Working with an expert, reliable IT support provider in Ireland can benefit your business in a myriad of ways.
From improved communication and collaboration to heightened data security and productivity, choosing an IT partner who will improve your day-to-day operations is essential.
Read on to discover ten of the most important questions to ask your IT support provider, to ensure your service is proactive, adaptive and secure.
The importance of securing a reliable IT support provider in Ireland
With half of Irish SMEs describing themselves as digital businesses, the key to making your organisation a success in the face of stiff competition is to ensure your IT operations are built on a strong foundation.
Securing the services of a reputable and experienced managed service provider (MSP) will help you achieve this.
There are multiple benefits to working with a reliable MSP, including:
- Increased productivity, adaptability and growth.
- Enterprise-grade cyber protection for your business.
- Simplified and dynamic IT costs.
- Proactive and reliable IT support.
Given the complexities surrounding IT management, partnering with an expert IT support provider not only streamlines this vital element of running a business but also protects your organisation while giving you peace of mind that your digital operations are in the best hands.
Top 10 questions to ask your IT support provider in Ireland
Asking the right questions before signing up with an IT support provider can save your business time, money and frustration:
1. What IT services do you offer?
This is the first and most important question to ask, as it will help you decide whether or not the provider’s services match your short-term and long-term goals.
Look for a comprehensive IT partner who offers an “under one roof” service that includes managed IT services, helpdesk support, cloud and Microsoft 365 management, cybersecurity, backups, and disaster recovery.
2. How quickly do you respond to and resolve issues?
Downtime costs money, so it’s vital to understand how proactive your provider will be in the event of IT issues.
There are a few essential KPIs that every MSP should track to prove their ability in this context, including response time, resolution time and SLA Compliance Rate.
Each of these metrics will give you an insight into how the MSP in question performs in these vital areas.
3. What’s your protocol surrounding support requests?
Clear communication channels and regular check-ins build trust and reduce surprises.
To prevent frustration down the line, it’s important to suss out how your future MSP handles support tickets, how you submit issues (phone, email, portal), who your point of contact will be, and how regularly they check in with you.
4. What cybersecurity measures do you implement to protect your clients’ businesses?
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so it’s vital to make sure your provider offers strong protection.
Ideally, your MSP should provide a range of security features, from firewalls and endpoint security to monitoring, patching and identity protection.
The right partner will prioritise security while making it easy for your team to comply with good practices.
5. How do you support cybersecurity awareness among employees?
Speaking of empowering teams, your IT support partner needs to extend their services to employee education. After all, your people are your first line of defence.
Ask whether training and awareness programmes are part of their offering, so that your team can avail of security education to help reduce human-error risks.
6. What is your approach to backups, disaster recovery, and business continuity?
A comprehensive disaster recovery strategy is essential to minimise downtime and data loss.
When questioning potential MSPs, enquire about the efficacy of their backup solutions by asking how frequently backups occur, where data is stored, and how quickly systems can be restored.
7. Do you offer a scalable service?
One of the key benefits of working with an MSP is its ability to scale the services it offers.
Therefore, it’s crucial from the outset to ensure your provider can easily adapt their offering to suit the flux and change of your business, increasing or reducing users and capabilities when required.
8. What is your pricing structure?
To ensure your IT management is a cost-effective investment, you must query what the MSP’s pricing structure involves and how flexible it is from month to month.
Doing so will ensure you’re prepared for this regular outgoing and help you avoid surprise expenses.
9. How long have you been working as an IT support provider in Ireland?
Your MSP must understand your specific challenges and regulatory environment.
You should therefore ask how long they’ve been in business, enquire about their track record with Irish companies, and query whether they have supported organisations in your industry or of similar size.
10. Can you share references or testimonials from similar clients?
Client feedback is one of the best ways to assess real performance.
Testimonials, case studies or direct references will help you verify reliability, responsiveness, and whether the provider delivers on their promises.
Finding the right IT partner for you
A strong MSP will not only deliver reactive support, but also proactively manage your IT environment, protect your systems from threats, and help you plan for future growth.
Using the questions above will help you find this: an IT partner who is reliable, secure and aligned with your business goals, giving you the peace of mind to focus on what matters most.
Calnet IT: Your reliable IT support provider in Ireland
At Calnet IT Solutions, we have over 25 years of experience supporting businesses across Ireland. Countless SMEs rely on our team to keep their operations running smoothly and securely. We don’t just react to problems, we help prevent them through proactive planning and proven expertise.
We tailor our reliable, compliant and stress-free IT services to your business needs, while our local team combines deep technical knowledge with a hands-on, practical approach, ensuring your systems, data and people are prepared for whatever comes next.
If you’re looking for a dependable IT partner, your search stops with us. Contact us today and take the worry out of IT.
