We all know our IT systems are under frequent threat from cyber criminals and that protection is essential, so here are our tips for buying antivirus software.
Many employees are switching to hybrid working to cater for thier employees needsand ensure they offer a sense of work-life balance. As a responsible employer, you should consider the ways you can positively impact your hybrid workers while providing the productivity and security of all devices equipped to offer this working style.
If your thinking of switching IT Support providers, you may be interested in how the on-boarding process works before you make any decisions.
We’ve created a free brochure outlining all the steps within our simple 4 step on-boarding process ensuring you get 100% clarity from day one.
Some companies may specialise in a particular brand of IT support, such as Microsoft, Android, or Apple.
While this can be useful if all your devices use this particular operating system, it may not be right for you if your employees work on several platforms. In this case, you may want to look for a bespoke IT support company that is more generalised.
Microsoft is the most common platform used by businesses and individuals alike, with 69.14% of all devices in the UK running this system in 2022. Due to this, you may want to ensure that all technicians have that Microsoft certification. This means that they have undertaken training to have the skills and competency required to fix Microsoft-related issues.
While technicians may gain some training when they begin a career within IT support, there may be more they can learn. As technologies improve, some software or operating systems may become outdated.
Choosing a bespoke IT company that offers in-house training to their technicians could help to reassure you that they will be able to meet your needs in the future.
You may be hesitant to use an IT support company that was only established recently.
However, if you can see proof that those working at the company have gained valuable experience, in the form of skills and qualifications, elsewhere, you may want to reconsider.
Alternatively, for your peace of mind, you could opt for a brand that has been tried and trusted for numerous years.
While general experience in IT support can be important, you might also want to think about how much support a company has within your specific field.
This can allow you to gain quick access to relevant support and even use a company who knows exactly what your requirements and pain points may be when it comes to your IT usage.
Some IT support companies may charge on a per-hour basis. This can lead to problems with accounts, as you may find that your costs differ each month.
Should you require more support on any given month, you may find that the costs for this exceed your budget. Opting for bespoke IT support for a set fee each month, offering wraparound care during hours of business, may enable you to keep track of your finances and still be able to keep your business operational.
Likewise, you might want to consider your needs. Software-only IT support could be good for those running minimal devices. When using older hardware, or numerous systems, you might want to think about adding on component support. This is where location could be crucial.
The location of IT support may also be crucial. Choosing a company based in the UK may mean that they operate during your working hours, allowing you to gain support when you need it. A local IT support company might also be a good idea, especially if you also want your hardware looked after.
If you only want software coverage you may be able to broaden your choices with distanced or remote support companies who can deal with your queries via email, messaging, or telephone.
Your business size might be important when it comes to choosing IT support.
Sole traders and smaller businesses may be able to use a support company with a smaller number of technicians.
Should your business have many employees or devices used, you might want to think about an IT support company who also has a larger number of technicians. These same principles can be used in relation to account managers and client relationship managers.
Before you sign any contracts with a bespoke IT support company, you might want to consider how the experiences of previous and current customers. This could be found on their website, as well as via Trustpilot, Google reviews, and even employee review sites like Glassdoor.
Doing so could allow you to see what a company does well, as well as any areas which require improvement. Take both positive and negative reviews into consideration before making a final decision.
When things do go wrong you may want to be able to quickly contact your IT support to get things put right. This means that a simple ticketing process may be required. At the same time, the IT support company should be able to use remote monitoring to access your system, figure out the problem, and then put a resolution into place.
If an IT support company doesn’t use these, they may not be able to help you.
Your business may have several different files that are paramount for your daily operations. Being able to always access these, without any data bugs or errors, may be a priority.
Some IT support services may also provide cloud usage, enabling for remote working.
The ITIL, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library, framework sets out some key principles for those working within IT support. These include:
You may want to check a bespoke IT support company’s website, or contact them, to find out if they implement ITIL within their services.
It can be good if you are able to gain other services, such as telecoms, from the same provider as your IT support.
Think about what you require to streamline your business as much as possible, and then run a search to see which companies tick all the boxes.
Safe and secure IT support can be a great addition to your business.
Syn-Star knows that it can be useful to consider bespoke IT support, rather than a one size fits all package. This can enable you to change your package dependent on the needs of your company, as well as opt in for telecoms to be included. You may also find several benefits attached to having bespoke IT support in place.
For help with your IT or telecoms, contact Syn-Star for a solution today.
At Syn-Star we never want you to pay for services that you don’t need, that’s why we have broken down our services into two packages.
Click below to download our free brochure and find out which IT Support level your business needs.
Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
Learn more about IT Support
Let’s Talk!
If you have any additional comments or questions about this article, you can share them in this section.
Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
Contact us now
Areas we cover
Company
Team Productivity:
You and your team are able to see where they are using their time and how productive they are actually being. Also they are able to clock in and out, so really good for flexi-working.
Team Monitoring:
If you would like to know what your team is doing and how productive they are being, we are able to monitor them and create screenshots of what they are working on. This can be run in normal or stealth mode.
Book a FREE fact finding session to discuss the different options.
We proactively seek opportunities to support good causes for our community.
From sponsoring local community football teams, to engaging with charity fundraiser days, we believe it’s important to continually strive to do good for the better of others.
We have members who volunteer with youth organisations, are engaged with the Round Table, run marathons and volunteer at events where we may be needed. Every charity receives a discounted IT and Telecoms service too.
Protecting your digital data is crucial for every business and this can start with the industry-leading security we offer. The Syn-Star specialists can help with identifying any vulnerabilities within your IT systems and act accordingly to ensure cyber-attacks and data breaches are mitigated.
Your business will never fall behind with its technology when you work with Syn-Star.
We understand IT and Telecoms for your business is an investment, but it’s important to use the best resources available to enable the growth of your business. Our IT Consultancy and Virtual IT Director Services are available to support you with how you use your business technology for years to come.
Syn-Star can conduct quick and easy phishing exercises to identify people within your team who need to improve on their knowledge around fraudulent emails and how they can be alerted to these threats.
At Syn-Star, our experts can proactively work to understand exactly what software you need to support with the business operations. Whether you need a listening ear on what software to choose, or would like to seek some specialist knowledge, we’re here to help where we can.
At Syn-Star, we keep Telecoms simple. There’s so much available to help UK companies with their communications. VoIP systems, fixed landline, cloud phone systems, SIP trunking and more. Contact us for further details.
Desk phones, cordless phones or conference phones, Syn-Star can provide you with whatever you need.
From conference calling facilities to the headsets which work best for your team, we’re able to provide all the equipment you need and complete any telecoms job from start to finish.
There is no need to be in the office to make and receive phone calls from your company’s number. Our market-leading Telecoms platform gives you the flexibility of desk phones, soft phones and mobile apps as standard.
Whether your team works remotely, or perhaps staff are on a business trip anywhere in the world, calls can still be made, and people are reachable via phone wherever they go.
With a range of products, our team can support you by installing exactly what you need for internet connectivity. We work with the very best products to provide speedy bandwidths which play a part in the increased productivity of your team.
