There aren’t many things quite as important to your business as the health of your IT network. After all, most businesses are dependent on a highly functioning IT network to support daily business operations and store client data. You want to make sure you’re partnering with a managed services provider that prioritizes your IT needs as much as you do.
Peter Drucker, the famed management consultant and self-described social ecologist, once said, “Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it.”

So how do you know if you’re getting top-notch service and network support, or if your managed IT provider is just skating by? Ask yourself these questions to find out.

• What quality of service do you get from the Help Desk? When you do have a problem, you turn to the Help Desk for assistance. If they are usually able to resolve your issue on the first (or occasionally second) attempt, chances are they have qualified technicians manning the desk. If it takes multiple calls, multiple people, and several hours to make it right, it’s likely your Help Desk is manned by admin-level employees who respond to alerts and follow scripts. You want a company with technicians who understand your IT issues and can quickly resolve them.

• What kind of direction are you getting for your future IT needs? Another way to spot a stand-out managed service provider is their focus on helping you make the right decisions for your business and your technical requirements, rather than their urgency to make an immediate sale. Ask to speak with a Network Engineer or VCIO (Virtual Chief Information Officer) to ensure you’ll get expert advice on what your business needs to be successful. They should take the time to understand your current needs and future requirements, so they can provide you with comprehensive and reliable solutions.

• Do they have a wide variety of quality services? When looking for a great managed services provider—or evaluating your existing one—consider the services you currently need and the ones you might add in the future. Proactive maintenance, 24/7 monitoring, and managed security services are a must for many businesses. But, for many companies cloud services and disaster recover solutions are also essential. A managed services provider that does not offer these services will probably not be able to keep up with the growing needs of your business.

Choosing an excellent managed IT provider to entrust with your technology can be a daunting task, but it’s an important one for every business to make.

Contact us today to learn more.