There are huge benefits for organisations that work with an IT provider. However, there are several key mistakes that organisations make when trying to choose the right team.
Time spent on trying to figure out the technology you use in your school or business can be costly. While doing that, you can’t focus on your organisations needs, which can then effect your delivery of services.
This is where IT providers can step in and provide valuable support.
IT providers offer the opportunity to outsource hardware and computing services, such as managed IT security and cloud computing. They can also provide a strong IT infrastructure, allowing you to focus on income-generating tasks.
Although there are many IT providers to choose from, not all of them may be suited to your unique requirements. Partnering with the wrong team can lead to unnecessary expenses due to irrelevant services, persistent security issues, data backup complications, and downtime.
For this reason, it’s crucial to exercise caution when choosing your IT provider. To prevent any negative outcomes, it’s essential to steer clear of these eight common mistakes when searching for the right team.
The Eight Most Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 – Insisting on the Newest Technology
Advertisers often try to convince you that the latest technology can solve all your problems. While the newest cloud offerings can improve operations for many organisations, they may not be suitable for yours.
Therefore, don’t be swayed by the hype surrounding new products. Instead, carefully assess the outcomes your IT provider can help you attain and determine if the investment will allow you to achieve them. Your provider should not overwhelm you with advanced features but rather provide guidance and support for seamless integration.
Mistake #2 – Failure To Consider the Response Times
It’s crucial to determine the response times of your potential IT providers. Make sure you ask about their typical time frame for answering inquiries and resolving issues, as well as their efficiency in providing onsite support.
Failing to inquire about their availability is another significant mistake. Your IT team should offer round-the-clock services, including specialists who will monitor your system.
Continuous monitoring and availability can help detect IT issues early, allowing the provider to administer patches and updates promptly to prevent disasters.
Additionally, your IT provider should offer convenient access to their desk support. You should be able to reach them through email, phone, and chat for immediate assistance.
Mistake #3 – Neglecting the Security Aspect
Neglecting the security features of your IT provider can be the most significant mistake you make. Teams with inadequate defense mechanisms cannot protect your system from cyber attackers, increasing the risk of data loss and resource access.
To avoid this, seek out IT providers that can defend you against malware and other threats. They should prioritize safeguarding your business’s confidential data, such as trade secrets and customer information.
Concerning specific security measures, your IT provider should have features that instantly prevent data intrusions upon detection. This includes simulations of phishing attacks, web content filtering, DNS security, endpoint protection, mobile device management, and dark web protection.
Additionally, responsible teams should prevent network intrusions before they compromise your system. Ensuring compliance with security standards is essential.
Mistake #4 – Forgetting the Budget
Many IT companies operate under pay-as-you-go pricing schemes. Although this helps you minimize upfront investment, adopting a large number of technologies simultaneously without considering the recurring costs can cripple your finances.
Thus, think twice before signing on the dotted line.
Research your providers thoroughly and draft your budget with professional assistance. These steps can prevent considerable frustration down the line.
Mistake #5 – Not Determining Scalability
Choosing an IT provider that lacks scalability can be a major obstacle to growing your organisation.
A scalable IT team can help your organisation evolve and expand by continually extending their services to align with your changing goals.
Mistake #6 – Opting for a Non-Responsive Service Level Agreement
Service level agreements (SLAs) are crucial in holding IT providers accountable for their services. They establish written standards for responsibilities, quality, scope, and delivery time, ensuring transparent collaboration between you and your provider.
When choosing an IT provider, it’s important to find one with a responsive agreement that can scale with their services and provide continual improvement.
Mistake #7 – Lack of Team Training and Feedback
It’s crucial to provide adequate training to your employees to ensure they can effectively use new technology solutions. Additionally, it’s important to monitor their performance and gather feedback regularly from your staff and users to identify and address any areas of weakness.
Mistake #8 – Ignoring Experiences With Previous Clients
Choosing an IT provider is similar to buying standard products and services. Failure to check reviews from previous and current customers can lead to disappointment.
To get a clear picture of your IT team’s capabilities, analyse their current and previous clients from similar industries. Look for reviews, testimonials, and ask the provider for a list of projects and references.
After doing your due diligence, you should be able to tell whether an IT provider is an ideal match for your organisation.
IT providers that specialise in your industry are more likely to have a better understanding of your specific needs and challenges. They have experience working with similar businesses and are familiar with industry-specific regulations, compliance requirements, and best practices. This can help ensure that they provide tailored solutions that align with your goals, enhance your operations, and boost your bottom line.
Find the Right Fit
Choosing the wrong IT provider can be detrimental to your business, which is why it’s crucial to do your research, ask the right questions, and carefully consider all aspects before making a decision. It’s better to take the time to find the right IT provider than to rush into a partnership and regret it later.
We can help you make the right choice so why not book a quick 10-15 minute obligation free chat. We can help and discuss more ways on how to find the right IT provider for you and ensure that the right steps have been taken to result in a long and happy partnership.