Managed IT services can make or break any business. They can easily become a liability as companies dump money into security services yet see no results. Even worse, an inexperienced company that offers managed IT services can leave companies vulnerable to vicious malware attacks that result in costly data breaches. When companies search for managed IT services, it’s important to keep these things in mind.

Avoid Long-Term Contracts

Companies that offer managed services often do so on a contract basis. While this is common, it’s critical to avoid long-term contracts that last for 2-3 years. These long contracts can leave businesses stuck with an IT company that doesn’t meet their needs.

Instead, stick with short-term contracts that are measured in months. This gives you room to switch companies if you are not satisfied, or if the company grows and the current managed IT provider can no longer meet the needs of the company.

Experience

Every managed IT company needs to have experience. You need to know that the company has previously worked with clients in your industry and that they have successfully provided the services that you need.

When looking at experience, it’s essential to consider what the business needs. For example, if you need cloud security services, it makes no sense to hire a company that has experience in other areas, but zero experience in cloud security services. It’s also important to consider what type of VPS hosting you have when asking about a provider’s experience.

On-Going Training

The world of technology continues to evolve at an astounding rate. Managed IT providers will find that what was a necessity five years ago is now considered obsolete. Make sure that the company in question provides employees with ongoing training to guarantee that their services are able to meet the demands of the ever-changing technological atmosphere.

Expertise In Data Security

Companies should not only have previous experience in data security, but they should also excel at data security. One security breach that results in customers’ information being stolen can result in a business having to pay millions of dollars.

In addition to that, it can ruin a business as security breaches erode away consumer trust, resulting in businesses losing thousands of potential customers.

Security Testing And Monitoring Services

Expertise and experience in security are not enough to ensure the safety of sensitive information. Companies that specialize in managed IT services should be able to explain the process that they use to test the security of businesses, and how they monitor the security for potential cyber-attacks.

Clear Communication

It’s important to mesh well with a company that is providing services. You should be able to speak with the company regarding any concerns, and should always know what services are being provided. There should be clear, concise communication regarding everything from the price to the services. When a managed IT provider refuses to give solid answers, that’s a huge red flag.

Reliability

Selecting a company that is reliable is essential to the success of your business. It makes no difference if you have an IT company that doesn’t answer the phone during an emergency or procrastinates solving critical problems that lead to data breaches.

Take the time to research a company before hiring them. Read previous customer reviews. Ask the company for references from previous clients. Then, call them for a specific service before hiring them to test their performance.

Positive Customer Experiences

When customers have a horrible experience with a business, they often feel compelled to leave a review for the company. This is because they want to help other potential customers avoid the same situation that they found themselves in.

That is why it’s important to read customer reviews before hiring a managed IT provider. If a company does not have any reviews or lacks a lot of five-star reviews, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Customers don’t feel the same need to leave positive reviews. However, if they have a plethora of negative reviews, it’s best to consider working with a different IT provider.

Emergency Plans

A managed IT provider will be your go-to person when there is an emergency in your business. If there is a sudden malware attack or data breach, they are the first person that you are going to call. That is why it’s important to make sure that a managed IT provider has an emergency plan to handle those situations.

When interviewing companies to work with, ask them how they handle data breaches. Inquire as to whether they have ever had to implement their emergency plan for a client, and if they always have a technician on call. Companies that are going to be there in an emergency are companies that you can trust to help your business remain secure as it grows.

Services That Suit Your Business

Before browsing managed IT providers to hire, consider what your business needs. Do you have a small business that needs basic security? Or a medium-sized business that needs complete network security, cloud security, and an updated system? Asking yourself these questions will help you find a business that provides services that suit you.

For more important information that business owners need to know, check out this blog!