Do you know what to expect when you contract with managed IT services? Here are the basic services you should get and when to expect them.
It’s no secret. Typically, IT guys are located in their creepy dungeons in the basement of your company’s building.
But just what are they doing down there? I may not be able to tell you what they are doing, but I can tell you what they should be doing.
Weekly tasks are usually routine and scheduled to be the same time every week – said no one ever.
Which day of the week doesn’t quite matter. Every company is different. No matter your specific needs, your managed IT services should be meeting them satisfactorily. These weekly tasks should include:
I’m not saying they’re going to every single computer and going through your stuff. They’re looking for technical information – detailed hardware specs, software information, even the temperature on the machine.
Most programs have settings that let Network Administrators to see the specs on your machines without accessing business files.
Yes, a lot can happen in a month. But some things need to happen.
Not all companies have an in-house IT company. As antisocial as the IT guy stereotype is, they should still be showing up to the office at least once a month.
Backups! I mentioned weekly backups earlier. They should be doing monthly backups as well. A monthly backup should happen in an office site location on a backup solution device, such as a NAS unit.
Updates! Again, don’t get confused with server updates vs computer updates. A computer update can be done overnight and restarted overnight before the next work day.
Server updates are a little more complex. Which ones actually get installed on your server requires careful consideration.
Reboots! Following updates, a reboot is almost always required. There’s always a possibility of error when installing server updates, so timing also needs to be chosen wisely. You definitely don’t want have a server down during work hours.
Apart from their weekly and monthly duties, your IT company should be scheduling a quarterly meeting with whomever is responsible for overseeing them.
These meetings usually consist of topics such as:
This would be the time to ask what exactly is going on down in that basement (if you dare ask).
Tech Recommendations! In addition to all the events above, your managed IT services should be recommending upgrades at the end of each fiscal year, to prepare the accounting department for the upcoming budget.
Chances are you wouldn’t trust your IT guy to do… well, anything other than computer work, right? So, trust them when they tell you it’s time to upgrade.
Positive Outlook! Finally, every IT management company should end the year on a net positive. Heading into the new year knowing your business tech is getting the proper attention it needs is a must-have!
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