Top 7 Factors to Consider When Selecting IT Consulting Services

About 43% of cyber attacks focus on small businesses. Meanwhile, 60% of the businesses that fall victim to an attack close their doors within six months.

Cybercrime now costs businesses over $2.2 million a year, too. In fact, there was a 424% increase in breaches last year.

Don’t leave your business vulnerable to a potential attack. Instead, consider selecting IT consulting services to protect your customers and brand. The effort you make now could benefit your business for years to come.

Not sure who to hire? Here are seven factors to keep in mind when reviewing your options for consultants. With this guide, you can make a more informed choice.

Start your search for the best IT consulting services available with these tips today.

Choose an Established Firm

First, Google “IT consulting services” and make a list of options for consultants. Then, take the time to learn more about each firm.

You can also talk to people within your professional network to narrow down your options. Speak with other business owners within your industry. Ask if they’ve worked with an IT consulting company in the past.

Then, ask about their first-hand experience with the IT firm. Did they experience any issues? Would they recommend you hire someone else?

If you can’t find a personal recommendation, that’s okay. Instead, learn more about each company on your list.

First, check out their Better Business Bureau listing. Consider how long the firm has worked in the IT industry. Choosing a long-established business will give you peace of mind.

An established business won’t disappear overnight. It’s likely the team has gained the respect of their clients over the years, too.

Make sure to check the company’s license, insurance, and credentials. If they don’t have their paperwork in order, keep searching.

Look for Consulting Experience

It’s not enough to find an established business. Before selecting IT consulting services, look into each company’s history. Try to find a company with IT consulting experience specific to your industry.

A company with experience in your industry will have a better understanding of your short- and long-term needs. They can help you make more informed decisions regarding your IT infrastructure.

The company won’t have to waste valuable time learning about your industry, customers, or IT setup. Instead, they can leverage their previous consulting experience. For best protection use scoutdns for DNS Filtering.

Ask the company about their process, too.

Will they take the time to research your business and industry? The better they understand your business, the more likely they’ll offer the help you need. They should consider your unique goals before developing a plan, too.

Otherwise, their IT consulting services won’t benefit your unique business.

If the company wants to take a cookie-cutter approach to your IT needs, keep searching.

Review Their Levels of Support

Ask each IT consulting firm about the levels of support they offer.

Some companies offer an a la carte option. Others offer pay-as-you-go support.

Do you need software as a service (SaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS)?

SaaS allows you to use cloud-based apps over the internet. For example, you can access email, calendars, and your server online. SaaS is a complete software solution.

You can purchase SaaS on a pay-as-you-go basis.

PaaS, on the other hand, is a development and deployment environment. You can also purchase the resources you need on a pay-as-you-go basis. PaaS includes infrastructure and middleware.

Talk to your IT consulting company about the services they offer. Make sure the setup you choose suits your team’s overall needs.

Consider Availability and Response Times

Every second of downtime your team experiences could hurt your bottom line. Meanwhile, consumers might feel like they can no longer trust your business if you’re hacked.

In fact, one in four Americans won’t do business with data-breached companies.

Before selecting IT consulting services, make sure the company is available to help your business. Ask how many clients they’re currently juggling. If it’s a small team handling hundreds of clients, look elsewhere.

Ask each team about their response times, too. How long will it take for them to respond to a ticket?

An immediate response can ensure a better experience for your customers. If it takes a few days to fix the problem, however, they could turn away. In fact, they might decide to trust your competitors instead.

Check Their Services

Consider your short- and long-term goals for the year. Then, review your options for consultants. Which IT consultants can help you accomplish your goals?

Take the time to review the services each IT consulting firm can offer. Make sure their services suit your goals.

For example, more teams have started working remotely in the past few years. Look for a company that can offer cloud computing services. Your team can start working from anywhere in the world.

Ask if the IT consulting company offers communication and security services, too. Their security services can protect you from a potential hack.

You can check out these Business IT Services to learn more.

Ask for References and Reviews

Learn more about each company by asking for references and reviews. Asking for references can help you determine the IT firm’s capabilities. You can learn more from a company that’s worked with the firm first-hand.

Ask each client if they’re satisfied with the services they receive.

Check online for reviews, too. For example, you can check the company’s Google My Business listing.

When checking their Better Business Bureau listing, make sure the company doesn’t have any complaints filed against them.

Request a Customized Plan

Ask at least three firms on your list for a quote. Make sure they’ll develop a customized plan based on your company’s needs. Then, start comparing consulting fees.

Comparing fees can help you gauge the average. Don’t make your choice based on cost, though.

Instead, choose a company with IT consulting experience and services that can benefit your business in the long run.

Start Your Search: 7 Factors to Consider When Selecting IT Consulting Services

Don’t rush to hire the first IT consulting firm you find online. Instead, use these tips when selecting IT consulting services. With these tips, you can find the team most equipped to benefit your business.

They can protect you from hacks, boost your productivity, and more.

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