It has become common knowledge that managed IT support services are required to handle IT-related issues. This is especially true for small Houston businesses that cannot afford an in-house IT support team.
According to an analysis conducted by The Business Research Company, the market of managed IT support services is expected to grow at a rate of 9.4% in the coming years.
There are many options to choose from when it comes to managed IT support services in Houston. So, let us look at how to choose the right managed IT support service in Houston.
Factors to Consider in a Managed IT Support Service
Remote vs. In-House
In Houston, managed IT support services can provide assistance both through remote communication channels or an in-house team. Remote managed IT support services in Houston can provide support for a longer duration, but are less reliable.
An in-house team will provide support only during your working hours, but it is more reliable. In-house teams also provide better support in complex IT issues, but this comes at a higher cost.
Additional Services on Offer
Aside from the usual IT support provided by managed IT support services, they also provide additional services. Custom software development services are commonly offered by managed IT support services. These are of great help to IT businesses that need additional support to complete their tasks.
There are also other development services that managed IT support services can provide. So, make sure to check all the services on the table.
Experience and Expertise
Every managed IT support service in Houston has served one particular field of business more than others. Some are better at handling IT issues of healthcare facilities, while others are better at handling e-commerce businesses.
Along with expertise, experience in their line of work is also crucial to determining the quality of a managed IT support service in Houston. The more experienced they are in their work, the better their quality of service will be.
Service Level Statistics
The service levels offered by a managed IT support service are crucial to determine their quality of service. To judge a managed IT support service’s service level, you need to look at specific statistics. These include their uptime, response times, and average time needed to solve an issue.
Alongside their service levels, it is also important to look at how they maintain these service levels.
Cybersecurity Management
Cybersecurity is one of the most common IT issues faced by Houston businesses. Managing cybersecurity is one of the primary tasks of a managed IT support service. They need to have a good plan for handling network security to ensure all viruses are removed on time and all network vulnerabilities are covered.
Scaling Management
One of the biggest benefits of managed IT support services over an in-house team is their scalable service. Every managed IT support service in Houston has a plan to scale its services alongside the growth of its clients. This plan is one of the most crucial factors in deciding the quality of a managed IT support service.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Not every cyberattack can be dodged or avoided unscathed. In a lot of cases, Houston businesses suffer some form of damage during such events. To restore the business to a functional state after such incidents, managed IT support services need to make a disaster recovery plan.
This involves making secure backups of business data through the use of the cloud to restore the business.
Workforce Management
An important question most Houston businesses forget to ask from managed IT support services is regarding their workforce management. Managing the workforce is crucial for managed IT support services to keep their support active. Most managed IT support services have multiple professionals assigned to one client.
In the event a professional is unable to render the required support, they are replaced by someone else.
Client Reviews and Case Studies
The best way to determine whether a managed IT support service is trustworthy or not is by looking at its client reviews. It is also wise to ask for case studies on their previous work. A good amount of positive client reviews is a good indicator of a managed IT support service’s reliability.
Case studies will allow you to understand how a managed IT support service operates.
Price Terms
Finally, the factor that you need to consider before choosing a managed IT support service in Houston is the cost of service. The price terms are charged differently by managed IT support services depending on the contract. Also, ask for any hidden costs or additional costs that businesses may have to pay during scaling of services.
If you are looking for a reliable managed IT support service partner in Houston, contact IT Cloud Global today.
The older clients of IT Cloud Global have praised its services for their low turnover time, professionalism from the team, and great communication in their Google reviews.