All LinkedIn Articles are posted by Victor J. Quinones, Jr., CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder at Virtual-Q. Original article posted here.
Businesses need more than just a help desk they can call when things go wrong. When it comes to IT management, you need a partner that works around the clock to ensure that the infrastructure is functioning properly. While it’s nice to have a break-fix option in your back pocket, it’s best to have a service provider to prevent such issues from the get-go.
How to Tell If Your IT Partnership Is Failing
Sadly, many companies grow unhappy with their existing IT provider after a short period of time. What’s the reason? Most of the pitfalls start with the following warning signs:
1. Minimal ROI on Your IT Investment
Tools like Microsoft 365 have a lot to offer, but are you leveraging your resources to their full advantage? That’s the job of your IT outsourcing provider. They identify the gaps and optimize specific applications according to your business model. Essentially, the right partner works with your staff so you get more done for less.
2. Longer Response Times
Unexpected downtime is a parasite to productivity. When your employees don’t get the IT support they need when they need it, the rest of the business feels the pain. How much time are your employees spending on getting IT issues resolved? If your team finds it easier to fix issues on their own, they are sacrificing time that should be spent improving your core business.
3. Surprised IT Costs
Have you ever looked at a bill and thought, “What is this charge?” Not only should your IT support team be focused on preventing issues, but they should also be working with you to create a roadmap that aligns with your budget.
4. The Same Mistakes Keep Happening
Are you experiencing the same IT issues over and over again? If employees are repeatedly calling in about recurring problems, something is clearly wrong. Fixing issues doesn’t mean putting a band-aid over the vulnerability.
5. Lack of Security
While many issues seem glaringly obvious, several security risks are often overlooked. That’s because the right level of monitoring and proactive security defenses are not in place. You need to know what policies, procedures, and technologies are being leveraged to defend your organization against cyber threats. The best partner to have is an IT company who proactively educates your leadership team on cyber security best practices and solutions.
6. Your IT Provider Doesn’t Understand Your Business
To put it simply, you need a provider that relates to your business model. A one-size-fits-all strategy won’t cut it. Your IT team should be investing in IT solutions that align with your long-term objectives to support the goals you are trying to accomplish.
Choose a Partner You Can Trust
When it comes to IT support, you deserve a partner who can do more than just put out the little fires. Schedule some time with the experts at Virtual-Q for a full-service technology consultation. Send us a message to book an appointment.
