With this, the IT partner can immediately administer patches and updates to safeguard against disasters.

Furthermore, your IT partner should offer simple access to their desk support. You should be able to contact them via email, phone, and or a dedicated portal.

TIP #3 – DON’T NEGLECT THE SECURITY ASPECT

Disregarding the security features of your IT partner might be the most severe mistake. Teams with improper defence mechanisms can’t shield your system from cyber attackers, increasing the risk of losing data and access to resources.

To avoid this, look for IT partners that can protect you from malware and other threats. They also need to prioritise protecting your business’s confidential data, like trade secrets and customer information.

When it comes to specific security measures, your IT partner should have features that prevent data intrusions instantly upon detection. The list includes phishing attack simulations, web content filtering, DNS security, endpoint protection, mobile device management, and dark web protection.

In addition, responsible teams should eliminate point-of-sale and network intrusions before they compromise your system. Making sure they abide by security compliance and government regulations is also paramount.

TIP #4 – DON’T FORGET THE BUDGET