Today, more than ever, technology is the backbone of our businesses, and when it fails, the consequences can be drastic. Consider the significant disruption caused by the recent AT&T outage, which impacted 1.7 million customers and brought numerous businesses to a standstill, leading to massive productivity and sales losses. Can your business really afford to face such extensive downtime?
However, downtime is only part of the problem. Inadequate IT support can cause a variety of issues, ranging from major challenges like data recovery and malware removal to minor annoyances such as file access, password resets, and printer repairs. These issues can accumulate quickly, significantly hampering business efficiency.
Therefore, it's crucial to have robust mechanisms in place not only for swift recovery from IT issues but also for preventing such problems in the first place.
Regrettably, many businesses end up overpaying for IT services that are ineffective at best. Many IT providers, sometimes jokingly referred to as "IT Wizards," promise premium support at low costs but fail to deliver, using their expertise minimally and reactively. This situation needs urgent reform. Below is a checklist of essential standards that any reliable IT service provider should meet to ensure they're truly serving your needs.
IT Support Checklist:
- Emergency Response: Does your IT provider answer calls live and respond to emergencies promptly?
- Accessibility: Are they easily reachable and responsive within an hour for less urgent issues?
- Proactive Maintenance: Does your IT provider regularly update and secure your network without your prompting?
- Data Backup: Can they show proof that all your data, including on laptops and mobile devices, is being backed up securely?
- Regular Consultations: Does your IT provider hold regular meetings to discuss their activities and suggest improvements?
- Transparency in Billing: Are the invoices from your IT provider detailed and clear about what you are paying for?
- Clear Communication: Does your IT service avoid technical jargon and ensure you understand their processes?
- Cybersecurity Focus: Do they proactively discuss cybersecurity, provide scam prevention training, and offer recommendations for network protection?
- Complete Documentation: Does your IT service give you full access to network documentation and admin passwords?
- Professional Conduct: Are the technicians punctual, professionally dressed, and do they make IT support a positive experience?
If your current IT service does not tick all these boxes, your business might be receiving subpar support, which could endanger your data and network security and result in significant productivity losses. Such a scenario not only threatens the smooth operation of your business but could also lead to you being held accountable when problems arise.
If this is your situation, it's time to explore better options to ensure you're getting the service and security your business deserves. Settling for less is a risk that could cost much more in the long run. To schedule a free cyber strategy session to see how we can get rid of your tech issues, click here or call us at 707-689-3999.
