Introduction

Many businesses hire a managed service provider (MSP) to help lighten the load. But finding the best IT service providers can be a tricky, grueling task.

So, where do you start? What questions do you ask a potential MSP before deciding?

Well, you can start here.

In today’s blog post we are going to give you some advice when it comes to finding the best IT service providers.

 Don’t settle on “just-okay” IT services.

What is your business’s number 1 asset? It’s your data. (Well, after your people of course!)

That is why it is worth spending the time finding the right IT service provider. Don’t settle for anything BUT the best. If you end up working with the wrong MSP, not only will you lose the money you spend with them, but your entire business could buckle under bad IT infrastructure.   

Therefore, it is fair to say that finding prospective IT companies to work with is one of the most critical things about running a business.

So, why trust us?

When it comes to IT Services, our managed services rank among the best in the world. We understand what it means to provide excellent, world-class IT support.

At MRW Systems, our mission is to create a better tech world for small and medium-sized businesses: a world where companies can thrive because their tech is not only functional but smart, scalable, and secure as well.

A better tech world starts with selecting only the best IT service providers.

So, let’s dive in and discuss what you, as a business owner, should look for in your next managed service provider.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Future MSP

During the interview phase, here are 5 questions you MUST ask a potential MSP:

1. Are you qualified to run my company’s IT?

Not all techies are created equal. It’s vital that you understand the prospective MSP’s qualifications. Because tech, like any other industry, has many sub-specialties.

I know plenty of competent C# programmers who don’t know anything about configuring a network. Likewise, I know plenty of SQL database experts who can’t even set up a printer.

Also, to find the best IT Service providers, you need to find a company that values education. Technology is constantly evolving, so your next MSP needs to evolve with it.

2. How are you going to protect my data?

With smaller companies increasingly coming under attack by cybercriminals, it’s essential that your MSP can design and deploy a plan to continually secure all of your digital information systems, especially those that house your critical data.

A solid strategy should involve the rolling out of firewalls, spam filters, anti-virus, and anti-spyware solutions. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! You also need data security policies, security vulnerability assessments, and end-user security awareness training.

If all else fails, what will your MSP do if your business got hacked?

3. How often do you test and verify backups?

More often than not, we come across situations where the backups are not working correctly, and the business owner has no idea. The most critical function of data backup is recovery.

Whether it be an accidentally deleted file or a catastrophic loss of critical information, restoring data both quickly and accurately is essential to resuming operations as quickly as possible.

4. How often will someone from your company physically check my workstations and server room?

You should see your IT person every once in a while.

While the majority of companies take time to protect data through cloud-based backups, many companies neglect to protect physical infrastructure. It is this physical infrastructure that keeps equipment running at optimal performance and reduces downtime and data loss if things go wrong.

5. In what ways will your managed service encourage a partnership with our company instead of simply providing another business transaction?

Technology is meant to HELP us. After all, while IT often operates in the background, the reality is IT plays a huge role in your entire operation.

Your next managed service provider should contribute to your business’s growth. For example, the best IT service providers will help their clients be at the forefront of big technology waves so that their clients can stay ahead of the competition.

Before you sign, be an investigator

After you receive answers to those 5 big questions, don’t sign anything yet. Instead, do some homework.

Check their client testimonials.

Next, you should try to get a roundup of pros and the cons about working with that particular company through reaching out to the provider’s current clients.

The best IT service providers will provide you with multiple referrals. It’s in your best interest to reach out to those referrals. And don’t be afraid to ask for more or different referrals.

When giving the testimonial, a person obviously makes the company sound as good as possible. But I’ve found that when talking about it over the phone, they are usually a bit more honest.

Conclusion

If you ask the right questions and do your research, you can get great insight about your future IT service provider. But if you’re still not sure where to start… Start with us, MRW Systems! We will happily help take the IT burden off of your shoulders.

If you would like to learn more about how your company could benefit from working with us as your managed service provider, please contact us today at MRW Systems by clicking here.