Choosing the right IT company for your business requires careful consideration. Before you select an IT managed services provider (MSP) or IT support provider, request a consultation with a company representative to discuss your needs and expectations. Have a list of relevant questions to ask your potential technology partners. Asking the right questions helps you to select a suitable IT support company for your Bay Area business. Here are a few questions to consider as you vet your options.
Top Questions to Ask an IT Managed Services Provider
What Kind of Services Do You Provide?
Not all IT companies offer the same IT services. Only you can decide what’s best for your company, but you should know the levels of service available. If your business is small and doesn’t require a particularly complex IT system, a pay-as-you-go service might suffice. If your company has a broader tech network, you could benefit from using an IT managed services provider. An IT managed service provider will actively manage all your applications and systems.
What Is Your Average Response Time?
Ideally, your IT team will respond promptly to assistance requests. Ask the representative how long you should expect to wait for service. Does the company offer 24/7 tech support and what is the average response and resolution time? You should remain cautious if a rep guarantees resolution within a specific time frame. This is because the remedies to some tech problems require extensive time, and making this kind of promise can be unrealistic in some situations.
Can I Speak Directly With a Technician When I Need Help?
When your business has a tech issue, you likely won’t have the time to deal with a call center for hours. Make sure that you have a direct phone number for a representative who will be able to help you or at a minimum take charge of the situation. Your primary point of contact should be ready to take ownership of a project and guide you through the process, not pass you from one technician to another, as you might have experienced with some large companies. You don’t want to be forced to repetitively explain the problem you are having until you find the person who can really help you.
How Experienced Is Your Team?
Don’t entrust your company’s technical issues to an inexperienced San Francisco computer consultant. The IT support team you hire should offer plenty of technical expertise. Since you have a right to know how much experience the company’s staff members have to offer, ask for specific details regarding the skill set of the team you’re considering, how long your rep has been working in the field as well as how long they’ve been with the company in question.
Do You Provide Remote Support?
Remote tech support is convenient for everyone involved. Instead of waiting for hours or days for a technician to arrive, you could get started much more quickly with remote service. Additionally, your technician might troubleshoot more efficiently from his or her office, resulting in much faster resolution times for your company.
The Bay Area is home to a wide range of IT companies, finding a good fit for your business needs is as simple as understanding what you need and asking the right questions. If you’re not sure where to start, or you’re considering transitioning to new software, hardware, or streamlining your technical operations you may consider speaking with an IT consultant. If you know what you need to be successful from an IT perspective then it’s just about knowing the right questions to ask, meeting with representatives, and selecting the right one for you.
Eaton & Associates is a seasoned IT services provider that has been operating in the Bay Area for over 30 years
Contact Eaton & Associates for information on our IT managed services, help desk support, hardware purchasing, and IT consulting to make your office more productive and your systems more reliable. Call us today at (415) 282-1188 or contact us on our website and we will be happy to discuss how we can help.
