As every business grows and expands, their tech can start to cause trouble. Once a simple enabler for success (think starting out with a laptop and an internet connection!), tech tangles tend to emerge with the growth of your business. All of a sudden, error pop-ups are cropping up, speeds are going down, it’s taking more time to manage IT tasks and issues, and there’s data management issues, while cyber security often gets overlooked in the background.

At this point, a business has two key options: either to partner with an IT services provider or to hire their own IT staff to take care of their tech. Often, a growing business does not have the budget to hire and train their own IT technician, so if your business is in this situation, it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons.

Can IT support services wait for the time being? What value can they offer? How quickly will I see the benefits? This blog helps you answer these questions. Whether you’re based in Devon like us or elsewhere, we hope this guide can help.

First, let’s start with the signs your business is ready for IT support services:

Signs That Your Business Is Ready for IT Support Services

You Experience Too Much Downtime and Slow Speeds

If your business experiences regular interruptions due to IT issues, it’s a clear sign you need professional IT support. Consistent downtime is a bottom-line negative; stealing time, customer success, and productivity from your business. An IT support provider can set these issues right and quickly respond to fix issues that cause downtime and slow speeds.

Your Cyber Security Posture is Weak and/or Unknown!

With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, a strong security posture is essential. If you’re constantly worried about data breaches or cyber attacks, have experienced a data or cyber incident, or have minimal oversight into your IT environment, it’s another sign it’s time to seek IT support.

Lack of IT Support Resources

This concerns how well documented your IT environment, IT policies, and IT processes are. Without these resources, it’ll be hard to troubleshoot complex technical issues and your users to solve more or less common IT issues and challenges, leading to losses of time, frustration, and uncertainty when it comes to evolving and expanding your IT environment in a secure and scalable way.

An IT support provider can help you with each of these areas, streamlining your IT and making it more manageable.

Lack of Expertise

If your business lacks in-house IT expertise or struggles to keep up with the latest technology trends, partnering with an IT support provider can fill this gap for you, helping you to implement cloud hosting, cloud workplace solutions, such as Microsoft 365, and helping you to automate IT processes and tasks, such as keeping your devices continually secure, up-to-date, and optimised.

Scalability Issues

As your business grows, so will your IT infrastructure needs in both volume and complexity.

If you’re finding it challenging to scale your IT resources efficiently, it’s a sign to consider managed IT services that can help you keep your tech integrated and scalable as your business evolves.

Compliance Challenges

For businesses in regulated industries, adhering to compliance standards is crucial. If managing regulatory compliance is becoming an uncertain and headache-inducing task, an IT support provider can help you streamline and ensure observability and control over your compliance requirements; saving time, ensuring security, and giving peace of mind.

Data Management Problems

You may be finding that your data and files are getting harder to organise, interconnect, keep updated, and backed up with secure duplicate copies. An IT support provider can help you to harness and secure your data much more effectively, helping you boost efficiency and productivity while ensuring your business continuity.

Lack of An IT Strategy and IT Roadmap

If your business lacks a long-term IT strategy, an IT support provider can help align your technology investments with your business goals, helping you make the most profitable choices and to implement them smoothly in the right sequence for your business.

How To Pick A Great Managed IT Services Provider for Your Business

Once you’ve recognised the need for IT support, the next step is finding the right provider. Here are ten quick green flags to look for:

  • Relevant Experience: Look for providers with experience in your industry and a track record of solving similar IT challenges.
  • Proactive Approach: A great IT support provider doesn’t just fix problems; they prevent them. Look for a provider that offers proactive monitoring and maintenance, including for your on-site technology, if relevant.
  • Customised Solutions: Every business is unique. The right provider will offer tailored IT solutions that fit your specific needs and goals rather than trying to insist on pre-packaged solutions.
  • Scalability: Ensure the provider can scale their services up or down based on your business’s growth and changing needs.
  • Comprehensive Security: Cyber security should be a top priority. The right provider will offer robust security measures, including regular assessments and updates.
  • Responsive Support: Quick and efficient support is crucial. Look for providers that offer multiple channels of communication and fast response times.
  • Strategic Partnership: Your IT support provider should act as a strategic partner, offering guidance on how technology can drive your business forward.
  • Transparent Pricing: Look for clear, upfront pricing without hidden fees. This transparency will help you budget more effectively for IT expenses.
  • Positive Reviews and Testimonials: Client feedback can provide valuable insights into a provider’s reliability and quality of service. Look for positive reviews, especially from businesses similar to yours.
  • Local Presence in Devon (or your area): For businesses in Devon, a provider with a local presence can offer the advantage of faster and cheaper on-site support, alongside a more personal business relationship and service.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right provider at the right time is an important decision for your business. If you resonate with the signs in this article and can find providers that can tick your business’s boxes, it may well be the right time to get an IT partner for your business, one that can more than pay off your investment with great service, lower IT costs, and increase productivity and efficiency for your business.

If you’re curious to see how an IT support provider can help you with your challenges, our team here at BCNS would be delighted to help you. It all starts with an informal conversation!

BCNS – Tailored Solutions and Quality IT Support for Devon’s Businesses

We’re passionate about helping businesses across Devon to operate securely, work productively, and embrace innovation, using the power of IT. Our commercially astute approach ensures you’ll enjoy technology that adds real value to your business, helping you achieve your goals with solutions that conquer your greatest operational challenges.  Get in touch today for a friendly, no-obligation chat about your IT needs. We’d love to hear from you.