As you may be aware at this point, in the month of February, we have been focusing on the difference between hiring an in-house IT manager and working with an IT support company. This is a problem that every company will face as it grows. It is important to know when you need to hire internal staff, as well as where a support company can add value as you grow.
At this point you are well aware that hiring your first IT manager implies more then just covering salary and employment costs. They will need the right tools to get the job done, and they will only offer one layer of redundancy and a single skill set. The other hurdle to overcome is creating management processes and defining the responsibilities of the IT manager.
As with every new department, it takes time, trial and error, and patience to establish a process that can effectively keep your network running. One of the value adds of working with an IT partner is access to the systems and processes that your IT partner has developed by working with clients over the course of many years. For any successful IT company, having a repeatable process that works well is absolutely essential. Establishing and refining this process is mutually beneficial for both the client and the IT company.
It is important to understand that when you work with an IT company, you are purchasing an entire package, not an individual service. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Staffing and experience, ranging from end-user support to CIO level consulting, to make your network function well.
- A tested process to systematically track and resolve issues that emerge.
- An investment into the right tools to make sure that your staff is efficient.
All of these aspects, and more, are included when you partner with an IT company. Even if you decide that hiring internal IT support is necessary, this package remains as added benefits that can work along side your internal staff.
Finally, it is important to work with an established IT company that has multiple levels of support and many years of experience. If you think this is the direction that would most effectively support your IT network, call eTop Technology today to see how we can help!
