4 Tips for Choosing an IT Managed Service Provider

4 tips for choosing an it managed service provider
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It’s clear that security breaches are an issue for large corporations and organizations. However, DID YOU KNOW they are also a major issue for small businesses? If you’re like most business owners and managers, you want to choose the right IT solution for your business model.

Like this article notes, a managed service provider (MSP) delivers network, application, system and e-management services across a network to multiple enterprises, using a “pay as you go” pricing model. Without being an IT expert, you’re likely unsure how to go about it. Below is a list of what to look for in an IT Managed Service Provider.

What to Look For

1) Professionalism – The onboarding process proves the level of professionalism. Your IT provider should offer you a designated team member that will always be your first point of contact in every situation. Even still, in some situations you or your staff might just want to speak with the helpdesk. It’s important to note that good IT teams clearly define their helpdesk policies in writing.

You also want your potential IT team to provide a seamless service transition, with a clear outline of the information they need from you or from your previous IT services provider.

2) Coverage – Many issues between IT providers and the companies they serve occur could be avoided if managers and business owners understood exactly what their service contract covers. The best way to guarantee this is to understand exactly what your potential IT team covers up front. Ask for a Service Line Up and a Device Inventory. These documents outline exactly how your potential IT team will handle service delivery in the different technology areas of your business.

3) Mobile Security – Mobile security should be made an absolute priority. Yes, network security is typically the primary issue for most companies. However, more and more, employees are using mobile devices for both personal and business use. Even simple tasks like accessing the company network, emailing & texting clients or transporting files can put company data at risk. Your potential outsourced IT support team should help you design a mobile security plan that includes:

  • Provision of or help with planning compliance training
  • Help with choosing a BYOD or COPE device policy
  • Device security, backup and recovery protocol implementation

4) Disaster Recovery – There is no question that every company needs a good backup and recovery plan. Make sure that your potential IT company provides you with a backup and recovery plan in writing, and that it covers your office’s hardware, peripherals and mobile devices.

We believe that it’s important that you and your staff understand everything we have to offer, before signing our agreement. Having it in writing gives you proof while clarity and understanding give you the peace of mind you need to focus on your business.

Contact us today!

Outsourcing IT Support For Businesses: What Decision Is Right For You?

outsourcing it support for businesses what decision is right for you

4cit-outsourcing-1Outsourcing, or hiring an outside business to take care of some functions that are typically performed in-house, is something many companies are definitely familiar with. Some companies choose to outsource their finances and logistics, and that is becoming a common practice because it decreases costs and increases productivity and efficiency. Another popular and increasing trend is the the outsourcing of IT support for businesses.

IT Systems And Electricity

Your business’s IT systems and other equipment is kind of like your electricity. When you walk into your office and flip the switch, you expect it to come on immediately with no problems. You just anticipate that it will work, and you do not even think about it. When your electricity is not working, you immediately notice a difference and your business suffers because everything has gone down.

No IT Support Can Frustrate Customers

When your IT systems are working properly, you do not really pay much attention to it either. However, when it is not working because of a problem, everyone in your business and your customers immediately realize a problem. Like any other department in your business, your information systems are an integral key to your business’s success.

The systems need maintenance and administration in order for it to perform properly every single day. The systems should work in such a way that you are able to provide support for customers when they contact you. Your customers expect to receive a response in a specified time frame when they contact your support team with a problem.

More Tickets Than You Can Handle

When a business finds itself having more tickets coming in than it can handle, this an certainly slow down your entire work process. If your IT support is outsourced, you have the ability to outsource your support to a company that has the ability to handle everything because of their level of scalability. The third-party that you have selected has the ability to bring increase the support team or break down the support team in different areas. You will not have to worry about the stress, extra time, and extra money needed in order to meet the needs of your customers.

In many cases, it seems that outsourcing is certainly a popular and effective choice. However, what works best for one business may not work for the next. Your business should decide on what is best for your business and its customers. If you need assistance in IT support and you want to determine if outsourcing is an option to consider, contact us. We would love to assist you.

Is Your Outdated IT in Fort Lauderdale Driving Customers Away?

is your outdated it in fort lauderdale driving customers away
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4 Corner IT Can Help!

When running a small or medium sized business, you may be comfortable doing things the way you’re accustomed to.  If your IT infrastructure is a bit outdated, maybe you see no problem with that, as long as your business keeps functioning well.

However, letting yourself become outdated not only hurts your efficiency and your ability to recover from tech-related disaster; it also affects your customers’ or clients’ perceptions of who you are and whether or not they want to do business with you.

When Microsoft recently conducted a survey among hundreds of consumers, they found that 91% see outdated technology as a reason to turn away from a particular business.  Customers need the reassurance that your business is being served by the most up-to-date IT solutions.

What are some of the conclusions potential customers and clients may reach about a business operating with outdated technology?

  • Their data won’t be secure.  The business will be vulnerable to cyber-crime and the loss of sensitive personal information, including credit card info, home addresses, and Social Security numbers.
  • The business isn’t making it convenient for them to conduct transactions.  For example, if a business hasn’t adapted its online presence to mobile devices, customers could be more likely to disengage with it.  If they have trouble easily purchasing a product or making an appointment on the web, they’ll turn to another business that gives them greater Internet convenience.
  • The business is run in a lazy fashion.  If it can’t bother to invest in its tech, then maybe it’s cutting corners in other ways.  In any case, customers will generally prefer businesses that don’t seem tired and outmoded.

If you live in or around Fort Lauderdale, get IT support from local experts who can help you make sure your business is up-to-date using cost-effective and efficient solutions that will make you more attractive to consumers.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your concerns and have your IT needs met.