Have I Outgrown My Current IT Company?

Here Are A Few Signs That Your Current IT Company May Need To Go

There’s always a chance of outgrowing your IT company. That’s the unfortunate reality of any business partnership. But when you’re dealing with technology support, it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where it’s simply no longer the right fit. This happens often, especially if you’re caught in what we call the frustrating technology support loop – you wait on hold, interact with someone overseas, talk to people who don’t even know your environment, and at the end of the day, wait hours, or worse, day for an issue to be resolved. This can make even the most relaxed, laid-back person feel outraged.

So how do you know you’ve outgrown your IT company?

Maybe you are caught in the frustrating technology support loop. But maybe you’re not and the relationship is simply not working due to:

• A lack of knowledge with the technologies you use
• A lack of availability outside of regular business hours
• A lack of transparent, honest billing practices
• A lack of expertise in the industry you’re operating in

It’s not always terrible service that ends a relationship. Sometimes, it’s the little things that, over time, turn into big challenges that can’t be tolerated anymore. Here’s the thing: Your technology is the foundation of your business. Something as simple as not understanding the industry-specific regulations you must comply with can make or break the relationship between your organization and your IT company.

The 4 signs it’s time to make a change…

Hiring an IT company has become the standard for most businesses looking to handle their information technology environment properly. But not all IT companies are the same. If you’re not satisfied with the technology partner you’re working alongside, it’s time to make a change for the better. As your company continues to evolve, your partnerships may not work for you, especially if your IT company isn’t keeping up with the changes you’re making, such as new software, employees, support requirements, and other factors.

If you feel like you’ve outgrown your current IT company, here are the 4 signs it’s time to make a change:

1. They take a reactive, rather than proactive, approach:

This should be clear in the number of issues you’re encountering. If they’re taking a proactive approach, this means they’re monitoring your network around-the-clock, keeping your systems maintained with updates and fixes, and overall, preventing issues from occurring in the first place. If they’re taking a reactive approach, they’re doing the bare minimum and you’re likely struggling with:

• Issues happening on a regular basis (at least once a week)
• Malware infections occurring on the network
• Software compatibility problems popping up
• Outdated equipment that lags or lacks in performance

The reactive approach, commonly known as the “break/fix model,” is simply outdated. Nowadays, a proactive approach, commonly known as the “managed services model” works much better as the IT company charges a flat-rate monthly fee to keep your technology running at peak performance.

2. They don’t understand your unique compliance and/or technology needs:

If you’re operating in an industry with specific technology and/or compliance needs, it’s important to work with an IT company that understands those needs and has experience in that realm. For instance, healthcare providers use a lot of specific software programs. They also must comply with HIPAA (and for the record, the partners they work with must be compliant too!)

Your technology partner should not only have an in-depth understanding of the compliance and/or technology requirements you have, but they should also undergo regular training to ensure they’re up-to-date on the challenges facing your industry.

3. They don’t speak to you and your team about cybersecurity:

Unfortunately, cybercrime is evolving at an incredibly rapid rate. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and coordinated each and every day. Your IT company’s main priority should be keeping you safe against threats, and if they’re not talking to you about cybersecurity, they’re likely not prioritizing keeping you protected. They should implement a multi-layered approach that incorporates:

• Anti-virus software
• Firewalls
• Web content filtering
• Intrusion detection software
• Encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Employee training
• And more

Aside from that, they should also routinely review the policies and procedures you have in place, talk to you about threats you should be aware of, and overall, make sure you’re informed and prepared.

4. They feel more like a vendor than a partner:

As technology is such an integral part of virtually all aspects of your business, your IT company should feel like a partner that’s closely connected to you and in-the-loop on your organizational challenges, goals, and objectives. They should never feel like a vendor that shows up every once in a while and sends you a bill every month. You should have a few trusted, friendly faces that understand:

• Your organizational objectives
• Your challenges
• Your infrastructure
• Your team members

If they’re more of a vendor than a partner, chances are, they’re not helping you strategically leverage technology.

Have you outgrown your current IT company? Get in touch with us. It’s time to make a change. Call or email us at to get started.

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