An IT company helps businesses and other organisations with their Information Technology needs. Typically, an IT company will install, manage and protect the software and hardware used by employees within an organisation. The exact responsibilities of an IT company will depend on how much and what type of support and guidance a client requires. For instance, it could be that a business already has an IT Manager, but they need additional IT Support to give them the time to work on new projects. In this scenario, an IT company (such as ourselves) might offer third, second or first-line IT Support (or all three) and effectively take care of all IT Helpdesk queries coming through to free the IT Manager to work on other projects.
An IT company may also play an integral role in helping internal IT managers and senior managers with business strategy. For example, it’s not unusual for us to be invited into a Board meeting to provide crucial input on how IT solutions can fast-track business objectives or make a business vastly more efficient.
Of course, a business may need a complete managed IT solution. This is where an IT company takes on the day-to-day IT Management, support, and consultancy on behalf of the client, which can be a great help for small to medium-sized businesses.
Every IT provider is different, but in our view, an IT company should always add value to an organisation, and this value should be measurable. For example, this could mean demonstrating how many threats have been thwarted, how much money has been saved and how many of your staff are more productive as a result – and that’s just a few of the many business benefits.
We know that you would expect us to say this, but as an IT company we really are different. Since our clients operate in a wide range of sectors and have different business challenges, we support them as critical friends and trusted IT partners. Our aim is quite simple. As an IT company, we believe that we should always add value to the organisations we support.
This starts by us getting to know you as a client – what your pain points are and where you see your business in two, five or ten years. By understanding your business and how it operates, we can recommend the best IT and most cost-effective IT solutions. There’s never any upselling you IT products you do not need or making matters complicated with technical speak.
Above anything else, we understand exactly how to safeguard your organisation as we are certified IT Security experts and business continuity specialists. Therefore, clients trust us to proactively protect their systems and data.
Most importantly, as an IT company, we continue to support and advise all the businesses and schools that have been with us since we first started operating in 2010. As they will tell you, they see us as an extension of their team, and to us, that’s the hallmark of a good IT partner.
An IT company works with clients in several different ways. It could be, for example, that an IT Manager would like a second opinion or another impartial IT expert’s advice before going ahead with a project. In this case, the IT company would act as a consultant, which could be on an ad-hoc basis or as an ongoing arrangement to assist with project delivery. On the other hand, an internal IT manager may just require IT Support. Here, a contract will be drawn up between the IT company (the vendor) and the client detailing the exact terms of the IT Support. For instance, the IT company will outline the type of support (third, second, first or all), how often onsite visits and housekeeping checks will take place, its IT Support escalation process, how many IT users are supported (with room for growth) and the costs involved.
In our opinion, an IT company should always work in partnership with its clients to make sure that they are getting value for money from their IT. Additionally, an IT company should be able to dial up its IT Support and Consultancy Services depending on each client’s need.
Unless specialising in just one or two areas, an IT company will usually offer a selection of connected IT products and services. While not an exhaustive list, here are the most frequent IT products an IT company should be able to support you with.
IT Support or IT Helpdesk Support. If contracted for IT Support, an IT company will help with a wide range of IT technical issues, from individual user queries to more extensive system problems and upgrades. In addition, an IT company should help to prevent cyber attacks and be able to restore data in the event of a critical incident.
Data Security and Backups. If contracted to do so, your IT partner should be able to retrieve and restore your data to prevent data loss. This also involves taking a proactive approach to IT Security by introducing robust IT Solutions and introducing best practices as part of a robust business continuity plan.
Network and Server Installations. An IT company that takes a granular approach to server installation and computer systems upgrades should provide an analysis on the benefits and ROI of an IT project, as well as managing and installing new equipment.
Cloud Services. With businesses heavily reliant on cloud services, an IT company should be able to help your organisation take full advantage of new technologies while safeguarding your data and systems. Your chosen IT partner should also be able to take an impartial view and work collaboratively with you to introduce cloud solutions that have a measurable business benefit.
IT Consultancy. The bedrock of any strong IT company is how valuable it is as a business confidant, somewhere you can turn to as a commercial partner for strategic advice. This is not something that every IT business offers, although it is definitely an area that Agile Technical Solutions specialises in and can help you with.
