How to Find the Right Managed IT Service Provider for Your Business

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When looking for an IT service provider to outsource your tech support, it’s crucial to remember not all IT service providers are the same. You need to find one that understands your specific needs and can offer you the best possible service.

There are a lot of IT service providers out there and it can be tempting to go with the cheapest one. However, you get what you pay for in most cases. Inexpensive providers frequently provide lower-quality services, which can lead to costly problems in the future.

Keep in mind that when selecting an IT service provider for your business, it is critical to consider their experience with or specialization in serving companies like yours.

Questions to ask before partnering with an IT service provider

Here are a few questions to ask a potential IT service provider before partnering with them:

  • Do they have experience servicing your industry specifically?
  • Will they provide routine checkups and network assessments?
  • Can they support the technology you currently have in place?
  • Are their solutions scalable?
  • What is their policy on on-demand support?
  • Do they offer proprietary solutions that you can’t find with other providers?
  • Can they package your service into one monthly bill?
  • What will you get in return for your investment?

After you’ve acquired answers to all these questions, compare them to your requirements. Make sure they meet your desired criteria.

Signs to avoid partnering with an IT service provider

If you notice any of these warning signs when talking to a potential IT service provider, it might be time to consider other options:

Pushes for a service contract without first assessing your IT environment

Many companies will push for a service contract without taking the time to understand your specific environment. This can lead to overspending and/or underutilization of services. It is vital to have an IT consultant help you evaluate your needs and make recommendations for service contracts.

Offers a standard package right away

It’s critical to take the time to find a provider who will also take the time to understand your business and what you need from them. Many service providers will offer a standard package right away without taking your needs into consideration. This can be a problem because you may not get all the services you need and may have to pay for services you don’t use.

Reacts to issues as they arise (break-fix service model)

Many IT service providers still use a break-fix service model, which means they only respond to problems as and when they arise. This can often make it seem like they don’t care about your business. At best, it can be frustrating; at worst, it can damage your bottom line.

Waits for vulnerabilities to be exposed

Many IT service providers wait for vulnerabilities to be exposed before offering a solution so that they can sell you a few more emergency services that you have no choice but to purchase.

Always look for a proactive IT service provider who’s ready to help you 24/7/365. This means they are constantly monitoring your systems and looking for potential issues so they can fix them before there’s any problem. It can save you time and money in the long run.

Speaks in technical terms you don’t understand

It is always better to find a service provider who takes the time to explain things in simpler terms that you can understand. They should be able to answer your questions and help you make decisions about your IT. If they can’t do that, then they are not the right service provider for you.

Provides rigid solutions that do not integrate

It is critical to find an IT service provider that can provide a flexible solution that integrates well with your existing systems. Technology that doesn’t integrate with your existing systems can cause problems down the road. Ask your provider about their flexibility and how well their solutions will integrate with your current systems. If they can’t provide a satisfactory answer, it may be best to look elsewhere.

When you work with an IT service provider like us, you can expect a wide range of services that will benefit your company. Our expert team can help you feel at ease since we provide everything from managed IT services to 24/7 help desk support. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can assist your company today.

To learn more about excellent IT services, click here to download our eBook titled “How to Choose a Reliable IT Service Provider for Small Businesses.”

Need More Reliable IT Services for Your Business?

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One of the biggest challenges that small and medium-sized businesses face is how to use their limited resources most effectively. Every decision, from what products or services to offer to how to market and sell them, has to be made to protect their bottom line.

Small businesses also face several challenges in obtaining reliable IT services in-house. Not only do you have to worry about the expense of benefits and paid time off, but you also lose out on productivity when your techs are out of the office. Plus, if your tech employees leave, it can add fuel to the fire because it’s hard to find good talent.

This is where an IT service provider can be helpful. An IT service provider is a specialist who can act as your outsourced IT department.

Need More Reliable IT Services for Your Business?How much do you know about IT service providers?

