The Ultimate Guide to Small Business IT Support
About 90% of all startups fail. Why? Nearly 50% of these businesses run out of money.
Instead of letting expenses slow you down, consider outsourcing. In fact, about 27% of businesses are already outsourcing to cut costs.
Outsourcing your small business IT support can help you cut costs and remain productive. Beyond that, IT support for businesses can help you mitigate risks, too. You can remain compliant and react quickly in case of an emergency.
Otherwise, you might leave your business vulnerable to cybercrime or ransomware. Paying off a ransom could hurt your company.
Instead, set your business up for growth and success! There are a few things you’ll need to know about outsourcing IT support first.
Read on to learn more.
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Many companies are on the fence about hiring small business IT support services. Without IT support, however, you could leave your company vulnerable. Every second of downtime you experience due to IT issues could hurt your bottom line.
Instead, keep an eye out for these signs it’s time to start outsourcing IT support.
Take a look at the computers and programs your team is currently using. When was the last time you updated your system? Old hardware and software could leave your company falling behind the times.
Even if you update your software, you might find it’s no longer compatible with your old hardware.
If your hardware and software is out of date, consider IT support for businesses. Your IT support team can help you remain up-to-date. They can help you determine what new hardware and software will best benefit your business.
Then, they’ll help you manage your new systems without impacting your productivity.
Otherwise, you might have to pause everything to upgrade your entire team.
Outsourcing IT support can take this task off your hands. Instead, you can remain productive and efficient. Your IT support team will determine the best way to upgrade your hardware and software.
Meanwhile, you’ll never have to worry about falling behind again.
Consider how often you experience computer issues, network malfunctions, and server problems. If you continuously experience IT issues, consider outsourcing IT support. Otherwise, you could encounter recurring sources of stress.
Constant IT issues could cause downtime, time-consuming delays, and impact your team’s productivity, too.
Meanwhile, your team could grow frustrated. They could experience low job satisfaction. You might lose talent as a result.
If that’s the case, you’ll need to find, hire, and train new employees. Your productivity could plummet even further.
Instead, consider small business IT support. Your IT team can help you avoid potential problems. They can update your system to minimize vulnerabilities, too.
If there’s ever an IT emergency, your support team can get on it right away. They can get you back up and running, improving your output. Your productivity and ROI could rise as a result.
Over 40% of all cyberattacks target small businesses. In fact, 60% of these businesses go out of business within six months.
Cybercrime costs small and medium businesses over $2.2 million every year, too.
Unfortunately, 47% of businesses don’t know how to protect themselves against an attack.
Don’t leave your company vulnerable to a potential attack. If you fell victim to an attack in the past, your customers might struggle to trust you. They could take their business to a company that’s more capable of protecting their private data.
Instead of leaving your customers and company vulnerable, consider small business IT support.
Your IT support team can recognize potential vulnerabilities. They can upgrade your security to mitigate potential risks.
They can even schedule regular data backups to ensure you never lose valuable files.
With their help, you can remain secure against potential threats.
Is your company growing? IT support strategies can make scaling a lot easier. Meanwhile, you’ll only pay for the services you need, when you need them.
Your IT support team can help whether you’re undergoing a merger or acquisition. They can also help if you’re ready to move to the cloud. Either way, your IT team can ensure you grow without unnecessary delays.
With their help, you can improve your current architecture and set your business up for success.
There are now over 882,000 IT tech support specialists throughout the US. If you’re ready to find small business IT support, great! It helps to narrow down your options first, though.
Here are a few tips that can help you find the best IT support for your business. With these tips, you’ll no longer have to handle IT issues on your own. Instead, you can rely on an experienced team for the help you need.
Start your search using these easy tips today.
First, Google “IT support companies near me” and make a list of options. Then, start vetting each company on your list.
Consider how long each company has run and operated. It helps to choose an established business. It’s likely they’ve worked out the kinks in their operations.
A new company, on the other hand, might still have a few operational problems they need to work out.
Ask each IT support company on your list about the size of their team. How many technicians do they have on staff? Then, ask how many clients they’re currently helping.
It’s important to find a large enough team to help your business. Otherwise, you might experience delays when requesting help. Those delays could impact your productivity and bottom line.
If the IT team is helping numerous clients, they might have low availability.
Ask if you’ll work with a dedicated account manager or engineer, too. You can benefit from building a long-term relationship with the same expert. They’ll have a better understanding of your business and IT support needs.
For example, you can explore Be Structured to find reliable, responsive IT experts.
Ask the company if they have experience helping businesses in your industry, too. You could benefit from their previous experience and expertise. They’ll have a better understanding of your unique goals.
Before choosing an IT support company, it’s important to find a team capable of responding quickly to an emergency. Ask each company about their support times. How long does it take them to respond to a ticket?
If the team takes too long to respond, you could lose sales. Meanwhile, your customers could get frustrated. They might decide to take their business elsewhere.
Look for a company that’s equipped to resolve IT issues when you need help most.
Before outsourcing IT support, it’s important to consider your company’s distinct needs. Otherwise, you could choose a company that fails to accomplish your goals. Once you determine the help you need, look at each company’s services.
For example, you might benefit from communication services. Maybe you’re more concerned about upgrading your security. Some businesses are eager to make the move to cloud-based services instead.
Ask each company about the programs and systems they’re familiar with, too. Are they familiar with your system? If not, they could waste valuable time trying to troubleshoot the issues you’re experiencing.
Every IT company will try to convince you that they’re the best in the business. You don’t have to take their word for it. Instead, ask for references and reviews.
Speak with at least three of their current clients. Then, ask about the client’s experience working with that IT company. For example, is the company quick to respond to the client’s needs?
You can also find reviews on the company’s Better Business Bureau and Google My Business listings.
Choose a company with a strong professional reputation. They’ll strive to maintain that reputation by offering top-notch services.
If your sales team is constantly on the go, you’ll want to make sure they can gain access to the help they need, when they need it. Ask each IT company if they offer remote support services.
They’ll have the tools necessary to help any member of your team, regardless of their location.
Ask at least three companies on your list for a quote. Gathering three quotes will help you determine the average. If one quote seems too good to be true, it likely is.
Don’t choose the cheapest option. Instead, make sure the company offers the services and support you need.
Ask each company what’s included in the contract, too. For example, will they cover labor charges? Will you need to pay for mileage if they visit your business?
Get an itemized list of their services. Make sure anything you discuss is in writing.
If there are any communication issues, you can always refer back to the contract.
You don’t have to choose the first small business IT support company you find online. Instead, use these tips to find the best support team around. With these IT support tips, you can make a more informed decision for your business.
Your IT support team can set you up for growth and success while mitigating potential risks.
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