MANAGED IT SERVICES

To get the most from your managed IT services company, you will need to know what to look for and what sort of questions you need to ask in order to find out what solutions they offer, and how they can help your specific IT needs. First, you need to determine what your primary needs are however - are you seeking ongoing support for a large network and server, or do you simply need a reliable IT company to call when you run into problems within your small office? Once you have that sorted, make a list of the number of computers within your office or network, so that the company will have an idea of your requirements. You can then present this list along with a basic overview of the programs and systems you would prefer, to discuss how they can assist.
Questions that you can ask the managed IT services company include the following:
• What services do you offer as part of your monthly service package?
This should include basic maintenance of systems, plus other basics such as anti-virus program installation, spyware removal, internet related tasks, server management and other obvious solutions. Depending on your needs, your managed IT services company will then draw up a contract and you will be billed for the amount of hours spent on site. Obviously, it you have a large company with a number of regular duties; this will differ from ad hoc work for a smaller company. Make sure to ask for a full list of services available to you.
• What technical skills and qualifications do your technicians have?
To ensure that you do not end up with more problems than you started with, always ask about how skilled and qualified the technicians at your managed IT services company are. While some technicians may be fresh out of studies, they may possess much talent and understanding of systems - and with so many starting to learn at a young age, even programmers that seem young may be highly experienced. Technicians should be experienced within all major fields, from Microsoft technologies to Apple, plus they should be fully skilled in all programming languages to ensure that they have the skills to deal with any and every IT situation.
• Can I source hardware and software from your company?
While this may seem like a given, not all IT services companies give you good deals on hardware and programs purchased through their company. A good IT provider has an excellent network of preferred suppliers, giving you the best discounts on products straight from the wholesalers. Plus, a good company will also offer consolidated billing, ensuring that you can manage all work and products sourced from one single invoice.