An IT service provider can benefit your business in several ways: 

  • Ransomware and cyberthreat protection
    Cybersecurity and ransomware are two of the biggest concerns for businesses and individuals today. An IT service provider gives you solutions to combat these threats so you can focus on your work without worrying about your organization’s data or devices being compromised.
  • Compliance with industry regulations
    IT service providers are in a unique position to help businesses stay safe and compliant online. They have the expertise and experience to protect your data as per your industry standards so that you remain compliant with defined regulations and protect your brand from data breaches.
  • Stay updated with current technology trends
    IT service providers are committed to educating you about the latest technology trends and the cybersecurity landscape at large. They aim to help you reduce your risk, so you feel confident about using technology without worrying about your safety.
  • Available at all times
    An IT service provider is available 24/7/365, unlike an in-house IT team that might leave you helpless when they are on leave. Above all, they are professionals who have years of experience in the IT industry and can help you with a wide range of services from network security to data backup and recovery.
  • Optimization of your productivity, efficiency and tech investments
    Running a business is hard work. It takes a lot of time, energy and resources to keep things moving in the right direction. When it comes to technology, it’s often hard to know where to start. IT service providers are experts in optimizing your productivity and efficiency. They can help you get the most out of your technology investments so you can focus on what you do best — running your business.

The decision is yours

When it comes to choosing IT services, you have a few different options. You can outsource your technology needs to an IT service provider or use a hybrid approach where you enlist their services in addition to your in-house team.

Outsourcing IT services can be a great way to get access to expertise that you might not have in-house. It can also be an excellent way to get help with specific tasks or projects that are outside your core competencies. However, it’s up to you to decide what works best for you.

We understand that every business is different and has unique needs. That’s why we tailor our services to fit each company. We also have a wide range of services to choose from, so you get what you need.

To get started, reach out to us, and let us know what your business needs. We will be happy to provide a proposal outlining the specific services spanning security, backup, compliance and much more that we can provide for you.

In addition, we recently released an eBook titled “How to Choose Reliable IT Services for Small Businesses” that dives deep into the concept of IT services and explains what businesses need to look for before partnering with an IT service provider. You can download it by clicking here.

Need More Reliable IT Services for Your Business?

WhitePaper: The Value of Consistent Strategic Business Reviews

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The Value of Consistent Strategic Business Review: Aligning technology with your business objectives

Recent global events have proven the critical nature of business technology. Companies that can leverage technology to stay nimble and agile can better maintain consistent operations and gain market value through challenges. However, businesses lacking a digital transformation strategy can be left in the dust. The SBR (also called a Strategic Business Review or Executive Business Review) helps you position the technology to support your internal processes now as well as meet tomorrow’s organizational objectives. Meeting with one of our executive technology consultants provides you with insight into the ROI of your IT investment and a go-forward IT strategy in alignment with your next steps.

The Problem: The Pace of Technology and Business Evolution

■ Leveraging digital transformation strategies
■ Supporting customers virtually
■ Provisioning, securing, and maintaining work-from-home employee IT
Some companies have done well in adopting technologies and building out IT roadmaps that are agile.
Others, unfortunately, have failed in the planning stages and have been left behind their competitors.

An Strategic Business Review plays a central role in the executive process, allowing you to:

■ Review real-time data and analytics
■ Strategize next-step actions
■ Predict outcomes more accurately

Linking IT Resources with Business Goals

Our executive IT consultants act as your vCIO, meeting with you to better understand your business, your objectives, and your next action steps. Because almost everything you do to grow your business is somehow tied to the capabilities and cost of technology, the SBR (Strategic Business Review) is an essential quarterly meeting.
We see ourselves as more than your IT support team. We seek to serve you by providing the technology side of business consulting, so you can take your business to the next level without IT roadblocks or speedbumps.

Why Meet for an SBR (Strategic Business Review)?

■ Positioning your technology to support your objectives
■ Reviewing the ROI of your IT support and cybersecurity expenditures
■ Determining what IT resources you will need for your next growth stages
■ Looking at technologies to increase productivity and efficiency
■ Determining IT budgeting priorities
■ Discussing work-from-anywhere and business continuity contingencies
■ Exploring new technologies that could put you ahead of your competitors

Make Sure You Have the IT Bandwidth for Business Goals

Too many business owners assume the technology they have in place today will allow them to do what they want with their business tomorrow.

