Factors To Consider When Hiring It Consultant In Los Angeles

By Author: Barebones Networking
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So you’re thinking of hiring a managed IT consultant in Los Angeles? Naturally, you’re wondering about the factors that need to be considered before making a decision. After all, IT is now the backbone of most businesses, and thus, your decision will play a large part in your company’s continued profitability and future growth.

There are obviously a lot of factors at play here. However, to simplify matters, let’s approach this by reverse engineering the original reasons why you have chosen to outsource your company’s IT needs instead of employing an IT executive or establishing an IT department. As we break the reasons down, the determining factors will quickly become apparent.

♦ Multi-Disciplined Expertise
The IT requirement of a typical organization today demands the mastery of a broad range of disciplines, such as networking, hardware, software, services, training, SEO and web design. To fulfill this need, companies with in house IT departments have to employ executives with relevant educational and practical experience.

Similarly, managed IT consultants must be staffed with an ...
... experienced team that possesses a diverse range of expertise. In addition, they must also keep abreast of the latest trends and technological developments in the industry to consistently offer your firm with the best and most cost efficient solutions. This is particularly important during new software and application roll-outs, as your internal staff will require fast and efficient coaching and training.

♦ Cost Factor
Long term commitments, such as salaries, bonuses, health care, fringe benefits, working space and furniture are some of the chief reasons why firms outsource their IT needs. It goes without saying then that the hired guns should be able to produce the same level of service and solutions at a significantly lower rate. This is not an unreasonable request, since they are able to negotiate better rates from third party vendors (hardware, broadband, software licenses, etc.) owing to their volume of business. Surely you’re entitled to some of these savings, right?

Flip out your cost estimates and compare it with the quotes (be sure to request an itemize quote) from multiple contractors. It goes without saying, cheaper is not always better. However, these numbers will give you a ballpark reasonable figure, and weed out the price-gougers.

♦ Service Level
The biggest fear of most organizations is losing their data, especially during the off-hours, and suffering extended downtimes. An outfit that can provide 24-hour support, along with ironclad back-up and recovery options, should be near the top of your list. A remote monitoring and data management system could also be important for certain firms.

Furthermore, during those moments of pressure, you want to be handled by courteous and efficient staff. As such, companies that are able to offer responsive and well-trained support staff should get extra points. A great way to test this is by personally calling the support departments of prospective firms. A few minutes’ conversation should be able to give you an immediate idea of the staff competency and level of service on offer. Online reviews from previous customers will also provide you with additional insights.

♦ Level of Security
Data theft? Viruses? Malware? Hacking? Software corruption?
These are just some of the challenges that IT departments across the nation are facing daily. Managed IT consultants must be able to present a plan to manage the security, protection and integrity of your data.

More than that, these same measures, perhaps more, must also extend to their own facilities. Depending on the sensitivity of your data, employee screening and approval before being assigned to your account may be a necessary condition.

♦ Strategic Investment
While you may balk at continuous software, hardware and infrastructure upgrades, your managed IT consultant must be able and willing to make these investments. You should physically inspect their facility, and question their future upgrade plans.

Your consultant must have a complete understanding of your business process and software and hardware requirements. This will allow them to plan ahead, and continuously provide your organization with the solutions needed to keep abreast with the increasingly automated and resource-intensive IT world, with minimal (if not zero) downtime.

At the end of the day, your managed IT consultants must be able to handle the entire area of responsibility of a typical internal IT department, at a substantially lower cost - while maintaining a smile 24/7/365!

About the Author:
George Grant enjoys blogging about many topics, including IT services and infrastructure in Los Angeles. Looking for information about IT Consulting? Check out managed it support los angeles.