What to Look for When Outsourcing Your IT Department

There’s no doubt that your IT is an essential part of your business in the modern world. Most 21st-century businesses simply wouldn’t be able to function without it. However, the issue many businesses have faced is that managing their IT in-house is becoming impossible. With more and more technology being implemented in the modern office, a single in-house specialist isn’t cutting it, while a full-stack IT department is often out of companies’ price ranges. However, in booming cities like Kansas City and beyond, many businesses have found that managed IT service providers offer a great solution for this modern predicament. MSPs offer the resources of a fully equipped IT department at a fraction of the cost, allowing your business to maintain your budget and still get the added support you need. However, before you go and hire an MSP, it’s important to know what to look for to make sure they’re reliable and qualified to handle your IT. Here are just some of the things that you should look for when outsourcing your IT department:

1. They operate according to industry standards.

Being able to follow the standards businesses in your specific industry are required to uphold is essential. Whether you’re operating within the health sector, a financial organization, or a CPA office, your provider should be able to understand your industry’s compliance regulations and make sure your IT adheres strictly to them, You should be able to trust that the IT company that you’re working with are aware of and closely follow industry standards and will provide the best solutions for businesses in your specific sector. An IT company that fails to comply with all relevant industry regulations puts your business at serious risk not only for reduced efficiency but also for costly data breaches and associated legal fines.

2. They communicate with you quickly and effectively.

Communication is one of the most important parts of any business, and that’s no different when you’re working with your IT provider. If your IT company doesn’t communicate with you quickly and efficiently, it will be difficult understand what they’re actually doing and how it benefits your business as a whole.  Not only that, but if a company is a hassle to get in touch with when you need immediate support, you could face long periods of downtime that lead to profit loss. No matter how good their IT solutions may be, a company that fails to respond quickly and effectively to issues and regularly communicate with you won’t benefit you.

3. They offer specialized solutions.

One of the biggest challenges when running a business is the feeling of being stretched thin beyond your own skillset. The right IT company is one that is able to bring skils and experience to your business that you can’t get anywhere else. After all, if the skills that an IT company is bringing to the table aren’t much better than what you could manage yourself, they’re not worth your valuable time and money. You should look for an IT provider who offers specialized services for your industry and business needs. They should be able to explain to you how they will customize solutions to your needs and offer a wide range of services to ensure all your IT bases are covered. 

4. They understand and align with your business goals.

As mentioned in the last point, t’s not enough for an IT company to implement general IT solutions in your infrastructure. They also need to be able to look at the specific goals of your business—it’s strengths, values, unique selling points, and more.  After getting to know your business strategy and both short- and long-term goals, they should adapt to them in order to work in the best possible synergy with your business as a whole. Your IT should not only function smoothly in your current business environment; it should also aid in business growth.

5. They take a proactive approach rather than just reacting to problems.

There are few things that can drag a business down more than attempting to solve IT problems that appear after the fact. If the IT company you’re working with uses a break/fix approach to solve issues instead of proactively seeking ways to improve your systems and patch vulnerabilities, they’re a waste of your money. You need to be sure that your IT company can actually improve your business, and not just allow it to keep treading water by dealing with problems that already exist. By outsourcing your IT to a managed IT service provider, you gain access to a team who has greater time and resources than a typical in-house specialist and can therefore dedicate more time to preventative care rather than simply fixing existing issues. This will reduce overall downtime and increase productivity.

How Cenetric Can Help

At Cenetric, we are fully aware of the challenges that you face when trying to make the most of your IT services. We work alongside you to not only ensure that your IT services are well managed but that they align with the vision that you have for your business and are proactive in improving your business. We stay in constant communication with you to ensure that we are offering you the best IT management possible. Get in touch with us today to discuss your IT needs and learn more about how our team of skilled experts can manage your business’s unique IT infrastructure.