IT support services were still not given priority by most small businesses even though the number of data breaches recorded last year has surpassed that of 2020. In this blog, you will learn crucial insights and what to expect both in services and fees if you decide to contact a managed IT service provider near you.

In most cybersecurity articles, you will often read those small businesses of any type should invest in IT support services. Still, there are pressing reasons why doubts usually win over such important decisions.

 

Factors to Consider

Lack of Education Small business owners think their organizations are small enough to target any cyber-attacks. According to surveys, 40% of these attacks are relatively aimed at small businesses. In addition, these groups have no idea how to defend themselves.
Trust Issues When talking about privacy settings and how to manage essential data for the company, trust is always the main thing. Questions like, Should you hire a full-time IT manager? Or to invest in an IT support company?
Fees Is it right to ask, What do you charge for your services? Or, What will I get for my money?
Savings Which is more cost-effective? A Managed IT services or a Break-Fix?
Expectations What to look for in a Managed IT Services Agreement? What should you expect to pay?

Lack of Awareness

We adhere to breaking the stereotype that your business is immune to cyber-attacks. Moreover, it is not beyond our knowledge that even the most prominent and wealthiest companies have experienced it. Furthermore, with the alarming cybersecurity-related reports last year, this is high time to calibrate your mind re- and start thinking of security features for your data and your business in general. 

A recently conducted study by IBM stated that organizations with fewer than 500 employees reported average data breach costs of $2.98 million per incident last year. In addition, 60% of SMB’s go out of business within six months of getting hacked. 

Trust Issues

Will you allow a third party to manage essential and confidential data in your company? Or, will you hire your own IT manager to do the task? The real deal is who can better monitor your system and fix the security issues effectively and cost-effectively. 

Have you heard about the “break-fix” model? I am not enticing you to consider it, but later on, in this blog, you will be enlightened why it works entirely in the consultant’s favor, not yours? So keep reading. 

Fees

When negotiating and there’s a certain amount involved, the very first thing we immediately ask is, “What will I get for my money?”. Well, it’s normal for people to ask for value and assurance. How about rephrasing that question into “What do you guys charge for your service? As a managed IT services provider, we understand this question’s importance. 

Fees vary from the different service providers. However, It is vital to choose the right IT service company for their specific situation. In addition, budget and needs are based on the value the company can deliver must be taken into consideration too. 

Savings

Regular monitoring and maintenance are crucial for your computer networks. A task that only a highly skilled individual can do. And the reason for this is for your data to keep secure. 

Business owners are looking for cheaper remedies on this matter. However, security is not a common issue; you can bargain with anyone. Our goal is to educate you on better and more cost-effective options. 

Expectation

If you hire an IT consultant and sign up for a managed IT services contract, we listed some things that should be included. Thus, It is your responsibility to make sure you read your contract for validation. 

  • Security patches are applied weekly, if not daily, for urgent and emerging threats.
  • Antivirus updates and monitoring
  • Firewall updates and monitoring
  • Backup monitoring and test restores
  • Spam-filter installation and updates
  • Spyware detection and removal
  • Monitoring disk space on workstations and servers
  • Monitoring hardware for signs of failure
  • Optimizing systems for maximum speed

However, some services may not be included and are often billed separately. It would be best to validate this with your service provider to prevent misunderstanding. It is not necessarily a “scam” or unethical UNLESS; the managed IT services company intentionally hides these when selling you a service agreement. Make sure to ask questions. Some of these are:

  • Hardware, such as new servers, PCs, laptops, etc
  • Software licenses
  • On-site support

Conclusion

Considering the rise of cyber-related crimes worldwide, Cybersecurity must be on top of your priority lists if you have existing businesses or will about to start one. As promised, we will give you more crucial insight into getting exactly what you need without unnecessary extras, hidden fees, and bloated contracts.

Affinity Technology Inc. prepares a FREE REPORT to understand the ins and outs of what you should expect to pay for IT support for your small business. Download it now, and you’ll discover the following:

  • The three most common ways IT services companies charge for their services, and the pros and
    cons of each approach.
  • A common billing model that puts ALL THE RISK on you, the customer, when buying IT
    services; you’ll learn what and why you need to avoid agreeing to it.
  • Exclusions, hidden fees, and other “gotcha” clauses IT companies put in their contracts that
    you DON’T want to agree to.
  • How to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting to avoid disappointment, frustration
    and added costs later on that you didn’t anticipate.
  • 21 revealing questions to ask your IT support firm BEFORE giving them access to your
    a computer network, e-mail, and data.