IT is an essential part of businesses today, especially in central hubs such as Inland Empire, California. With the right infrastructure in place, Southern California business owners can future-proof their businesses and make light work of complicated tasks that used to be handled manually.
However, despite the advantages IT can offer, there are downsides if it’s not managed correctly. For a busy business owner, time can often be wasted dealing with technical issues rather than focusing on managing your company. Downtime can be extremely costly if a proactive approach to system monitoring isn’t in place. Further, the average cost of a data breach is set by IBM at $3.92 million, a cost that most businesses won’t recover from.
Because technology management and cybersecurity is so critical to the success of modern businesses, it is imperative that California companies get the right support. Many companies are abandoning outdated break/fix IT support and instead seeking help from a Managed Service Provider in Inland Empire. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are excellent alternatives for IT management and can offer several robust IT services to support your growing business needs.
However, before you hire a Managed Service Provider, you need to choose wisely. If you choose a provider that doesn’t meet your needs, you might have to deal with continued security flaws in your systems, downtime, and unhappy customers. You will also have wasted your hard-earned money.
Here’s what you should look for in a great Managed Service Provider:
#1: An Adherence to Industry Standards
As a business, you will be subject to a number of compliance regulations and California laws, especially those based around data security. Your MSP should help you meet these regulations and ensure your IT systems adapt as changes are made to them.
If the company you choose doesn’t understand or prioritize your compliance needs, then your business will be put at risk. Not only does non-compliance lead to financial and legal consequences, but it can also be highly damaging to your reputation.
When looking for an MSP, make sure they have expertise in the regulatory landscape of your industry and that they have the necessary solutions to help you meet your compliance obligations.
#2: Quick and Effective Communication
It’s also critical that your MSP communicate how they are managing your IT and the reasons for any new procedures, upgrades, or changes to your infrastructure. They should be able to explain to you in clear terms—not geek speak—the current state of your IT systems and how they are strategizing and carrying out improvements.
Secondly, they should offer quick response times when you submit a support ticket or request. If you encounter a system breakdown or a cybersecurity threat, time is of the essence to ensure that data can be kept safe and costs mitigated. Modern California businesses in today’s always-on world can’t afford to wait hours or even days for IT support, so make sure your MSP prioritizes quick, round-the-clock support, whether on-site or remote.
#3: Custom-Tailored Solutions
When it comes to your IT needs, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. No two businesses are alike, and neither are any two IT infrastructures. Because of this, generic IT solutions will almost always hinder your business rather than help it grow.
Make sure your MSP offers consulting services in which they regularly meet with you to discuss business needs. As they work to understand your unique business model, procedures, and goals, they can better tailor technology solutions to meet your needs. They can also ensure that your infrastructure is scalable to meet future business needs.
#4: A Proactive Approach
Some IT companies use a break/fix approach, wherein they service your IT systems after an issue has already caused disruption in your workplace. Needless to say, this method isn’t very effective, as you might have to suffer downtime in your business while waiting for repairs or security patches to be made.
However, the best MSPs will offer a proactive approach, wherein they will monitor your systems 24/7 and deal with any security vulnerabilities and other IT problems before they cause a major issue in your business. When looking for a provider, ensure they can offer the preventative care that your business needs to keep running like clockwork.
With the right California Managed Service Provider on your side, you’re one step closer to long-term business success. A great provider will continually monitor and maintain your systems to protect them, and you will have more time to grow your business without having to worry about your IT needs.