Whether you’re in the process of starting your firm or adding a new location to your business, hiring the right people is a critical undertaking that requires a systematic approach. Like any personnel, hiring the right Managed Service Provider (MSP) to support IT functions inside your small medium-sized business. We want to empower your decision-making to be a lasting and productive asset to the core operations of your business. If you’re shopping online for managed services in the Detroit area or heading into the first introductory meeting to discuss IT support, arm yourself with these questions:
- How long have you been in business?
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years, your ideal candidate will have a track record for staying open well past the 5-year plateau.
2. How many engineers do you have working on your helpdesk, what kind of specialized training does your company mandate before technicians will serve my company?
Your goal should be to find a firm with multiple technicians who specialize in a variety of services. Most MSPs incorporate the philosophy of being good at everything. We all know in reality this is not possible. The great Managed IT support in Detroit focuses certain technologies on a core group of people in their staff. This ensures your outsourced IT department will have engineers dedicated to a singular project handling different processes
3. Do you have a ticketing system that prioritizes my specific needs?
Your company is unique, your MSP should recognize and sort through your needs based on every attribute of your business. Utilizing a ticket system coordinates all points of contact that have been made, conveys the urgency of certain problems, and creates a uniform understanding of the stability of your environment.
4. Are you on the Channel Futures MSP 501 list?
This places a good measure on your chosen partner that you’re interviewing or through an online search. Each year Channel Futures publishes the highest-rated MSPs in the world. If your candidate is on this list, they must be doing something right.
Bonus Tip: don’t hesitate to ask an MSP to provide references.
Signing over key components of your business can be a daunting task, but if you know the right questions to ask you will find the right fit for your company. Start your search today with confidence!