While some technologies have been purpose-built with scaling in mind, other IT solutions (platforms, apps, and hardware) could let you down.
An IT SBR (Strategic Business Review) assists you to communicate with our team at a high, strategic level and build a technology roadmap that gives you IT flexibility and capacity for your workflow. Make time for this executive IT planning and be ready to take advantage of business opportunity when it comes along.

It’s Worth Making Time for an SBR

Remember, it’s every quarter.

The ongoing re-alignment of your technology to your quarterly objectives and long-term strategy is critical to the pursuit of those goals.
Let’s help keep you on target by having a regularly scheduled SBR.

 

2026 East Phelps, Springfield, Missouri 65802 P: ( 417)-831-1700 F: (314)-558-8424
PCNETINC.COM

WhitePaper: Exploring the Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Solution

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Exploring the Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Solution

No matter the size of your business, it can’t exist without
technology. If you’re an SME owner, it’s normal to shy away
from the costs that come with hosting a fully-comprehensive
in-house IT team. But you can’t shy away from the
responsibilities that come with protecting your servers and
your customers’ data.
One way to achieve large corporation-style IT support on a
small budget is to use a co-managed IT solution. You’ll still
manage some of your IT functions in-house, but an external
team will provide you with support. If you’re not sure whether
the co-managed approach is right for you, it’s time to learn
more about the benefits.
You can increase productivity
Have you ever found yourself facing the frustrations that come
with network downtime outside of normal business hours?
When your IT support team works on a 9 to 5 schedule, getting
a hold of them when you’re working tirelessly to hit a tight
deadline can feel impossible. In contrast, a lot of co-managed
IT providers offer round-the-clock support.
Being able to access your IT support team on a 24/7 basis
comes with lots of perks. For example, if some of your team
work remotely, they may do some of their work after hours. If
they encounter a problem during non-office hours, they’ll have
to delay their work. By using a co-managed IT solution, you
ensure they have support no matter what time of day it is. As
a result, they can return to work faster.
Reducing your costs
According to some estimates, IT spending is set to total $3.79
trillion in 2019. If you play a part in determining your business’s
budget, you’re likely more than aware of how expensive IT can
be. Unfortunately, as technology changes, your responsibilities
go up. This means that IT spending isn’t something you can cut
back on too much, otherwise, you may invite security risks into
your business.
“…IT spending
is set to total
$3.79 trillion in
2019.”
– Gartner
3 | Exploring the Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Solution
When you use a co-managed IT solution, you get all the
security perks for a fraction of the price. By outsourcing, you
no longer need to finance the overheads that come with having
full-time staff. Additionally, you don’t need to shoulder the
additional costs of hiring them, such as healthcare and other
benefits. With such excellent cost reductions, co-managed IT is
a great way to save money.
Ample amounts of security
In a lot of business areas, cost-cutting is synonymous with
reducing quality. If you save money by outsourcing your IT to a
co-managed solution provider, you’re getting high-quality security
in return.
Cybercrime costs businesses a lot of money. In 2019 alone,
cyberattacks were set to result in $2-trillion worth of losses.
If you don’t want your organization to become a part of those
statistics, you need to provide it with plenty of protection.
When you use a co-managed IT service, you’re gaining
round-the-clock security. Depending on the type of services
you choose, this means that someone is always looking out for
potential attacks and vulnerabilities. As a result, there’s a reduced
chance of cybercriminals successfully launching an attack
against your business while you sleep.
Rapid incident response plans
When your IT infrastructure is central to your business’s
success, the last thing you need is expensive downtime.
As data downtime costs around $9,000 per incident, you can’t
afford to be without an effective response plan.
Your co-managed IT support team can help you create
an incident response plan. By examining the circumstances
unique to your business, they’ll increase the likelihood of your
plan being effective. Additionally, they’ll make sure the plan
unfolds seamlessly so you can reduce the likelihood of facing
significant costs when a disaster hits.
“In 2019 alone, cyberattacks were set to result in $2-trillion worth of losses.” – CPO Magazine
4 | Exploring the Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Solution
Patch management that
frees your time
How much software does your organization depend on?
The chances are, you can’t get throughout the day without a
dozen or so programs. In order for each program to function
securely, they require updates.
All software programs are released with vulnerabilities, but
it isn’t until they’re running that the vulnerabilities become
clear. When the vulnerabilities are known, the software
provider releases patches. Those patches come in the form
of updates. If you don’t manage them, you may be providing
cyberattackers with a port of entry.
When you use a co-managed IT solution, they’ll provide patch
management. If someone else is overseeing your patches
for you, you have more time to attend to other areas of your
business. Additionally, you won’t need to worry about missing
important security updates that keep your network safe.
Using the cloud in a
compliant manner
With most businesses using cloud technology in some way
or another, virtual data storage isn’t unusual. However, every
time you embrace a new cloud platform, you need to make
sure you’re compliant. As the rules surrounding compliance
change, you need to check your usage to make sure you’re not
in breach of any new laws.
5 | Exploring the Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Solution
When IT isn’t your primary job, staying up-to-date with
compliance legislation isn’t always feasible. If you use a
co-managed service, your service provider can achieve all this
for you. As a result, you will be able to avoid data losses and
fines that could seriously hurt your bottom line.
A flexible IT solution
Finally, turning to a co-managed service rather than doing
everything in house means you’re embracing a flexible IT solution.
You can increase and decrease the amount of support you
have without having to go through an arduous hiring process.
Depending on the organization you use, you may be able to
increase your usage with short notice.
When you use co-managed IT services, you’re achieving
top-notch tech support without the hefty price tag. Now all you
need to do is find the right service provider for your organization.
Contact Us
2026 East Phelps
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 831-1700
sales@pcnetinc.com

