We’re in the digital era, and it represents a huge opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses. Digital tools can improve business performance, create more satisfied teams and ensure ongoing competitiveness.
In fact, a study from Deloitte found that 85 percent of all small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) report that the digital tools that they are using have helped their business in some way. These SMBs also report that digital tools have helped their business performance.
Yet as technology becomes both more complex, and more important, for small and medium-sized organizations, many businesses are starting to outsource the burden of their IT strategy to managed IT services companies.
Working with a managed IT services provider can help your business:
- Keep up with the ever-evolving tech marketplace
- Give you the time you need to focus on your core competencies, rather than IT
- Predictable monthly costs that perfectly fit into your company’s IT budget
- The ability to quickly choose and implement new technology, with expert advice supporting you every step of the way.
But with so many managed IT service providers (MSPs) in Toronto, how do you find the perfect partner for your business? We’ve listed the top five questions to ask to help narrow down your search:
1 - Does the managed IT services provider offer the services your business requires?When looking for a provider it’s important to identify what your business requires and compare that to what the MSP offers. Most MSPs will offer a broad range of services and many will be similar, but there may be some managed IT service providers that don’t offer the specific services that you require.
Some MSP services that you’ll want to consider might include cybersecurity, network monitoring, on-site support, data protection and recovery, communication management or cloud software management. You want to ensure your MSP can deliver all of the services that you require, but also that they aren’t delivering additional services as part of their pay rate that you don’t need.
2 - What is the MSPs availability?Managed IT service providers all have different availability, and what your business needs from its MSP will be unique to you. Do you need on-site availability for site visits and face-to-face meetings or are you happy with off-site availability? Do you need your MSP to be available on call 24/7? Take some time to think about what’s important for your business in an MSP.
3 - Does the managed IT services provider have a good reputation?The managed IT service provider that you choose will be performing an important role for your organization, and your business performance depends on their ability to be successful. That’s why you should choose an MSP that comes with a strong reputation.
Asking MSPs for references of past and current clients can help you determine whether the provider has a good track record or not. You can also gather some additional background, such as how long the provider has been in operation, from the MSPs website.
4 - Do they have fast service and response time?The MSP you partner with should be able to respond quickly to your needs and any issues that arise throughout your partnership. Some MSPs will give you a guaranteed response time. Sometimes it’s best to work with a smaller MSP that has that local business, community feel. Large MSPs that use call centers typically have longer response times.
5 - What third-party vendors do they work with?One of the huge advantages of working with an MSP is that they manage technology vendors on your behalf, dramatically saving your business time and money. When evaluating potential MSPs look at the third-party vendors they partner with. This can help you determine how relevant they might be for your business.
Are you looking for managed IT services in Toronto or the surrounding areas? Get in touch with OT Group today. Our team of experts would love to discuss how we can help enhance your business performance through managed IT services Toronto.
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