5 Signs You Have a Great IT Service Provider

By: Deniz Sagnaklar

There are a lot of IT service providers out there claiming to be the best. But what really makes a good IT service provider and how do you know which is the best for you and your business? Entara has been delivering premier technology solutions and managed IT services for over 20 years. Read on to learn the qualities that you should look for in a great IT service provider. 

1. Dedicated Team

A dedicated support team provides a reliable set of people who know your environment and your business, who can jump right into repairs, issues, or projects. Without this team, your business is at the mercy of whoever happens to be available when you call and the limited information they may have about who you are. It may take them longer to diagnose and resolve an issue, hindering productivity and costing you more. A dedicated support team allows you to build a relationship with your IT provider to ensure they become a true partner to you, rather than a vendor you need to manage.

2. Responsive User Support Desk Services

From hardware malfunctions to crashed software, IT issues are a common part of business operations. Great user support desk services should give your employees multiple ways to interact with them (email, phone, chat, portal) and there should be a consistent experience regardless of the method you reach out to them. You should always face a friendly and approachable attitude when you ask for help. That said, there are always mishaps and subpar user experiences. Look for a provider who can explain in detail how they take feedback from users they support, such as survey results, and turn them into real operational changes.  

3. Proactive Solutions

Many IT providers will claim to proactively identify issues in your environment and help improve your technology before things break. Very few can show you the operational model they have built to turn this into reality and communicate the proactive value they bring to the table. Look for a provider who presents the proactive tasks they completed that quarter during business reviews, as well as the next set of tasks they are planned to complete.  

4. Business and IT Strategy Planning

A great IT service provider will not only deliver excellent services you have already purchased, but they will help you design your IT and cyber security strategy. Look for a provider who builds you an annual roadmap of strategic recommendations, while factoring in your budgetary constraints and business goals. Your technology strategy should evolve as your business grows. If your MSP is a true partner, they will work to enable you to reach those goals and continuously recommend ways where technology can help you get there.

5. Co-Managed Services

Most businesses today have either an in-house IT Team or simply a resource to manage IT operations with their vendors. A great IT managed services provider will have flexible options for collaborating with your IT staff, including already built collaboration tools and processes your team can plug into. One of the major advantages of investing in outsourced IT help is working with companies experienced in handling the IT needs of companies your size and industry. Look for IT providers who can bring structure and process to the table, instead of relying on you to make all the decisions and planning.  

Entara: Your Partner for Managed IT Services and Cyber Security Solutions

Entara offers complete, integrated IT and cyber security solutions tailored to your company’s unique needs and challenges. As an eXtended Service Provider (XSP), we provide both the services of a traditional MSP and MSSP (managed security service provider), within one integrated service provider. Entara employs a range of security integrations and technology services to better protect your system, network, and data. Connect with us to learn more about how we can support your organization through our great service and industry-leading solutions.