1. IT SECURITY PROTOCOLS
One of the top duties of a managed service provider is to focus on cybersecurity in the workplace. Cyber threats pose significant risks for all businesses and can ruin the reputation of your company. Discussing standard IT security protocols with a managed service provider is essential to ensure that the IT support company is the right fit for your organization while also giving you optimal protection against cyber threats.
2. SERVICE-LEVEL AGREEMENT
The service-level agreement (SLA) is a contract that details the services an IT provider will supply for your business. Understanding the service-level agreement is critical before you choose to partner with any provider. An SLA includes many details, such as the availability of services, response times, and quality of IT services.
3. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Choosing to use an IT provider with documented years of experience is a much safer option compared to using a brand new IT company. An experienced IT provider will have worked with many different small businesses in helping them reach their IT goals. It is also a good idea to reach out to their existing clients to further confirm that the IT provider is the right fit for your company.
4. INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANS
An emergency can arise at any moment and lead to many hours of expensive, unexpected downtime. An IT provider that has developed an incident response plan can limit the damage of these emergencies and help your company bounce back. An effective incident response plan should include a variety of scenarios, such as detailing the best way to handle ransomware attacks, hardware failure, phishing scams, and various other situations.
5. TECH SUPPORT AVAILABILITY AND EXPERTISE
An IT support company that offers around the clock support is a great asset for a small business. Employees can reach out to an IT provider at any time to receive immediate support with minimal delays. An IT service provider that is well-versed in the latest technology is also essential to ensure that your company gets the best IT support available. Verifying around the clock availability and technical expertise is essential before you choose an IT provider.
An IT service provider is a significant investment that impacts your business in a wide range of ways. Taking the extra time to thoroughly evaluate an IT provider is essential to ensuring that you find a company that best meets the needs of our business. Reviewing IT security protocols, reading the service-level agreement, and researching various incident response plans are all critical aspects of using a managed service provider. Keeping these things in mind will ensure that your business can select an IT service provider with no regrets.
