Determine Your Needs: Take time to assess your business’s specific needs. Without this, it will be difficult to determine which managed service provider will best fit your company.

 

• Do you have IT people on Staff? If so, consider making response times, and ticketing systems a priority.
• Do you need help with cybersecurity? If so, ask how they approach cybersecurity.
• What is the goal? For most companies it’s simple: they want to spend less time on IT, and more on running their business.

Delivering Managed Services: Select a company who knows how deliver results.

 

• How do they determine pricing?
• What’s included in the offering?
• What is not included (ie, are there any hidden fees)?

Look for Experience: It’s important to find an IT company with a proven track record of success.

Look for a company with at least 20 years in IT managed services. Also, it can also be difficult to get the best possible support through smaller service providers. Look for a company with at least 30 employees, most of which should be support personnel.

Consider the Company’s Reputation: A company who has not been in business for long won’t have any reputation. Look for longevity – you want to work with someone who will be around as long as you.

Communication: It’s important to find an IT company that is responsive and communicative. Look for a company that is willing to listen to your needs and address your concerns in a timely manner.

Pricing: While cost shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision, it’s important to find a solution with value that matches the price.

 

• Understand that the lower the cost, the lower the quality of service – Don’t be afraid to invest more for a better solution.
• For a fully managed offering, budget for at least $150 per employee (/month).
• Carefully review the terms of their services to ensure you are getting a fair price.