Ask These Questions When Hiring a Managed IT Services Provider
Credit: Gustavo Fring via Pexels
As you probably know, Managed IT services providers are third-party teams that help you manage your environment, delivering services such as infrastructure, security, network, and app development through support and maintenance.
Unlike professional services for on-demand projects, Managed IT services are ongoing services that support your organization with its daily IT operations and upkeep. The best Managed IT services help you stay on top of your daily IT demands and reach your goals.
Let’s take a quick look at the advantages of hiring a Managed IT services provider:
- Improved efficiency: Your employees can focus on more pressing tasks with third-party experts managing your systems, resulting in greater productivity.
- Lower Costs: You may notice your long-term costs are lower when you don’t have to run your own in-house IT team.
- Comprehensive Security: Your network team doesn’t have to worry about rolling out antivirus software or operating a firewall when a Managed IT services provider manages your cybersecurity.
- Greater Operational Integrity: A Managed IT services team will ensure that your system is almost always operational.
- Easier Upgrades: Whether you need to update your environment, enhance your cybersecurity system, or migrate apps to the cloud, a Managed IT services team can take charge of the upgrading process.
- Less Stress: You don’t have to worry about managing technology when you have a team of specialists on the job.
- Scalability: It’s much easier to scale with a third-party IT team managing your technology.
While there are undoubtedly many benefits to hiring a Managed IT Services provider, matching with the right one is essential. Here are some questions you should ask during the interview process:
1. Where are you located?
A good Managed IT Services team should have a presence in major cities across your country. For example, Canadian companies know that they can turn to a reliable and experienced Managed IT services provider like Softlanding for IT consulting in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal.
2. What industries do you serve?
Look for a Managed IT services team that carries expertise from various sectors:
- Accounting
- Education
- Financial services
- Government administration
- Health care
- Insurance
- Investment management
- Legal
- Mining and energy
- Nonprofit
- Paper and forest
- Real estate
- Renewable
- Utilities
3. What solution do you offer?
Avoid a team that takes a one-size-fits-all approach to IT solutions. The ideal Managed IT services provider should offer a customized solution based on your budget, needs, and environment. They should treat you like partners, helping you reach your goals and enhancing your efficiencies and security.
4. What technologies do you know?
Your Managed IT services team should be masters of their craft. They should know products such as Azure, 365, Teams, SharePoint, E5 Security, and much more. Any team that offers Microsoft solutions should also be a Microsoft Gold partner and hold multiple competencies and specializations.
5. What services do you offer?
The best Managed IT services providers offer multiple services for their clients to utilize. Some of the services they must offer include monitoring, maintenance, roadmap planning, cybersecurity, backup management, and cost optimization.
These are five key questions you must ask your managed IT services provider. Additionally, look for a team that offers excellent support at all hours of the day. Whether you need help with a small or large issue, your IT team should be on top of the situation with their experience, expertise, and customer service.
