Hiring an internal IT manager has its advantages, however, there are downsides. Not only is there a permanent salary to consider, there will also be no cover during holidays or sickness. Internal IT staff can also find it hard to stay up to date with the latest IT knowledge. Outsourcing IT Support could be your answer.
Top things you should consider when outsourcing IT support:
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Locality
Do you need or want a local company? About 90% of IT support can be done remotely, but the ability to be onsite and know your business can be invaluable.
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Scalability
Do you want an IT company that can handle your issue when it occurs, and not put you in a queue of work? Make sure to ask how many IT support engineers the company has.
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Support
What IT support options are offered? Business hours, out of hours, faster response times.
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Knowledge
How much experience and expertise do they have? Ask what certifications their engineers have – Microsoft, Cisco & Dell are a good starting point.
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Understanding
How well does the IT company understand your business? Any good IT company will have at least one fact finding meeting.
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Pricing
Are they flexible in the solution to make sure it fits your budget? Remember, the cheaper the solution the less reliable it may be.
Once you’ve considered these points, and following a bit of research you should have a clear idea of which supplier is right for you.