10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Managed IT Provider

So, you’re thinking about outsourcing your IT management. That’s a good start to making your digital infrastructure more efficient and productive.

However, not all IT service providers are created equal, and managed IT is not a one-size-fits-all kind of solution. You want an IT provider that perfectly fits your organization’s IT setup, needs, and pain points.

Now, the big question is: how do you find the best managed IT provider? You have to shop around and vet potential IT partners until you find the best match for your business. We’ve prepared 10 essential questions for you to ask each candidate during the vetting process.

1. What Services Do You Offer?

Ask IT providers about the kind and scope of services they offer. Some specialize in particular areas such as cloud computing, consultancy, data management, or break-fix support. Others are more of a Swiss Army Knife dealing with everything tech-related.

2. Do You Partner with My Kind of Business?

Some IT providers only serve businesses of a specific model, industry, or size. Find out if the IT provider is keen on working with your kind of business and if they’ve partnered with similar businesses before.

3. Do You Have Any References?

Can other businesses vouch for the IT provider? Ask if there’s anyone you could speak to—ideally past or current clients—about the overall managed IT experience. Resources such as case studies, testimonials, and reviews might come in handy to answer this question.

4. What Are Your Company’s Values?

Delegating IT management means partnering with an outsider. You want to make sure that the new IT partner is compatible with your company at all levels. Check whether the service provider’s values, ethics, and mission align with your own.

5. How’s Your Availability?

Managed IT service providers serve multiple organizations at the same time. With that in mind, it’s important to know the amount of dedication they afford each client. Find out if you can reach and engage the IT provider at any time.

6. Can You Customize Managed IT for My Specific Needs?

As we mentioned earlier, managed IT is not one-size-fits-all. Even if an IT provider is compatible with your business, their services might not solve all your needs. Most IT providers can adapt their subscription models or service packages to suit your preferences.

7. What’s Your Response Time?

This is one of the most important questions to ask when choosing an IT partner. Find out how quickly the service provider responds to an incident or query. The quicker, the better. Every second counts when IT outages cost as much as $14,056 per minute.

8. Do You Offer On-Site or Remote Services?

Ask the IT provider if they make on-site visits or offer support remotely. Go for an IT partner that does both. While remote services are excellent for round-the-clock monitoring, some IT tasks can’t be performed remotely.

9. How Much Do You Charge?

Cost is obviously a big deciding factor when choosing an IT provider. After all, cost saving is one of the main motivations for outsourcing IT services. However, be sure you are comparing apples to apples: some IT providers charge a predictable all-inclusive monthly fee whereas others charge a lower monthly fee but raise unexpected hourly charges for work you might have expected to be included.

10. What Can I Expect from Working with You?

On top of IT support, you should get a strategic business partner out of managed IT services. Find out exactly what the service provider brings to the table to boost overall business growth and success. For instance, can they help you make critical business decisions?

Highway 99: Your Trusted IT Partner

Looking for a managed IT provider that checks all the boxes? You’ve come to the right place.

We do it all, including IT consultancy, cybersecurity solutions, IT support, and data backup. More importantly, we help your business grow by unlocking its digital potential.

Let’s talk. Tell us what you’re looking for in a managed IT provider.