How to Choose Your IT Services Provider

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face ever-evolving and complex information technology (IT) needs in today’s highly digital world. With hybrid and remote workforces, rapidly changing technology, and the rise of AI in the workplace, it’s critical for SMB leaders to prioritize cybersecurity and IT solutions. Despite 43% of all data breaches involving SMBs, 30% of SMBs with 500 employees or fewer have no protection against cyberattacks. Many SMB leaders are unsure how to manage their IT infrastructure and cybersecurity or where to start with IT services.

Outsourcing these services can help businesses of any size meet IT and cybersecurity standards that will protect their data and their organization from cybercriminals. From data backups, antivirus, and firewalls to email protection and hardware installation, service providers like LCS IT Services have the expertise to equip your organization with the latest hardware and software. With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which IT services provider is right for your business. To help you get started, we’ve compiled our top five tips for choosing the right one to protect your enterprise.

1. Evaluate Your Business Needs

Before researching IT service providers, you will need to do a thorough evaluation of your organization’s current infrastructure and identify areas where your business or team may need assistance. You’ll want to ask yourself key questions about your technology setup and cybersecurity level as it currently stands. Your security needs might vary by industry, but here are a few general questions to consider:

• Do you have up-to-date machines and software for your employees?
• When was the last time your data was backed up?
• Do you have disaster recovery procedures in place?
• Do you need ongoing technical support?
•  Do you need help setting up new technology?
• Do you have remote or hybrid workers needing secure cloud services?
• Do you have security measures in place to protect your data from cyberattacks?
• When was the last time your employees received cybersecurity and safety training?

Once you’ve determined your IT needs, look for providers offering the services you’re seeking. In general, IT service offerings can be divided into several categories:

• Cybersecurity
• Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
• Hardware and Software Support
• Network Infrastructure Management
• Cloud Services
• Technology Training
• Consulting Services
• Help Desk Services
• Data Analytics
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

2. Determine Your Budget

According to research by Deloitte, businesses spend an average of 2-7% of their revenue on IT infrastructure and technology solutions. That number can fluctuate depending on your size, industry, and specific needs, but you’ll want to establish a budget for IT services before researching providers. Investing in IT is worth it, given the high costs of ransomware and other cyberattacks for SMBs each year. According to the Hiscox Cyber Readiness report, the median cost of cyberattacks per business each year is $8,300, with the median number of attacks increasing from 2022 to 2023.

3. Research Offerings

With a clear understanding of your organization’s needs and budget, it’s time to compare IT service providers and their offerings. Many organizations offer basic antivirus and email protection, but what about data backup and disaster recovery? Do you have hybrid or remote workers who need cloud-based, secure solutions to safeguard data? Which industries does each provider specialize in, and does their expertise align with your industry and business needs?

Read reviews from other customers carefully, and don’t be afraid to set up a consultation with prospective providers to ask about their services in detail.

4. Consider Support Response Times

While software and reporting are major parts of IT services packages, don’t overlook the importance of technical support and response times. Research the average response time of each provider and their support options in general. Can you count on them to provide timely solutions during an outage? How do they manage inquiries for help with their software offerings? Look for providers with experienced support teams and service windows that align with your peak business hours.

5. Ask Questions

When you’ve narrowed your options, it’s time to get more detailed information. Contact your prospective IT services provider’s sales or customer support team to set up a consultation. Ask specific questions about their services, support, and whether their offerings fit your budget. How they handle your inquiries can give you a glimpse of their overall customer service approach. Companies with a good reputation for customer service tend to be better fitted for most businesses, especially if you need a wide variety of managed IT services.

Ready to Enhance Your IT Services Experience?

For over 35 years, LCS has supported the property management sector with innovative software solutions through Rent Manager property management software. In recent years, we’ve expanded our expertise to general IT services, helping property management customers and SMBs with tailored IT solutions. With our award-winning customer support, LCS IT Services provides managed IT solutions that will help take your business to the next level. Protect your critical data and systems with comprehensive cybersecurity, cloud-based infrastructure, and data backup—supported by expert IT assistance from installation to consulting.

If you’re ready to enhance your business’ IT services experience, let LCS take IT from here. For more information, visit the LCS IT Services website.