8 Top Questions to Ask Your Managed IT Support Before Hiring Them
TechsPlace | Hiring a managed IT support provider is a time-consuming task. You can make it easier by creating a list of questions to ask the representatives before hiring. A short conversation can give you an excellent idea of whether the company could cater to your needs.
Consider making a list of your locally managed IT support companies, which have been in business for at least three years. Set up interviews with them. We’ve come up with a simple list of questions to help you find your perfect candidate within minutes.
How can you help my company grow and develop?
Remember, a managed IT support company is not just a team of specialists that know how to plug in monitors or update anti-virus software. Your remote IT team must follow your business and discover new ways to help it work better.
These specialists should offer proactive support, helping you stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, they should have at least a preliminary plan of how to do it.
What services do you offer?
Even though thousands of managed IT companies may exist in your local market, all of them could be providing a different set of services. One important question that you need to ask your managed IT services provider is whether it can also perform the function of a Cloud migration company, in case you require to move or upgrade from physical data storage devices to Cloud-based systems. This can give you a clear picture of the company’s versatility and professionalism when it comes to completely managed IT services. And, one such expert is “Dataknox” in Newark CA, which offers Cloud computing solutions for effective data storage.
Be careful, the list they have on the website may not always be updated. So when speaking to the specialists, ask them to describe each service they can offer you.
From cabling to software development and from software updates to cloud migration, check out if they have all the services your company needs.
What is your billing structure?
How much money are you planning to spend on your IT-related affairs? Keep this figure in mind when asking for prices and the billing structure.
Ideally, the company should offer a flat fee for each service, allowing you to choose which options you need and which you don’t.
If the provider starts talking about hourly rates, consider opting out of the partnership.
What are your cybersecurity options?
Anyone dealing with your information and sensitive data must know how to protect it. Security is one of the most demanded IT services in the world today.
According to Symple IT Solutions, an IT service provider should have a clear picture of how to arrange data security for your business even before you sign a contract.
How experienced are you in setting up disaster recovery plans?
A disaster recovery plan is an integral part of any business function. One of the first things a managed IT service provider should do is work out such a plan if it doesn’t exist and update it if it does.
If the provider doesn’t have too much experience with such plans, your company’s security may be compromised.
How do you connect to the internet?
A managed IT support company should have at least two Internet service providers. A single internet service provider (ISP) is a cause for concern. In case of a failed connection, you may lose access to your data. With two or more ISPs, you can avoid this problem.
Can you share your references?
Even a young company should have referenced what it’s the pride of. Don’t hesitate to speak to past and existing clients to find out how well the company is doing its job.
While looking at the references, ask if the provider has worked with companies similar to yours before.
What questions do you have about my business?
If by the end of the interview, the company’s representatives haven’t overwhelmed you with questions about the way your business works, it could signal trouble.
Give them a chance to redeem themselves with this question. If no questions follow, skip this candidate.
Take the time to talk to each prospective provider to figure out if it suits your purposes. If you end up with two equally weighted companies, choose the one with the best price tag.
Maria has been writing articles for 5 years. She specializes in business and marketing. On her free time she loves to read and write about her travel experiences. You can find her doing this by the beach.
