Mini-Series Parts 5&6: 10 Important Questions to Ask your IT Partner

There’s more to choosing an IT partner than just searching for a solution that meets your technical requirements. Your partner will become an extension of your team, so it’s important to take the time to find the right fit, and asking the right questions is the first step in creating a trusting and lasting relationship. In this mini-series we’ll explore the most important questions we’d want you to ask someone like us!

Questions 5&6: Do you have 24-hour support and what’s the procedure for reporting a problem?

Imagine this: You’re working late at the office to meet a tight deadline when your VPN goes down. The problem can’t wait until the morning, so who do you call? What’s the reporting procedure?

24-hour support is an invaluable resource that removes the uncertainty no company can afford to have. Your IT partner should be committed to protecting your business, and it’s important to find a solution that matches your needs.

Some benefits to managed support?

• According to a Gartner report, outsourcing will lower IT operating costs by 19%-29%
• Reduces operational burden and free up resources for core business objectives and projects
• Accelerates operations with automation tools and processes

You’ll want to make sure your IT Partner can match the level of  support you require and that their team is qualified to deal with any issues, so that when you do call with an IT emergency it can be rectified quickly. You’ll also want to know what their procedure is for reporting so that you'll feel confident in knowing what to do if a problem occurs, so you can stay calm and focused on reducing the damage to your business.

Your IT partner should be easy to contact and accessible to reduce unnecessary downtime, which comes at a huge cost to any sized company. At Whipcord, when you call us, you’ll be connected with one of our local and accessible staff members in our Network Operations Centre (NOC) to assist you!

Stay One Step Ahead

The first step in choosing an IT Partner is asking the right questions that help you find the best fit for your business. At the end of the day, you put a lot of trust into your partner so it’s important that they’re not only knowledgeable, but a good fit for your company.

Want to ask us this question? Schedule a meeting with one of our regional sales managers! Otherwise, keep an eye out for the next question in our mini-series or access the downloadable PDF below.