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Your computer network and the critical data it holds - is not totally secured as you think it is. Because there are no actual standards for technicians, in spite of vendor certifications, that there is a real chance that you will face incompetence and irresponsibility. You may wish to read any technical journal to validate that 98% of the computer networks have faulty or missing backups, security loopholes, poor reporting, and defective systems that simply cost more to maintain and do not align with the operations of the business. One major example to this plight that happens all the time is receiving a letter from your bank, credit card Company, or some other business pointing out that they had been hacked and you needed to change your financial information.
It is really unfortunate that most business owners who are faced with a major computer disaster do not realize that it probably COULD have been prevented. Many businesses do pay for substandard computer support most likely because they do not know how to truly verify their network IS secure and end up having to take someone at their word.
Business owners need to EDUCATE themselves about what to look for in an IT consultant. Quite honestly, you might be shocked at the oversights and slackness of most self-proclaimed "experts". Below you will find some questions you can use to determine whether or not your network IS really being supported properly.
If your technician does not score a "yes" on every point, you could be paying for substandard support AND be wide open to a very expensive, very frustrating computer disaster:
• Do they answer their phones "live" and respond to support issues immediately in 1 hour or less?
• Are they remotely monitoring your network 24-7-365 to keep critical security settings, virus definitions, and security patches up to date?
• Do they INSIST on monitoring an off-site as well as on-site backup, or are they letting you rely on outdated tape backups?
• Do they INSIST on doing periodic test restores of your backups to make sure the data is not corrupt and could be restored in the event of a disaster?
• Have they provided you with written, network documentation detailing what software licenses you have, critical network passwords, and hardware information, or are they the only person with the "keys to the kingdom?"
• Do they constantly (and proactively) offer new ways to improve your network performance, or just wait until you have a problem to make recommendations?
• Do they provide detailed invoices that clearly explain what you are paying for?
• Do they explain what they are doing and answer your questions in terms that you can understand (not highly technical)?
• Do they complete projects on time and within the budget, or does every project end up taking longer and costing more than you expected?
• Do they offer any guarantees on their services?
• Do they arrive on time and dress professionally?
• Do they have other technicians on staffs that are familiar with your network in case your regular technician goes on vacation or gets sick?
• Do their technicians maintain current vendor certifications and participate in ongoing training, or do you feel as though they are learning on your dime?
• Do they take calls from other clients while working on your network (and on your dime)?
• Do you have to manage their progress on projects, or do they provide frequent updates, status reports, and follow-up calls and e-mails?
• Do they offer flat-rate or fixed-fee project quotes, or do they give themselves a wide open playing field with "time and materials?
Now, it’s for you to decide on how many not affirmative answers you are willing to accept. It is frustrating as a vendor to come in behind a brother-in-law who is a self-proclaimed "computer guy" to fix their mistakes and then getting in a, sometimes intense, discussion with the business owner over the price.
With any luck, these questions will help you think twice about getting a professionally trained, reputable vendor to look after your computers and network instead of gambling with your business and data.
It is really unfortunate that most business owners who are faced with a major computer disaster do not realize that it probably COULD have been prevented. Many businesses do pay for substandard computer support most likely because they do not know how to truly verify their network IS secure and end up having to take someone at their word.
Business owners need to EDUCATE themselves about what to look for in an IT consultant. Quite honestly, you might be shocked at the oversights and slackness of most self-proclaimed "experts". Below you will find some questions you can use to determine whether or not your network IS really being supported properly.
If your technician does not score a "yes" on every point, you could be paying for substandard support AND be wide open to a very expensive, very frustrating computer disaster:
• Do they answer their phones "live" and respond to support issues immediately in 1 hour or less?
• Are they remotely monitoring your network 24-7-365 to keep critical security settings, virus definitions, and security patches up to date?
• Do they INSIST on monitoring an off-site as well as on-site backup, or are they letting you rely on outdated tape backups?
• Do they INSIST on doing periodic test restores of your backups to make sure the data is not corrupt and could be restored in the event of a disaster?
• Have they provided you with written, network documentation detailing what software licenses you have, critical network passwords, and hardware information, or are they the only person with the "keys to the kingdom?"
• Do they constantly (and proactively) offer new ways to improve your network performance, or just wait until you have a problem to make recommendations?
• Do they provide detailed invoices that clearly explain what you are paying for?
• Do they explain what they are doing and answer your questions in terms that you can understand (not highly technical)?
• Do they complete projects on time and within the budget, or does every project end up taking longer and costing more than you expected?
• Do they offer any guarantees on their services?
• Do they arrive on time and dress professionally?
• Do they have other technicians on staffs that are familiar with your network in case your regular technician goes on vacation or gets sick?
• Do their technicians maintain current vendor certifications and participate in ongoing training, or do you feel as though they are learning on your dime?
• Do they take calls from other clients while working on your network (and on your dime)?
• Do you have to manage their progress on projects, or do they provide frequent updates, status reports, and follow-up calls and e-mails?
• Do they offer flat-rate or fixed-fee project quotes, or do they give themselves a wide open playing field with "time and materials?
Now, it’s for you to decide on how many not affirmative answers you are willing to accept. It is frustrating as a vendor to come in behind a brother-in-law who is a self-proclaimed "computer guy" to fix their mistakes and then getting in a, sometimes intense, discussion with the business owner over the price.
With any luck, these questions will help you think twice about getting a professionally trained, reputable vendor to look after your computers and network instead of gambling with your business and data.
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