An IT provider, also known as managed service provider, is a third party that provides IT services without the need for on-site installation and management. The services are typically provided via cloud computing and there are many benefits that appeal to companies. Those benefits include cost reduction, scalable service, reliability and security, and much more. When choosing an IT provider, there are many aspects that should be considered. The first thing that should be examined is the Service Level Agreement (SLA). The SLA is a contract that outlines the services, and the level of services, that the IT provider will provide.
Experience
Choosing an experienced, established IT provider is critical to the success of your company. You may be able to get a better deal by choosing a startup, but you don’t know how well that company will perform or whether they will stay in business or fold within a few months. All of this can have a huge impact on your business, so it’s best to do your research in order to determine if the IT provider is reliable and competent enough to handle your needs.
Security
Security is one of the most important aspects of an IT provider. A data breach can cost companies anywhere from hundreds of dollars to millions of dollars, depending on the size of the company and the severity of the breach. A competent IT provider will detail exactly what their security plan is comprised of, as well as exactly what their response plan is in case of a security breach.
Reliability
While there will almost certainly be issues that arise at some point, you simply can’t run a business if you have to deal with frequent issues, downtime, or security breaches. New services should be implemented as fast as possible, so that downtime is held to a minimum. In case of an issue, the IT provider’s support team should be available 24/7 so that any problems can be corrected immediately.
Costs
When using the services of an IT provider, you don’t have to worry too much about costs. Using managed services means that you won’t have to buy new hardware or equipment to add or upgrade services, and there will be no maintenance or upkeep charges. Going with the cheapest IT provider you can find is not always the right move, however, as you need to compare the value instead of price. If you get subpar service at the lowest price, you could end up paying much more in the long run. Check testimonials and references. If current and former customers are happy with value, there’s a good possibility you will be happy as well.
Response
Depending on the type of services an IT provider offers, you may have to deal with a security-related response. If you are going to depend on an IT provider to secure your company network, you need to know exactly what the response plan is comprised of in case of a security breach incident. Data breaches are becoming all too common these days, and they are costing companies millions of dollars each year. Be sure that your IT provider has a competent plan in place on how to react to issues including network breaches, firewall breaches, data breaches, compromised accounts, etc.
