The importance of IT services for business cannot be overlooked. Today we are investigating how to find the best IT Support in Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas.
Defining IT Support & Consultancy
IT support and consultancy differ and it’s important to highlight the variations. IT support covers a multitude of factors including the purchase and management of equipment, cyber security, networks, connectivity and more. A support contract means company owners and management are left to concentrate on running the business. Should any IT related issues crop up, help is a mere phone call away.
In contrast, the consultancy service provides a sounding board to discuss the right IT processes and procedures relevant to the business. This service is ideal for companies on a limited budget and with some level of IT knowledge. A consultant will listen to your thoughts and ideas before providing the best way forward and information on implementation.
What to look for in the Right Support
Your quest for the right level of IT support should always begin with an adequate level of research. Take a look at online reviews, specifically Google and Facebook. Whilst a handful of positive reviews are good, multiple testimonials evoke confidence in a supplier. Make sure each comment differs and refer to numerous services as opposed to just one.
Reviews Look Good, What Now?
Head across to the website. Does it look professional? Is information easy to find and does it make sense? Can you easily find the contact details required to make an enquiry? These are all the questions you need to ask whilst researching.
Website Looks Professional, What Now?
Take a look at the service section. Is IT support provided in Middlesbrough or the area your business is located? Does the company cover evenings and weekends as well as 9am – 5pm? IT can encounter issues at any time of the day and it’s important you’re fully covered in case of an emergency.
Take Note of Response Times
Should you be faced with downtime or an IT related emergency you need to be confident in response times. Ideally this will be clearly stated on the website, but if not we recommend getting this in writing prior to any conversations. An emergency taking you offline and stopping a business from functioning warrants action within one hour. Less urgent problems should be fixed within a maximum of four hours. If these timescales are not feasible it’s better to look elsewhere.
A good IT support company will provide you with only the services required. Whilst smaller companies may only need access to one off, quarterly or even yearly support, medium to large may require a monthly contract. If you’re looking for the best possible IT support in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington and the North East, begin your research with Andromeda Solutions.
