Your Long Island business may have reached a point where you want to partner with a managed services company. But how should you go about finding one? Ultimately, you should partner with a company that can explain its solutions to you in a straightforward way, and that can give you 24/7 support. Here we discuss some questions you should ask when interviewing possible managed IT service partners.
Availability and Response Times
A managed services company should be able to offer you 24/7 maintenance and monitoring so it can detect possible threats to your network, even during off-hours. Also, when it finds a problem, it should be able to respond immediately. Make sure your managed tech support partner takes your calls and notifications personally and doesn’t forward them to a call center. A reputable company should be able to give a guaranteed response time estimate.
Tailored Maintenance and Support Services
Your managed services provider should offer virtual and off-site technical support as well as on-site desk support. It should also tailor its services to meet your business’s specific needs. That way, you’re using all of the services you pay for, and you can focus on running your business. Additionally, your IT partner should look out for your business by helping you with your IT budgeting to make sure you’re spending money on services and upgrades that will help your business grow. Finally, it should also practice preventive maintenance.
Cybersecurity and Disaster Recovery
Your network’s security should be your managed services provider’s top priority. It should put 24/7 security monitoring in place to protect your data. Inquire about the kinds of security management tools it uses to protect other clients. It should also work with you to develop a disaster recovery plan that anticipates any cyberattacks or natural disasters your business might face.
Cloud Services and Data Backups
Using a managed service company should allow you to make regularly scheduled, consistent backups of your network’s data. It can also help you set up a remote cloud server that will store your data. Keeping your data on remote servers will allow you to keep it safe, even if your business’s headquarters or other locations are damaged or destroyed.
Service Plans and Contracts
When you partner with an IT support company, you should work out a service contract that outlines which services the company will provide over specific amounts of time. The contract should also state your monthly fees. You should put together an IT prenup that states how and when the managed service company will return your passwords, security information, and data if you decide to part ways. Drawing up these contracts will help guarantee you receive the services you are paying for and the company is working to earn your payments and fulfill its obligations to you.
Long Island Managed Services
If you are a member of a small business on Long Island or in New York City that’s looking for a managed IT service provider, contact us today. At Hi-Tek Data, we provide Long Island IT support services that are tailored to fit your business’s needs and style of operations. We will manage your day-to-day IT services in ways that will help you improve your business’s bottom line.