What is Colocation?

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As more businesses are transitioning to the cloud, they’re mainly taking advantage of public cloud environments. However, if your business is growth-oriented, you may be discouraged by the lack of control your team has over how public cloud resources are stored, managed, and allocated. If that’s the case, colocation may be an option worth exploring. In this post, we’ll break down the fundamentals of colocation and provide some tips for selecting the right colocation facility.

The Fundamentals of Colocation

Colocation is a server hosting model in which a data center houses your organization’s server infrastructure and other network hardware, while your team oversees how the server environment is managed and supported. This platform allows your team access to an off-site data center without the steep capital expenditures of building your own data center. At the same time, colocation enables you to host a private cloud or disaster recovery platform without having to tie up additional space at your facility.

If you choose to use colocation services, you can either have an internal IT team oversee your colocation system or partner with a managed service provider (MSP) to handle server colocation for your organization.

What to Look for in a Colocation Data Center

As you research colocation data centers, make sure to consider these factors before making a decision:

Existing Infrastructure

Does the data center have the existing infrastructure to support the scale and hardware you’re planning to deploy? Determine whether the data center has the power and cooling capabilities your infrastructure will demand.

Operations and Maintenance

While you’re responsible for managing how your network is operated and maintained, the data center should have maintenance procedures and a maintenance team to sustain the rest of the facility’s infrastructure. Make sure their maintenance plans align with your expectations and that they’re willing to work alongside your team.

Pricing Models

How does the data center provider price its services? Many providers charge a fixed fee for space and capacity while adding additional charges for power, cooling, and supplemental services. Take the time to ensure the pricing models cost-effectively address your needs to prevent the risk of surprise expenses later.

Security Procedures

While your team is responsible for cybersecurity on your network, the data center facility should accept responsibility for the physical security of your equipment along with your specific industry compliance requirements. Hashing out these details before committing to a data center can ensure your colocation platform remains secure.

Springfield’s Colocation Service Experts

If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities of colocation for your organization, contact the experts at PCnet today. We’ll help you explore your options and leverage our network of colocation data centers to design and deploy a colocation platform around your needs. Once we’ve accomplished that goal, we’ll even help you manage and maintain your network to guarantee ongoing success.

