If there is one thing businesses in the Los Angeles area shouldn’t skimp on, it’s IT support. Finding a good IT support company is important so they can get to work on securing your networks and keeping you, your data, and your business safe.
We’re at a point where businesses of all sizes need proper IT services if they want to continue to operate efficiently. If you don’t have dedicated IT support, it’s time to find a company that can help.
Have you never had to look for IT support in Los Angeles? Don’t worry, we’ll be your guides! If you want to find stellar IT support in the Los Angeles area, here are 10 tips that can help you along the way.
1. Consider Proximity
It seems like almost everything can be outsourced or done offsite these days. There are plenty of huge tech companies that will promise to offer you 24/7 support, but if you want them to live up to their promises you should take the time to find someone close to home.
Some issues just can’t be fixed over the phone or online. There can be plenty of instances where you’re going to want in-person IT support.
How could IT support that’s located 12 hours away from you help you set up workstations for new employees? Can someone working from a different country come and manually troubleshoot some of your most important computers?
Be sure to ask specific questions about where their staff is located and how they support people for in-person help. If they can’t give you a satisfying answer it’s okay to look for help somewhere else.
2. Go for Niche Experience
There are some baseline skills that anyone working in IT should have, but there may be times where your business will benefit from a little industry expertise.
The IT needs of a restaurant chain are going to be very different from the IT needs of a lawyer. This is why we always recommend going for IT help that has plenty of experience in your field.
Don’t just take their word for it during the interview. If they say they have industry expertise ask them for the names of companies they’ve worked for along with specific projects.
3. Understand Your IT Needs
When most people think about IT, they assume that they’re the team that comes out to fix computer problems. While it’s true that IT can help troubleshoot issues, they can offer a variety of helpful services for your company.
Some IT services specialize in setting up office equipment and helping businesses better understand their tech needs. Others consider themselves experts in cybersecurity and can create comprehensive plans to keep your data safe.
There’s a world of possibilities in the IT world, all you need to do is think about what you want the most.
Be sure to ask managers and different departments about their specific IT needs, and consider sending out a survey to employees to learn their point of view. Once you have an understanding of where your company needs IT support, you can start looking for outside help.
4. Come Prepared With a Software List
It’s safe to assume that there are some programs you use to work efficiently each day. If you want to get IT help that can truly meet all of your most pressing needs, come prepared to each “interview” with a list of software you work with.
Finding IT support that’s intimately familiar with your most important software programs can come in handy. They’ll know the ins and outs of things so they can troubleshoot problems with ease.
Do a little homework before you start looking for IT companies and see if any of the software makers you use offer certification programs. IT companies that are certified professionals associated with your top software programs are always a solid choice.
5. Ask About OS Expertise
Finding an IT support company in Los Angeles that’s familiar with your software programs would be helpful, but it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker when you’re searching. Matching software expertise is can be considered a nice extra, but OS expertise is an absolute must.
Working with an IT company that’s used to working with Macs when your office primarily uses Windows is a recipe for disaster. Each operating system comes with its own unique nuances. You’re going to need to find someone that’s comfortable working in your chosen OS.
To be fair, it isn’t unusual to find a company that can handle working with multiple operating systems. In fact, some companies may prefer to find someone that has expertise with different programs in case they end up switching systems in the future. Regardless of your preference, just make sure you can find someone that can meet your needs today.
6. Don’t Forget About Availability
The IT support you bring into your office shouldn’t just be able to help you with day-to-day work. You never know when an emergency will come up, and you’re going to want to make sure you have the right help on your side.
Servers can go down just as easily over the weekend or holiday as they do during your usual 9-5 working hours. That’s why it’s important to have a clear understanding of what to expect in terms of availability.
See if the IT company you’re interested in working with offers support on nights and weekends. Some places may have extended hours on certain days, others can offer 24/7 service, and some may only be able to help you during usual business hours. Have a clear idea of when they’ll be able to help you before you accidentally get inadequate help.
7. Consider Size
You think you’ve found great IT support and they’re relatively close considering how large Los Angeles is. They may seem great on paper, but you should make sure they’re used to handling a company of your size.
Being responsible for a dozen or so computers is very different from having to manage several hundred. It’s possible that you may have found a great company that just can’t properly manage the IT needs of a big company.
It’s equally important to not assume that IT support that works with large companies is right for a small business. Some of their methods may not work for smaller businesses or may even be too expensive.
8. Consider Scaling
You’ve found an IT support company that can help you now, but will they still be the right one after some company growth?
We just finished talking about how important size is for finding the right It company. Finding a Los Angeles IT support company that can scale services for your company is just as important as finding one that works for you at the moment.
Companies that offer flexible contracts can make it easy to handle sudden changes in IT needs. Whether you need a bit more help than anticipated or less, find a company that can work to meet your needs.
9. Shop Around (With Quotes)
Do you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible on IT services? All you need to do is ask!
When you’re talking to different IT companies make sure you leave with some solid price quotes. Once you have that information finding out who has the best deals and negotiating gets to be a lot easier.
Don’t be shy about letting people know if you’re getting a great deal somewhere else. Some people are more than willing to offer discounts if it means they can make a sale. You can click here for more info.
10. Critically Read Reviews
We know that you don’t need to be told to read reviews to learn more about companies. You know that reviews are important, but you may not know how to read them to get the results you want.
Instead of paying attention to the number of stars a review has, go through the content to pull out clues about the kind of service you should expect. Pay very close attention to any reviews that mention specific times IT helped them or memorable incidents.
Do people mention that everyone they talk to is friendly? Have people raved about the company’s fast response time? These can be signs of a great company!
If you want to see if you should avoid a company, don’t just go by reviews where people complain about the price or only leave a single star. Read some middle ground reviews at around 2-3 stars to see what people didn’t like.
Get the Best IT Support in Los Angeles
It doesn’t matter if you own a small business or a large corporation, IT support in Los Angeles can benefit businesses of all sizes. If you follow the tips we outlined in this post, you’ll be able to find the help you need in no time.
IT support is only one thing businesses in Los Angeles need. Do you know how to find someone to handle some of your overflow HR work? How about someone that can manage extra accounting work?
You have questions, and luckily, we have answers! Browse our content so you can learn more about topics that interest you the most.
