Cybersecurity attacks, website outages, and any type of IT incidents can cost your business thousands of dollars. Therefore, you need to hire the right IT support company to ensure your business is in safe hands.

You can do a quick search on Google with an IT support company near me and go with the ones that have good reviews and ratings.

However, remember your IT needs will not be the same as other companies. A medical practice will require IT assistance that specializes in cybersecurity because they deal with a humongous amount of data in their systems.

But, you may not need a relentless focus on privacy. Your focus could be more on a particular type of software you primarily use.

Identifying the right IT companies with your industry specialization is the stepping stone to locating optimal IT support. Below are some tips you can use when selecting an IT company for your organization.

The IT Company Should Be Local to Your Headquarters

Selecting a local IT support company means you will receive quicker service for any onsite support issues.

Let’s say your firewall suddenly fails and needs replacement. If your IT support provider isn’t located near you, they have to take a third-party vendor’s help which could take days depending on their availability.

But when your IT support provider’s resources are located nearby, they can send an engineer to resolve your issue quickly.

If your business has multiple branches, do not forget to ask the IT company you plan to hire about how they will manage the support of those branches. Will they cover those under the same support contract or needs a different one.

The Company Should have Experienced with Your Industry

Technology varies by industry. The IT support provider you plan to hire should know the ins and outs of your industry’s technology as it is crucial.

Ask questions like if they serve other businesses in your industry, if they earned rewards or ranked in your industry, and certified in your industry’s technologies.

The Company Should Support Your Servers and Workstations

Do your servers or workstations run on Linux or Mac OS? If yes, make sure the IT support provider has the experience supporting such operating systems.

Unless you plan to switch infrastructure, getting an IT company that can support your systems is crucial.

Although most ‘tech’ people are universal, expertise differs. If the IT company you plan to hire cannot support your infrastructure, you will not get your necessary support.

They Should Have Experience Supporting Your Company’s Software

Make sure the IT support provider has experience with the application(s) or software(s) that are most critical to your business.

Although they may not know how to use your custom applications, they should assess and troubleshoot any problems.

IT and software programming or development are two different fields. You shouldn’t ask your IT personnel to create or modify your software, and your developer shouldn’t be expected to run your IT.

They Should Respond to Your Issues Quickly

Every business has different processes in place to support their clients – response times vary significantly. Do not forget to ask for their response time metrics or Service Level Agreement (SLA), which includes things such as:

● How quickly do they respond to issues?

● How fast do they resolve the issues?

● How much time will it take if you need onsite support?

The proof is in the numbers. Anyone can claim they are “fast,” but they need to prove it. They should back up their statements with enough real-time numbers and facts.

Check for Partnerships and Certifications

Make sure the IT support provider you plan to hire is a reputable organization. Typical IT company partnerships include significant manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and Microsoft. Their employees should also hold certifications of their own. Do not forget to ask for the company’s certificates and current partnerships.

The Company Should Be Able to Manage Organization of Your Size

Make sure the IT support provider is large enough to meet all your requirements. Ask how many engineers they have in different departments and their support processes.

So, remember these points before you start searching on Google for an IT support company near me.