Managed Services for Your Springfield Business

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Ensuring your business’s technology platform aligns with your broader organizational goals is critical to your team’s success. With the right tools, your team can experience new levels of productivity, streamline workflows, and focus on growing your business while prioritizing customer engagement. A managed service provider (MSP) like PCnet can help you achieve all these goals with IT solutions optimized for your organization’s specific needs. Here’s how.

Comprehensive IT Strategies

When you choose PCnet as your managed IT service provider, we take a holistic approach to addressing all your organization’s technology needs. We accomplish this by packaging a robust service catalog that includes:

  • Continual Monitoring and Reporting
  • Around-the-Clock Support
  • Asset and Vendor Management
  • Preventive Infrastructure Maintenance
  • Monthly Calls and Technology Reports
  • Quarterly Business Reviews
  • Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity Strategies
  • Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Solutions

No matter how your team uses technology, the experts at PCnet can show you how much more technology can do for you. We take the time to understand your team’s unique workflows and deploy IT solutions that take your operations to the next level. While all the services included with our managed package are foundational to any business technology platform, we continually refine and fine-tune each service, so it’s like having your own internal IT team.

Simplifying Technology Budgeting

If yours is a growth-oriented business, budgeting for monthly technology costs can be a struggle. When your network goes down, you may have to absorb a substantial unexpected expense to get it back up and running. With PCnet as your MSP, we absorb much of that burden by offering our managed services for a fixed monthly fee. Our goal is to make budgeting for technology as intuitive as possible while minimizing the risk of surprise costs that cut into your business’s bottom line.

Leveraging Colocation Data Centers

If you’re focused on growing your business while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow, a colocation cloud solution is worth exploring. With colocation, you rent space at a data center to host your own server infrastructure. Because you own the equipment, you can take a more hands-on approach to managing and overseeing how resources are allocated and security is managed.

PCnet offers colocation management as part of a supplemental managed service package. We oversee installation, management, repairs, and maintenance at the data center. That way, your organization can migrate network operations to the cloud while preparing for growth. Once you have the resources to manage your cloud network in-house, our team is happy to help your IT team transition to managing your hosted cloud. Ultimately, our colocation solutions are ideal for businesses preparing for future growth.

Springfield IT Support

If you want to experience how much more a managed IT partner can do to drive business growth and maximize productivity, contact the experts at PCnet today. We’ll answer any of your questions related to our robust managed service package while laying the foundation for a successful partnership and ongoing growth.

DRaaS: A step above Offsite Backups

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The concept of Offsite Backups seems to be understood by most – PCnet backs up your data to our “Cloud” (offsite), where it can be retrieved when needed most.  However, “Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS)” is still foreign to many business owners.

“Disaster Recovery” does suggest a more robust approach to an unforeseen data emergency.  But is DRaaS necessary for your business?  Let’s find out… Read more

Why Your Second “In-House” IT Hire Should Be “Outsourced IT”

 

Your first step into the world of IT came with an in-house hire, and your business responded by growing…a lot. So much so, in fact, that your in-house tech cannot keep up. Now projects are piling up, IT security is falling behind, and the auditor’s reports aren’t looking good.

Sound familiar? It might be time to expand your IT department. And when you make that decision, it may be much more advantageous to consider an outsourced IT solution. More and more, outsourced IT is becoming the definitive solution for companies either just entering the world of IT, or those learning one lone employee isn’t enough. Read more

Is Your MSP A Trusted Advisor?

Many times I’ve heard managed service providers claim to be the trusted advisor to their customers. This has been said so often that I wonder if we’ve lost sight of what the phrase really means. Have we diluted its true meaning?

In the context of existing customers, trusted advisor may or may not be reality. This means, existing managed services customers fall into two categories: those who view the MSP as a trusted advisor and those who do not. Why would an existing client not view the MSP as a trusted advisor? A) The client once did hold the MSP in this regard but no longer does, or B), the client never trusted the MSP but went ahead with the relationship anyway.

If You Are Trusted, You Don’t Need To Say It!

The trusted advisor is a status between the MSP and the customer. Read more