Managed IT services can be a boon to businesses looking for the professional support of an in-house IT team but without the resources or the space to create these teams. The right services can give businesses tailored, professional, expert solutions for an affordable price. The key, of course, is finding the right provider. For Austin and San Antonio-area businesses, there are a few qualities to look for in managed IT services in Austin, TX, and in San Antonio. Here are some of the most important ones.
Round-the-Clock Support
Technology problems can arise at any time of the day or night. When issues occur, you cannot wait hours for your support services help desk to open. Every minute your website stays down, a data breach is active, or a webpage malfunctions is a minute you are losing business. You need support that is available as soon as you experience a problem.
To that end, look for managed IT services in Austin, TX, or in San Antonio, that offer you round-the-clock support. By allowing you to reach out 24/7, and by responding to issues immediately at any time of the day or night, these services will ensure that your business thrives and that any issues you face are resolved as quickly as possible.
Responsiveness
Managed service providers may have many clients to handle, but you should always feel as if you are a priority. You should expect, and look for, responsiveness. Look for these signs that your MSP is responsive to and interested in your needs and requests:
- They have a stated response time policy.
- They follow that response time policy.
- You can reach a real person quickly.
- Methods of contact are clear and accessible.
- You receive a satisfactory resolution when you contact the MSP.
- The MSP is kind and interested instead of curt and dismissive.
- References confirm the MSP’s responsiveness.
Whether you have a question about your setup, a concern about some aspect of your technology, or an idea or a need that you want them to address, you should be comfortable reaching out to your MSP and you should find that those questions, concerns, ideas, and needs are addressed and respected every single time you interact with them.
Proactive Approach
IT problems can wreak havoc even if they are addressed promptly. Downtime for a website, for example, can cost thousands of dollars an hour. Data breaches can lead to lost trust with customers, even after you close the breach. In some fields, like healthcare, a technology glitch could literally be a matter of life and death.
When you look for IT managed services in San Antonio or Austin, then, you should look for a company that actively prevents problems rather than simply reacting when they arise. A proactive approach, such as that adopted here at TARC for our clients, involves constant monitoring of your IT infrastructure. This monitoring allows us to anticipate and prevent problems before they arise. This approach can be particularly useful for industries, like healthcare, that rely on uninterrupted technology in order to protect patient lives and data.
Tailored Solutions
Because your business is different from any other business out there, your IT solutions need to be different too. Every company needs IT security, for example, but the form that security takes may differ from business to business. Every business needs reliable hardware, but the form that hardware takes will depend upon the company’s needs and how they plan to use it.
Look for an MSP that can offer you solutions tailored to your needs. The right MSP will not try to force a pre-packaged solution on you. Instead, they will sit down with you to discuss your IT needs and offer solutions that work for those needs.
Also make sure that, as part of these tailored solutions, the IT managed services in San Antonio or Austin that you choose can also offer you scalability. Your business may grow over time. You may encounter seasonal changes in your technological needs.
These changes will require changes in the IT services you utilize. An MSP that can offer you scalable solutions can handle these increases and decreases in your IT needs. With tailored, scalable solutions, you will end up with a package that is helpful to your unique business.
Proven Security
Security is a critical element in any IT infrastructure. You must be able to protect sensitive data, no matter what business you are in. Choose an MSP who has a proven track record of providing security. Also look for one that has specific security protocols in place, like Layered Security Architecture, methods of encryption, and other security solutions. If the MSP you are considering can explain how they can keep your data safe, and if their references report a track record of success in the realm of security, you may just have found the right business for your needs.
Broad Experience
Finally, when choosing managed IT services in Austin, TX, or San Antonio, look for a business that has broad experience. The longer a company has been providing reliable IT support to its clients, the more likely it is that they have the tools you need for your own company.
In addition, make sure that the MSP has experience serving businesses in your industry. Their experience may be wide-ranging, but if they have never served clients in your field, you may not benefit from the type of experience you need for your business. Choose an MSP that has experience in general, and expertise specifically in your field as well.
Here at TARC, we bring years of experience in managed IT services to each of our clients. We offer services to businesses across a wide range of industries, including healthcare and small businesses. We can provide constant, proactive, responsive support that is tailored to your needs. We are happy to sit down with you and discuss how our services might benefit your business.
TARC Technology Solutions 