March 17, 2025
Imagine walking into work with your team, ready to tackle the day's tasks, when suddenly the Internet goes down, emails stop working, and productivity comes to a standstill. What would you do? For many businesses, when the Internet fails, operations cease, leading to significant losses in productivity and sales. Consider the MGM data breach from the summer: electronic room keys malfunctioned, casinos shut down, and online restaurant reservations became unavailable, costing the company millions.
Downtime is just one way inadequate IT support can hinder your business. Add in issues like forgotten passwords, malware infections, or difficulties accessing shared files, and the list of inefficiencies quickly accumulates.
Business owners often find themselves spending large sums on IT support that struggles to resolve even basic issues. These so-called "IT experts," who promise top-tier service at low prices, frequently waste time instead of actively addressing problems, waiting for you to inform them of issues.
You shouldn't have to endure tech frustrations and reactive IT support that only responds after problems arise. It's time to seek better solutions and prevent tech issues before they occur.
To assist you, we've developed a checklist of essential standards that any network manager should meet. Evaluate how your current provider measures up:
- Do they answer their phone live and respond to emergencies within minutes? In a crisis, waiting on hold or leaving voicemails is unacceptable.
- Are they easily reachable and responsive for non-emergencies, providing responses within an hour? Everyday tech issues shouldn't leave your team in limbo.
- Do they proactively monitor, patch, and update your network's critical security settings? If you're unsure whether this occurs daily, weekly, or at all, you might be at risk.
- Do they provide proof that all your data is backed up, including laptops and devices? A reliable IT provider ensures nothing is overlooked.
- Do they meet with you at least quarterly to review projects, performance, and improvements? Quality IT support not only fixes problems but also helps you plan for the future.
- Do their invoices clearly outline what you're paying for? Nobody appreciates surprises, especially regarding billing.
- Do they explain their actions in straightforward language, avoiding "geek-speak," and take the time to address your questions? You shouldn't need a translator to understand your IT provider.
- Do they proactively discuss cybersecurity, recommend solutions, and offer employee training? Cybersecurity is essential, and employee education is a vital defense layer.
- Have they given you complete network documentation, including admin passwords? If they're withholding crucial information, it's a significant red flag.
- Do their technicians arrive on time, dress professionally, and leave you feeling confident after every interaction? Professionalism matters; if you dread calling them, it may be time to find a new provider.
Bonus Points: Is Your IT Provider Going Above and Beyond?
- Do they conduct regular disaster recovery drills to ensure your backups function correctly? A backup is ineffective if it fails when you need it.
- Are they assisting you in planning for scalable growth with technology that adapts to your business? The right IT partner ensures that your systems evolve with your company.
- Do they offer advanced cybersecurity tools, such as endpoint detection and AI-driven monitoring? Cyber threats are constantly changing; your protection should keep pace.
- Do they monitor and optimize your network's performance to prevent bottlenecks and downtime? Efficiency is crucial in today's competitive environment.
Time to Raise the Bar
If your current IT provider doesn't meet these criteria, you may be paying for inadequate service, which could jeopardize your business. From security risks to lost productivity, poor IT support is more than just an inconvenience; it's a liability.
Don't settle for anything less than a partner who prioritizes your business's success.
Schedule a free 15-Minute Discovery Call today to see how we can eliminate your tech headaches and ensure your
business runs smoothly. Click
here to schedule now or call us at (541) 726-7775 to get started.
Let's make tech problems a thing of
the past.
