Tech Services Guide

Computer Services & Support, IT Outsourcing
The typical small business tech services provider of today is a generalist who has to juggle many priorities and keep in touch with a range of rapidly evolving technologies, as well as keep your business running. Just because a university student can backup your computer or re-install your operating system doesnt mean that they can keep your systems running when you need them most.

Things to look for in a small business IT service provider include:

* With IT you pay for skills and responsiveness. It is rare to find a very capable technical resource charging themselves out at less than a hundred dollars per hour. If you are paying less than this then then lower quality skills are probably being used and the same job will probably take longer to complete and therefore cost you as much if not more than the more expensive per hour option. This is referred to as the total cost of ownership. Another thing to consider is do they use the best tools including seo tools such as Seo Magnifier site explorer and Seo Elite. Some companies cannot afford them and some do not know what the best tools are.

* Simple standalone PC repairs are easier to manage and implement than more sophisticated user environments with servers. The higher the level of technical sophistication the higher the required skill-set and resulting cost. $100-$150 per hour for enrty level/basic support and $150-$200 per hour for more sophisticated work such as server work is an anecdotal standard.

* Smaller providers can be responsive but larger providers can often resolve problems faster because they have more on hand resources available to them. If you require immediate or close to responsiveness and close to restoration times, expect to pay more if you choose a larger provider with greater fixed costs such as office space etc.

* Look for providers who experience working with customers in your industry. Many providers are generalists but we encourage them to post case studies of customers in specific industries for specific solutions. You can search by case study here.

* Insist that your provider backs up your data before working on it.

* You should consider making the move to a managed service where you are charged a fixed fee per device instead of by the hour support. Paying by device allows for improved IT budget forecasting and makes your IT provider’s goals more aligned with your own. Pay by the hour means that it is in your providers interest to generate work for themselves – with managed services you avoid that issue. For managed service providers click here.