More and more small and midsize businesses are looking at technology outsourcing as an option to improve IT scalability, reduce costs, and increase agility, but it’s not for everyone. What are companies looking for when they make the decision to outsource the management and support of their network?

1) Increased knowledge base: With so many IT options available to small and midsize businesses, it helps to have an experienced team to work with who are familiar with similar environments and can describe the pros and cons of different solutions. If you have a complex network or are planning to grow, it pays to have an experienced team behind you.

2) Improved scalability: When network support and maintenance require additional resources, it is difficult for internal IT departments to scale; the trade-off is a significant increase in costs or a reduction in resolution time for employees. An IT company, on the other hand, can scale efficiently by bringing in a second or third engineer to help during spikes in support or large project rollouts. Costs remain fixed and controlled.

3) Reduced Costs – Most IT companies are moving towards a fixed cost network management fee which allows businesses to control their costs while ensuring all network support and maintenance is covered. Most businesses don’t require a person on site at all times, which can dramatically reduce costs.

4) Up-to-date training: Training is an expensive expense, but it is essential for any quality IT company to stay current. If your network is running Microsoft technologies, you should find a Microsoft Certified Partner in your area who is comfortable with your environment.
Everyone has heard the horror stories about outsourcing their IT, so what should companies look for in their IT team?

1) Good References – Don’t outsource anything until you are sure they are trustworthy and have had a chance to talk to references. A good IT company will offer as many references as you want and you’ll know pretty quickly if the company knows what it’s doing or not.

2) A win-win situation: Increasingly, IT companies are sharing the cost of running a network by providing unlimited customer support for a fixed price. The customer is happy that costs are under control and the IT company is happy that they are doing what they know how to do, maintaining a healthy network.

3) Quality Engineers: A good engineer or engineers is the key to improving your network. Just remember that they will be interacting with your employees, so you want someone who can get along with them and communicate problems and solutions. Ask to meet the engineer(s) who will be working on your account.