What to Look for When Selecting Managed IT Consultants

How much does your business rely on technology? If your technology falters, how much of a disruption would it cause? Can you manage without email, computers, or apps? For most businesses today, tech is indispensable. That makes having information technology (IT) professionals absolutely essential. Since small and moderate-sized companies often lack the resources to maintain fully staffed in-house IT departments, working with managed IT consultants offers an ideal solution. What should you look for when selecting a managed IT consultant?

What to Look for When Selecting Managed IT Consultants

Technology is a vital tool for companies, and it’s a clear vulnerability if it isn’t managed well. Working with the right managed IT consultants provides several advantages, including allowing you to maximize the benefits of using tech while effectively minimizing your risks. What makes an individual or firm the right managed IT consultant? Look for specific features.

Expertise

Anyone can call themselves a consultant. Claiming the title doesn’t mean that they’re good at it. As Business Insider indicates, you’ll want to select an IT consultant that has the technological expertise to match your needs. Consider their skill in networking, cloud computing, hardware, system architecture, security, support, and more. Do you need it? Can they provide it? Are they keeping up with technology as it evolves?

Reputation

An effective IT consultant should have a solid reputation. Will the IT consultant provide referrals so that you can verify their work and their capabilities? How do clients describe the experience of working with them when they reached out for assistance?

Experience

Technology evolves quickly, so why should you consider a managed IT consultant’s experience? While it’s vital to stay up-to-date in the tech field, you’re always building on what you know, so experience provides a firm foundation. Experience also helps to build a wide knowledge base that can make spotting problems and devising solutions faster. When you want to resolve issues quickly in order to limit business disruptions, that kind of experience can be a major bonus.

Pricing Structure

Savings are one of the major advantages of working with a managed IT consultant. Hiring a consultant is generally more affordable than hiring a full-time employee. In fact, if you choose your IT consultants wisely, it provides you with access to a full team of experts for a predictable monthly price. Therefore, the fee structure is something that you should certainly look over carefully before signing any contracts. Make sure that it’s truly predictable, and there will be no unpleasant surprises if you have to call on the consultant for their services.

Dedicated Support

Tech troubles can cause major business disruptions, and you don’t have time to waste waiting for a solution. When you reach out for support, you want immediate assistance. A firm offering superior IT consulting services will understand that, and they’ll prioritize speedy, effective solutions. However, there are less motivated services out there, so be sure to ask questions about response times and hours of operation before you sign up.

Customer Service

Having an expert on hand is wonderful, unless they can’t make themselves understood. When you’re dealing with a crashing computer, you don’t need a lesson in jargon. You need help. Can their IT expert explain what to do in clear, simple, everyday language? If a vital email goes rogue at the worst moment, can the person manning the helpline use user-friendly terms to assist you in resolving the situation quickly? When you’re evaluating managed IT consulting services, review their customer service to see if it’s a good fit for your needs.

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For reliable managed IT services, turn to CPI Technologies. We provide effective solutions whenever you need them. Our Help Desk tickets are answered within two minutes, so you can be assured that your issue is getting the fast response you expect. How fast? Within 15 minutes, 85 percent of our IT support tickets are resolved. At CPI Technologies, we have a team of expert technicians with diverse skill sets, so we’re able to meet all of your support needs. This allows us to provide round-the-clock coverage that’s nimble, flexible, and capable of multitasking. To learn more about our managed IT services, reach out to CPI Technologies today.