The following is a brief introduction to the topic
It can be a daunting prospect to switch providers.
Change is never easy, whether it’s your bank account, Internet provider, energy provider, or just the supermarket.
There are many reasons for switching IT support providers, but you may have many questions.
Here are six questions you should ask any IT support provider prior to signing a new contract.
How many people are on your team?
Numbers aren’t all that matters, but a large IT team can be very useful.
Some MSPs or break-fix providers will pretend to be a large team when they are really just one person who works from home. It’s fine if that works for your company, but make sure to ask about the resources available before signing so you are covered in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Second question: “How do you plan to handle any data migration?”
It’s important to check before signing on the dotted lines.
Data migrations, such as from one server to another or into the cloud, can be slow and insecure. Be sure that your new MSP can handle your data with care and has systems in place to protect it in the event of a problem.
Do you have SLAs on response times?
SLAs are essential to any IT contract.
An SLA gives you a time estimate of how quickly the MSP will respond to your problem. The SLAs can be triaged so that the more urgent the issue is, the quicker your IT provider will respond. Talk through SLAs before you sign up with your MSP. Be sure to agree on them (and get it in writing) so you know what you can expect.
Who are your partners?
IT services are no different from the old saying, “no man is a island”.
Rarely will you find an MSP that can handle everything by themselves, particularly when it comes down to providing hardware and software. When choosing a provider, key partnerships can make a difference. They may provide you with new services or opportunities that you hadn’t thought of before. Get Support is a Microsoft Cloud Solution provider, which means we offer expert advice, guidance, and installation for the latest Microsoft products, including management subscriptions to Microsoft 365 for our clients.
Is there anything that is outside of scope?
When signing up for an IT support contract, it’s important to know what is covered and what isn’t. Many businesses overlook this last point, and it could cost them in the future.
Hardware provisioning is a great example. Get Support explains how financing new hardware works for our customers – and we build it into their IT Support roadmap. Other providers may not do this. IT hardware may reach its end-of-life (i.e., Some MSPs will not tell their clients that they are about to incur replacement costs if the hardware slows down or stops working. Unexpected expenses and unhappy customers are the opposite of what an MSP should provide. Bottom line? Double-check with any new IT support provider what is in scope and what is out of range.
How will you help me grow my business?
Please let us explain this final question.
Get Support’s philosophy is to help our customers achieve their goals. We offer IT services to other businesses that help them reach new customers, scale up, grow, and serve better.
We think it is perfectly reasonable to ask an MSP how they intend to grow your business over time. Remember, the larger your business becomes, the more your MSP will be needed. It’s a win-win for all.
