Stop Settling for Good Enough IT Services …

Are you in a relationship that’s just not working? We’ve all been there before. They don’t return your calls. They cancel plans at the last minute. And, they promise they’ll do better next time – but they just don’t.

But, you decide not to call it off. After all, there was something that attracted you to them in the first place, whether that was their network of leading technology partners or expertise in cybersecurity defenses.

Yes, we are talking about your business’s relationship with your IT support provider. It’s not a romantic one, but in this day and age, it’s extremely important.

“In today’s tech-driven world, keeping systems up and running reliably is mandatory—and that means a strong IT network support staff is essential these days for every company.” – Forbes

In this article, we’ll take a look at four signs you are settling for your current IT services provider. Hopefully, you’ll realize you deserve better. You do. You’re a great person inside and out.

1. Your IT support team responds in about a week

So, you’ve got this IT guy. He says he will address your tech issues quickly, and at first, he did. But now, timeliness means a wait-time of about a week. Is that really good enough? No.

Remember, wasted time is wasted money. For all you know, the issues you are experiencing could be related to a more serious problem, such as a security breach. Every hour that goes by could be putting your data security in greater jeopardy.  

A thriving business has a need for speed – there are no two ways about it.

2. They don’t return your call

You have a question about one of the cloud-based apps your IT provider manages, so you give them a call. They don’t get back to you within 24 hours, so you call again. Then you send an email. And make another call. Finally, they pick up. You’re a little annoyed at this point, and they don’t seem apologetic in the slightest.

Responsiveness is vital when it comes to managed IT services. Whether it’s a basic question or an urgent situation, you should be able to get answers within a reasonable timeframe. What’s more, if a call is missed, you should expect it to be returned – that is just common decency.

3. They don’t take your security seriously

You’re doing the right thing by your business by enlisting the help of a professional cybersecurity expert. You recognize the threat, and you know that any funds invested in security are funds well spent. In short, you take it seriously – and rightly so.

Your IT guy, on the other hand, has already handed out your network’s admin password to every team member, including the summer intern. You wouldn’t be surprised if the office dog had the credentials needed to login to the most critical areas of your business’s IT.

Cyberattacks are set to cost businesses $6 trillion per year. Settling for an IT support team that doesn’t acknowledge this is a recipe for disaster.

4. They only contact you proactively to upsell

Finally, it’s your IT guy on the line. Before you can get a word in, they start talking about themselves – surprise, surprise.

One of the most glaring signs that you are settling for your IT services is the upsell call. If your providers contact you regularly, pushing services you know you don’t need, you can safely assume they don’t have your business’s best interests at heart.