Ask Your IT Company These Questions to Make Sure You’re Getting What You Pay For
When you outsource the management of your information technology, a lot of what you’re paying for is intangible. That’s why it’s vital to ask the right questions.
When you outsource the management of your information technology, you’re offloading the responsibility of monitoring, maintaining, and securing your environment to a third-party. So how do you know you’re getting what you’re paying for? Hopefully, they’re taking proactive measures to keep your technology reliable and secure, such as:
- Implementing enterprise-grade security solutions, such as anti-virus software, firewalls, intrusion detection software, and more.
- Applying the latest patches and bug fixes to keep all operating systems within the environment up-to-date.
- Backing up your data and testing those backups on a regular basis to ensure they’re recoverable.
But do you know with complete certainty that they’re doing what you’re paying them to do? If they’re not communicating with you on a regular basis about what they’re doing, it’s time to ask some important questions. Otherwise, you might be one phishing attempt or failed server away from hours of costly downtime.
Here are the questions you need to ask to make sure you’re getting what you pay for:
- Do you perform maintenance on a regular basis, and if so, what is the schedule?
Your computers, servers, and other hardware requires regular maintenance to keep them running efficiently. They should be running diagnostic tools that anticipate potential failures – evaluating the performance of each type of equipment within your environment. - Do you apply the latest patches and/or bug fixes to keep our systems safe against hackers?
All systems, including computers, servers, and other hardware, require patches and bug fixes. Manufacturers release these patches and bug fixes when vulnerabilities are discovered, so if they’re not applied, you’re leaving your systems vulnerable to unauthorized access. - Do you employ a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, and if so, what does it look like?
Your cybersecurity approach must be multi-layered, especially as cybercrime continues to evolve at a rapid rate. A firewall and anti-virus software are no longer enough to keep you safe. You need intrusion detection software, encryption, and other vital elements. - Do you have a schedule for performing backups and how often do you test those backups?
If you’re paying for data backup and disaster recovery, you should be aware of how often they’re backing up your data and applications. They should have verified with you about the schedule (hourly, daily, etc.) so make sure you’re aware of the schedule and how often they’re tested.
If you’re not sure you’re getting what you’re paying for from your Albany IT company, it’s time to move on. PNJ Technology Partners is responding to this demand with a unique, powerful, and compelling offering. (518) 459-6712or email us at info@pnjtechpartners.com.
