Navigating IT Support: Find the Right Fit for Your Business
Choosing the right IT support for your company is critical. A misstep in this area can have disastrous effects on your business, impacting everything from daily operations to long-term growth. As a business owner, whether you're established, or just planning to open a new venture, you've likely already begun exploring IT support options. For those new to the complex world of IT, sifting through the various choices to pinpoint the best fit can be genuinely confusing. You might find yourself drawn to the most cost-efficient option yet worry it won't provide adequate support. Conversely, you may have considered more extensive solutions and questioned what truly aligns with your company's specific needs. To help you make an informed decision, let's explore some common types of IT support available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Common Types of IT Support for Businesses
Hourly Support: Time & Materials "break-fix" IT Services
The only way that we would recommend the time-and-materials approach is if you already have a competent IT person or team proactively managing your IT and you need additional support for a problem that your current IT team doesn’t have the expertise to handle. Those in the industry who use the time-and-materials option are often referred to as “break-fix services.” This essentially means that you pay an agreed-upon hourly rate for a technician to “fix” a problem when something “breaks.” Many people like this option because it is the most straightforward and simple way to pay for IT assistance, but it often doesn’t work in your favor and can even lead you to pay more for basic services. Under the break-fix model, you’ll find a fundamental conflict of interest between you and your IT firm. The IT company has no immediate need to stabilize your network because they are getting paid hourly. Computer networks absolutely need ongoing maintenance and monitoring to stay secure – something the break-fix model cannot supply.
Fully Managed IT Services
In this option, the IT services company takes over the role of your in-house IT department for a fixed and agreed-upon monthly rate. They’ll install, support and maintain all of the users, devices and PCs that are connected to your network on a routine basis. They will even take care of your hardware and software needs for an extra cost. This model works for many businesses because it allows them to plan for IT services in their monthly budget and provides the business with routine maintenance and IT support that they will need. With managed IT services that are offered by managed services providers, you need to pay attention to the services they deliver for their monthly fees. Sometimes your needs may cost extra or the services you truly need are simply not offered. Managed IT services are all about protecting your business from IT-related problems while keeping your systems up and running. In our current age, cybercriminals are working around the clock, trying to gather valuable data. Hiring a managed services provider will help protect your business and prevent common “disasters” such as rogue employees, lost devices, hardware failures, fires, natural disasters and a host of other issues that can interrupt or outright destroy your IT infrastructure and the data it holds. The managed IT approach is undoubtedly the most cost-effective and intelligent option for any business.
Technology as a Service
The final option that you will run into on your hunt for IT support is companies offering technology as a service. These companies offer everything that managed IT services offer but with the addition of new hardware, software and support. This service ensures that your business is always up-to-date with the newest technologies. You’ll need to read the fine print, though since many of these companies do not cover third-party software. The greatest benefit of technology as a service is that you’ll avoid the heavy cost of new hardware and software when you need it, but you will be paying far more for the same hardware and software over time.
BKS Provides Comprehensive Managed IT Support
We'll work with you to create a solution that's perfect for your business. At BKS, we believe in a proactive approach to IT, ensuring your technology always works for you. We offer a variety of managed IT support options, tailored to your specific needs. From essential back-end maintenance and proactive issue monitoring to user help-desk support with ticketing, we've got you covered. We can even provide strategic guidance, budget planning, and asset/license lifecycle management. Our engineering team has diverse skills and specialized expertise, working collaboratively to deliver the most effective and accurate solutions. When you become a client, you're assigned to a dedicated team. This means you'll always connect with someone who knows you, understands your environment, and is familiar with your systems. This personalized approach leads to helpful answers and quick resolutions, every time.
We'd be glad to help you find the perfect IT support solution tailored specifically for your business.
Let's connect and discuss how we can best serve you!
