The right IT service provider can not only improve cost efficiency and help you scale your business, but they can enhance security and ensure business continuity. They provide peace of mind while giving your teams the time and resources to focus on the business.
Finding an IT consulting firm or managed service provider (MSP) that will understand and work seamlessly with your organization can seem daunting, but it’s crucial to business success. Here are some tips to help you know what to look for when considering providers.
Look for experience and a range of services
A good place to start is by checking the MSP’s experience and track record with businesses of similar size. Request references from clients the provider has worked with long term. Case studies and examples of successful projects will reveal how the firm works and the kinds of projects they handle.
An MSP or managed security service provider (MSSP) should offer a comprehensive range of services that align with your business needs, such as network management, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, on-demand IT support, and IT strategy consulting.
Extensive networking field experience is one of the strongest indicators that a provider has the right skills and capabilities. Since there’s a lot of turnover in the IT industry, longevity also demonstrates reliability.
Evaluating compatibility
Once you’ve established that the MSP has the right experience, consider whether they’re a good fit for your company. First, take a look at the MSP’s culture, values, and work styles to determine whether they align with those of your company.
Compare collaboration practices and communication needs. Do they have an interview and onboarding process to learn about your company? Do their communication methods align with your preferences? It’s important that they understand your processes and business objectives, as well as describe their approach to working together.
Next, consider the location. MSPs don’t necessarily have to be in your area since they can provide a lot of support remotely and often have established relationships to outsource on-site support. However, a significant difference in time zones or communication channels can become issues in some cases.
Questions to ask prospective IT providers
After you’ve reviewed their references and case studies, you can ask them more specific questions to evaluate how they’ll work with your teams.
- What experience, training, and technical certifications do your team members have? Is their training ongoing and kept current?
- How do you approach cybersecurity, data protection, and compliance for our industry?
- How will you continue to support our business as yours scales? Will you have enough resources?
- What communication channels do you use and what are your expected response times? What are your escalation procedures for resolving issues?
- How do you handle disaster recovery to protect our data and ensure business continuity?
- Do you have access to the people and tools you need as both of our companies grow?
Measuring expectations and outcomes
It’s a challenge to guarantee outcomes in IT, but the MSP should let you know what to expect and how they measure success. They may gauge their work in terms of user experience, system performance, reduced downtime, blocked threats, and the predictability of IT spending. They may share results with you via regular meetings or by providing KPI reports.
Some details to look for in your contract include:
- Clearly defined service level goals (SLGs) around response times, uptime guarantees, and performance metrics
- A reasonable contract length, giving each party the opportunity to assess the relationship on an annual basis
- A termination clause detailing notice requirements and provisions for transitioning to another provider, if necessary
Choosing the right MSP can result in an ongoing relationship that helps your business achieve success. In addition to protecting systems, they can be proactive in preventing issues and creating a long-term technology roadmap.
If you ask the right questions upfront, you improve your chances of finding a qualified, reliable IT partner.
At UTOT, we’ve worked with many of our clients for 10 to 20 years. Discover how we help businesses like yours with their IT and cybersecurity needs.
