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Your business can benefit from working with the right IT provider. Here at Cirrus IT Services, we’d like you to choose us! However, we recognise that you need to evaluate your options. Here are several critical mistakes to avoid when selecting your team.

Time spent trying to understand the most appropriate technology for your business can be costly. When you focus on IT rather than your business needs, then the result is poor customer satisfaction.

IT providers need to be open and honest with customers. At Cirrus IT Services, we help when we know that we have the expertise. Or we point our customers in the right direction.

You can focus on revenue-generating activity when you discover the best-outsourced hardware and computing-related services. Managed IT security and cloud computing provide a robust IT infrastructure and peace of mind.

While there are many IT providers, not all accommodate specific needs. Choose the right team to control your spending. Eliminate irrelevant services, recurring security issues, data backup problems, and downtime.
Please do be extra careful when selecting your IT team. Avoid common mistakes.

THE EIGHT COMMON MISTAKES

MISTAKE 1 – THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

Insisting on the latest technology plays into the hands of the advertisers, who want to trick you into believing that the newest technology will resolve all your issues. While the latest cloud offerings can boost operations, they might not suit your specific business.

Don’t let hype dazzle you.

Carefully consider the results your IT provider can help you achieve. Work together to determine if the investment enables you to fulfil the brief. Seamless integration is your aim.

MISTAKE 2 – FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE TIMES

Determining an understanding of response times is essential. It would be best to ask how long it usually takes for the IT provider to reply to queries and resolve problems. Be sure to factor in their onsite and offsite support efficiency.

Constant offsite monitoring can help detect IT issues early. Providers should immediately administer patches and updates to safeguard your business.

Furthermore, check that you have simple access to their support services. Do they offer email, phone, and chat for instant guidance.

MISTAKE 3 – NEGLECTING SECURITY

Neglecting security might be the most severe mistake. Teams with improper defence mechanisms can’t shield your business systems from cyberattacks. Don’t run the risk of losing data or system access.

Look for an IT provider to protect you from malware and other threats. They also need to understand the importance of protecting your confidential business data, like trade secrets and customer information.

Prevent data intrusions instantly upon detection with an IT services provider who offers specific security alerts. Address issues such as phishing attacks, DNS security, endpoint protection, mobile device management, dark web protection and, more importantly, human risk management.

All your staff, colleagues and manager should understand how to eliminate point-of-sale and network intrusions before they compromise your system. If you would like to understand more, then look at our page here: https://www.cirrusits.co.uk/human-risk/.

MISTAKE 4 – FORGETTING THE BUDGET

Image by Olya Adamovich from Pixabay

Many IT service providers operate a pay-as-you-go pricing structure. However, adopting many technologies simultaneously without considering the recurring costs can cripple your finances.

Think twice – no three times – before signing on the dotted line.

Research each provider carefully. Draft your budget and anticipated costs with professional assistance. Prevent considerable frustration further down the line.

MISTAKE 5 – NOT DETERMINING SCALABILITY

You’ll need an IT provider with good scalability when growing your company.

Scalable IT systems and teams allow your business to evolve at the pace you choose. Look at how their services extend to accommodate your company’s goals.

MISTAKE 6 – NON-RESPONSIVE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS

Service level agreements (SLAs) hold IT Systems and IT Services providers accountable. It sets out the responsibilities, quality, scope, and delivery times. Without it, you’ll have no way of setting the standards for transparent collaboration.

Find an IT Services provider with a responsive agreement. It helps to guarantee their services while rendering continual improvement.

MISTAKE 7 – LACK OF TEAM TRAINING

Once you’ve found an IT Services provider you can trust, new technologies won’t work magic on your bottom line.

Your employees need to understand how to use your solution and tech to achieve your goals. But bear in mind that some team members might not grasp new tools quickly. Some may even prefer the old platforms.

Hire training experts. Choose professionals who can simplify complex steps and show your staff how to make the most of your new investment.

Set up regular training and monitor the team’s performance, or run the risk of missing poor employee response to new technologies.

Establish questionnaires and other forms of feedback to spot and address any weaknesses.

MISTAKE 8 – IGNORING PREVIOUS CLIENT EXPERIENCES

Choose an IT provider based on user reviews. Failure to check and ignore previous client experiences can lead to your future disappointment.

To get a clear picture of an IT team capability:

1. Analyse current and previous clients in similar industries.
2. Look for the reviews.
3. Ask for testimonials.
4. Follow up references.

Your due diligence will tell you whether an IT provider is an ideal match for your organisation.

Some IT Services providers might be experts in the healthcare industry but have no experience with retailers. Choose IT providers servicing your sector for the best results.

FIND THE FLEXIBLE FIT

Don’t end up with poor IT. Don’t leave your company open to cyberattacks and other vulnerabilities. Protect your investment and your operations.

Luckily, we can show you how we work.

Arrange a quick, 10-15-minute obligation-free chat. We can discuss finding the right IT provider for you to ensure you get your money’s worth.

 

This blog article by Cirrus IT Service is adapted with permission from The Technology Press.

Featured Image Credit: Štefan Štefančík from unsplash.com

Many describe a Managed Service Provider (MSP) or Managed Service Support Contract as an insurance policy for IT equipment. The truth is that a good MSP Contract is so much more than an insurance policy.

An MSP contract is a fixed-term monthly fee covering support for any technology equipment specified.

As your plan will cover you for the support needed to rectify tech problems, it is similar to an insurance policy.

With insurance, however, if nothing happens throughout the policy term, you don’t have anything to show for your money. You only see the benefit when you have a problem. But why would you want issues or problems to get value for money?

With an MSP contract, you don’t need problems to start seeing real value. Right from the start and throughout the policy term, you get all the software licences you need for each product covered.

Our MSP package includes Remote Monitoring and Management, Mail filtering and a Security Suite including Firewall, Antivirus, Antimalware, Content Filtering, Device Control, Network Protection and more.

Your MSP provider should pro-actively work in the background to prevent issues before they occur.

For example, our Mail Filter protects from Spam and includes two different Antimalware Engines. Adding layers of security for inbound and outbound mail makes practical sense.

All our MSP customers receive regular updates. The entire protected inventory list of checks carried out regularly on each device is reported on a regular basis.

There are two types of checks, frequent recurring checks and daily safety checks.

The daily safety checks examine each machine and verify that the security software is operating and up to date. A critical events log monitor alerts you to failed login attempts, your physical disk health status and more.

Frequently recurring checks can run as often as every 5 minutes. Checking for available disk space, monitoring performance, watching critical services on machines an automatically, restarting if necessary and providing data on missing patches and updates are examples of the support provided.

The latest technology reduces security risks with optimal cybersecurity.

All our MSP customers have an agreed Service Level Agreement (SLA) and a help desk system accessible by email, online or by telephone.

If you are the allocated administrator for a company MSP contract, you will be able to log in to our help desk portal to view all tickets logged by your employees. A full audit trail of the life of each ticket shows you – with transparency – precisely what you’re getting for your monthly subscription fee.

Our Managed Service employees are expert, highly qualified and experienced. They only give you the best possible service. They are up to date with industry techniques to update your IT, make sure that you have secure networks infrastructure and that you are happy with the service that you receive.

Outsourcing your IT services allow you not only to save money but in the long-term to streamline monthly costs.

We work closely alongside you, offering quick response and proactive support every time you need it. If you realise the importance of appropriate technological infrastructure to manage your information successfully, then an MSP is for you.

As you can see, an MSP contract is so much more than insurance. It gives you complete peace of mind at an affordable fixed, predictable monthly cost. To find out more contact us at hello@cirrusits.co.uk