Choosing a managed service provider is an important decision for any business, as it can have a significant impact on both the efficiency and security of your company’s IT (information technology) infrastructure. A poor choice can result in downtime, data loss, and security breaches, while a good managed IT service provider can help your business to run smoothly and efficiently. The right approach is to interview a number of potential providers before making a decision, and to ask each provider a series of questions designed to assess their suitability for your business.
Some of the questions you should ask when interviewing potential managed IT service providers include:
BUSINESS QUALITY
What is your company’s culture?
You need to make sure that the managed IT service provider you choose is aligned with your company’s culture. Do they have a customer-centric focus? Are they proactive or reactive in their approach to problem solving? Do they value input from their clients?
What do their facilities look like?
The physical environment of the managed information technology service provider’s facilities can tell you a lot about the company. Are their offices clean and organized? Do they have state-of-the-art equipment? Are their security measures adequate?
How long have they been in business?
You want to choose a managed IT service provider that has a proven track record and is likely to be around for the long haul. A company that has been in business for several years is usually a good choice, as it indicates that they are doing something right.
What is their customer retention rate?
This question will give you an indication of how satisfied their current clients are with their services. A high customer retention rate usually indicates that the company is doing a good job.
Do they have any industry awards or recognitions?
Awards and recognitions from third-party organizations can be a good indication of the quality of the managed information technology service provider. It shows that they are respected by their peers and that they are providing a high level of service to their clients.
Can they provide references from current clients?
A good managed IT service provider should be able to provide you with references from current clients who are happy with their services. These references can be a valuable source of information when you are making your decision.
TECHNICAL QUALITY
What is their approach to problem solving?
You want to choose a managed IT service provider that has a proactive approach to problem solving. You don’t want a company that simply waits for problems to happen and then reacts to them.
Do they have experience with your type of business?
If you have a unique business, you want to make sure that the managed information technology service provider you choose has experience working with businesses like yours. They should understand your specific needs and requirements.
What is their philosophy on security?
Security is an important consideration when choosing a managed IT service provider. You need to make sure that they have a robust security policy in place to protect your data.
What kinds of SLAs do they offer?
SLAs, or service level agreements, are an important part of any managed IT service agreement. You need to make sure that the provider you choose offers SLAs that are appropriate for your business.
What is their process for disaster recovery?
Disaster recovery is an important consideration when choosing a managed information technology service provider. You need to know what their process is for recovering data in the event of a disaster.
What outside services will you need to have?
In order to make sure that the managed IT service provider you choose can meet all of your needs, you need to know what outside services you will need to have in place. These might include things like data backup or cloud storage.
SERVICE QUALITY
What is their customer service like?
You want to choose a managed IT service provider that has a high level of customer service. You should be able to reach them when you need to and they should be responsive to your needs.
What is their reputation in the industry?
The reputation of the managed information technology service provider is an important consideration when making your choice. You want to choose a company that is respected by its peers and that has a good reputation with its clients.
Do they have a good understanding of your business?
It’s important that the managed IT service provider you choose has a good understanding of your business and its specific needs. They should be able to tailor their services to meet your unique requirements.
Are they up to date with the latest technology?
You want to make sure that the managed IT service provider you choose is up to date with the latest technology. This will ensure that they can provide you with the best possible service.
What is their philosophy on customer service?
The philosophy of the company on customer service is an important consideration when making your choice. You want to choose a company that puts its customers first and that is responsive to their needs.
Are they able to scale?
You want to make sure that the managed information technology service provider you choose is able to scale. This will help you to avoid any problems if your business grows and you need more services.
Now that you know some of the important questions to ask when considering a managed IT service provider, you can be sure that you are making the best decision for your business.