When it comes to managing your business’s technology, choosing the right IT company is crucial. Not all providers are created equal, and some may lack the expertise required to deliver the high-quality services your business needs.
Today, we’ll take a look at the differences between specialists and non-specialists so you’ll be able to find just the right provider for your business.
Why a Specialist IT Company Matters
A professional, specialized IT provider offers a level of expertise and focus that non-specialist companies simply can’t match. While some companies provide IT services on the side as part of a broader offering, they often lack the in-depth knowledge and experience required to handle complex IT challenges effectively.
Non-specialists often overlook or mishandle critical services like network security, system monitoring, or strategic IT planning, and they may not be able to identify and address the risks and vulnerabilities that specialists can. This leaves your business exposed to financial and data loss, downtime, and reduced productivity.
By choosing a dedicated IT partner, you put your technology in capable hands so you can focus on growing your business without unnecessary interruptions or security concerns.
Questions to Ask Your IT Company to Determine Specialization
Before committing to an IT company, give them a call or set up a meeting so you can get to know them a little and ensure you’ll be working with a specialist. Here are a few questions you can ask to get the conversation started:
- What services do you offer?
- How long have you been focused exclusively on IT services?
- What will your strategy for my IT be?
- What is your approach to cybersecurity?
- Have you worked with my industry before?
- What advanced IT certifications and partnerships do you hold?
Be sure to also include any specific questions you may have about your operations or services you want. As you talk through these questions with your IT company, keep an eye out for the following red flags.
IT Provider Red Flags
These are good signs that a company doesn’t specialize in IT—and that you should keep shopping around.
Minimal Services
True IT specialists will provide a comprehensive set of services, including advanced cybersecurity measures and detailed data management and backup services. These are core offerings that you need to protect your business. If these or other essential services are missing from their solutions, find a company that provides more complete support.
Generic Solutions and Insights
Your business is unique, and your tech solutions should be too. When an IT company can’t (or won’t) provide industry and company-specific tools, software, hardware, and services, it’s a good indicator that they don’t have enough expertise and experience. Find someone who offers specific insights and tailors services to you so you can maximize value, safety, and productivity.
Reactive (Rather than Proactive) Solutions
Effective cybersecurity and IT support are all about proactivity. It’s much more effective to look ahead and strategize in order to avoid outages or attacks instead of just being ready to fix them. Non-specialists will often skip this planning step and focus on reactive break fixes. Be sure you find a provider who focuses on your future goals and safety and takes action toward them now.
Lack of Partnership
If you don’t feel like your IT company cares about your business or your success, if they don’t talk through goals and strategies with you, or if they don’t provide clear explanations for their work, they probably aren’t going to be a reliable partner. And they probably don’t specialize in IT support. You and your provider should feel like a team working towards the same goals.
Green Flag: You’re Partnering with Run Networks
At Run Networks, we take pride in being able to offer you professional, tailored, specialized IT support. Each of our techs has expertise and experience in IT for various industries, and each one is ready to provide high-quality, friendly service.
When you partner with Run Networks, you can be certain you’ve chosen a specialist who’s dedicated to your success and your goals. To get started on your IT strategy or to learn more about what makes Run Networks different, send us a message! We’d love to get in touch.
