What Should You Ask Before Hiring Your Managed IT Service Provider?

In the 21st century, many companies are outsourcing their IT-related tasks.

As the demand is growing so is the supply. Hiring managed IT service providers can be tough due to the wide selection of options.  

As the number of IT issues, including security, backup, disaster recovery, and more is growing, it’s tough to survive without collaborating with the right specialists.

Once you narrow down your choice of companies to hire, you need to conduct an interview.

Let’s go over the most important questions to ask your potential managed IT service provider.

1. Can you give me the contact information of existing and past clients?

Personal recommendations are an excellent method of figuring out how good the company is. Even if you’ve read positive reviews about the provider online, it never hurts to ask clients directly.

• Are you satisfied with the service?
• How quickly does the company respond to a problem?
• What don’t you like about collaboration?

Even though these recommendations shouldn’t be the only criteria you base your decision on, they could become the deciding factor. Speak to at least three clients to form an opinion.

2. How many ISPs do you use?

Find out how your potential IT service provider connects to the internet.

You need to work with a company that utilizes at least two connections, which can replace each other in case of failure.  The more connections the company uses the better.

If the provider takes advantage of just one ISP, it should raise a red flag. In case there is a connection failure, you could experience data loss and downtime. You could be stuck waiting for assistance for hours.  

3. What is your cyber-attack prevention plan?

Businesses of all sizes are targets for cyber-attacks.

The possibility of becoming a victim is high without the right prevention techniques. One of the top reasons why companies choose to work with managed IT service providers is their ability to create prevention and disaster recovery plan.

While these plans may vary from company to company, a provider should be ready to discuss a rough plan with you on the spot.

4. What services don’t fall into your area of expertise?

Managed IT service providers generally offer a wide selection of services. Ask them what they don’t have.

A top-notch expert won’t hesitate to share whatever they think they may be lacking. An honest answer can help you get a good idea about the company you are about to hire.

Some managed IT service providers focus on remote assistance while others offer on-the-spot services. Depending on your needs, you may choose one or another or a hybrid option.

5. How do you charge for your services?

Managed IT service providers can have different payment schemes. You may be paying by the hour or per piece of equipment. Before you hire a company, make sure you are satisfied with the way you’d have to pay for their services.

Small companies may want to consider hourly payments. Meanwhile, others would want to buy an “all-inclusive” package. Ask if the round-the-clock monitoring requires additional coverage (which it most likely will).

6. Do you offer 24/7 services?

Depending on the needs of your company, you may need round-the-clock system monitoring and response. Top-notch IT service providers offer the option of round-the-clock monitoring.

Such a feature can help them react to any problem, especially cybersecurity breaches timely, to avoid significant damage and downtime.

7. How will you reduce my company’s workload?

Managed service providers aim at reducing the workload on your IT and other departments. Find out how they plan to make your staff’s work easier. For example:

• What kind of automated services do you work with?
• What software do you plan to use when working with our company?
• Do you offer cloud migration and implementation?

You can expect managed IT service providers to improve the workflow while making your staff’s lives easier.

8. Which industry standards can you support?

Many companies have to comply with certain industry standards, specifications, regulations, and legislation. Depending on your needs, the provider you choose should be able to ensure your compliance with such standards as HIPPA, PCI, and GDPR when applicable.

The company should be following the latest requirements and stay up to do with the industry needs. You can check its expertise by asking about the latest IT-related regulation changes in your industry.

9. Have you worked with a company similar to ours in the past?

A top-notch managed IT service provider can adjust its tactics to satisfy a company in any industry. However, if it already has experience with companies like yours, it can start streamlining your operations quicker and more efficiently.

If they have had experience in the same industry, these experts can have an easier time with compliance, security, and proactive assistance.

Final Thoughts  

After asking the above questions, review your experience. Is the representative easy to communicate with? When working with a managed IT service provider, you have to establish trust and understanding. If you aren’t happy with their communication skills, consider another candidate. 

Disclosure: This story was submitted to HackerNoon by an independent contributor. Hence the information contained therein has also been researched and compiled independently.