What Makes A Great IT Service Provider?
7 Non-Negotiable’s
So many things can go wrong in IT, from hardware not working to lost files to data security breaches. What should you be looking for when choosing an IT service provider? There is a wide range of support available and not all suppliers are the same, even though the terms they use may be. How do you choose between them and ensure their IT services matches your business goals and stays within your budget?
Table of Contents
Essential services that should be included in your managed IT services
1. User Support
You should expect your Helpdesk team to deliver immediate assistance whenever needed. At CYAN, we provide unlimited help and guidance over the phone or we can connect to systems remotely to fix problems, carry out maintenance work, or assist users when they have questions. Additionally, if we can’t resolve an issue remotely we will despatch an engineer to your site at no extra charge.
This approach aligns with the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) operational security guidance, which highlights the importance of swift IT incident response in reducing business downtime and security risks.
2. Infrastructure Support and Maintenance
Our engineers will manage and support your entire IT infrastructure and ensure your business is operational and compliant. We’ll keep your network secure, and your systems up-to-date. From servers to software licenses, whether in the cloud or onsite, we’ll maintain your entire IT estate and make sure it delivers exactly what you need.
3. Cyber Security
We manage security across all systems and devices under our control and combine industry-leading tools to deliver a unified security suite. We’ll keep users safe by protecting email, web browsing and cloud applications, we’ll secure Internet gateways from the threats of hacking and intrusion, and we’ll shield your systems with award winning anti-virus and malware defence. Our team will monitor security across all areas of your business and analyse and remove any potential threats as they occur.
To stay ahead of emerging cyber risks, we follow best practices outlined by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ensuring robust protection through encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. These principles align with the NCSC’s Cloud Security Guidance, which highlights how organisations should secure cloud services and manage cyber risks effectively.
4. Backup and Disaster Recovery
We safeguard your business against outages, fire, flood, theft, human error, ransomware and even hardware failure. We manage the entire backup process ensuring your important data, applications and databases are kept safe and secure. From a single file to an entire failed server, we have the tools to recover your business from complete disaster within hours.
Following guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), we ensure all backup solutions align with GDPR compliance requirements, safeguarding business-critical data and preventing unauthorised access.
5. IT Purchasing
The right IT investments keep your business running efficiently and securely. A good IT support provider should guide you in choosing hardware and software that align with your business needs. Poor decisions can lead to compatibility issues, security risks, and wasted costs, making expert advice essential.
At CYAN, we use our technical knowledge to recommend tailored solutions that fit your organisation. We supply and install new systems, build more efficient networks, and integrate the latest technology, ensuring everything works seamlessly and aligns with your business goals.
6. Performance Monitoring
According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), proactive IT monitoring and real-time threat detection are critical in preventing cyber attacks and minimising operational risks.
We proactively monitor your computers, servers, network and Cloud services and take immediate action to identify and fix smaller issues before they have time to develop into bigger problems or downtime. More importantly, we can ensure that system performance is optimal at all times.
7. IT Reporting
Having insight and visibility in to your technology, with all its related statistics and performance measurements, is key to justifying future direction or making important business decisions. Our reporting tools are designed to extract valuable information about your systems, your users, IT efficiencies, productivity and security.
Choosing the Right IT Service Provider for Long-Term Success
As an absolute minimum, these are the service levels you should expect from any IT provider. However, the real benefits come from working in partnership with your supplier, so your technology infrastructure becomes fully integrated with your business plans and is developed to meet your growth ambitions.
According to research by Forrester, businesses that align IT strategy with their growth plans experience higher productivity, reduced downtime, and increased operational efficiency. This reinforces the importance of Business-IT Alignment, where IT is not just a support function but a driver of business success, ensuring technology actively contributes to long-term goals rather than just keeping systems running.
At CYAN Solutions, we become an integral part of your team, planning your technology capability in line with your organisational strategy, creating the right solution for you and ensuring it is maintained ongoing. Contact us at [email protected] or call us on 02392 333 365 to discuss your IT support needs.
