Straight answers to the questions you're actually asking
Short, direct answers to what business owners and office managers ask us before they hire an IT company. Each one starts with the answer, then the detail.
Switching IT providers
- What happens when we switch IT providers?
For most businesses, switching IT providers takes 2 to 4 weeks. The new provider documents your environment, collects credentials from the outgoing provider, installs its monitoring and security tools, and moves your team onto its help desk. Complex environments that need upgrades or security cleanup can take 4 to 8 weeks. Done well, your staff barely notices.
- How do I know it's time to switch IT providers?
It is time to look at a new IT provider when the same problems keep coming back, you only hear from them when something breaks, nobody can tell you where your security stands, and there is no written plan for next year. One bad week is normal. A pattern is a signal.
Cost and contracts
- How much do managed IT services cost?
Managed IT is usually priced as a flat monthly fee, and four things drive where it lands: how many users you have, your compliance requirements, how many locations or remote workers you support, and the current state of your systems. We share exact pricing after an IT Risk Assessment, so the number reflects your business, not a generic tier.
- What should a managed IT agreement include?
A good managed IT agreement says plainly what the monthly fee covers, what costs extra, who is responsible for security, how onsite visits work, how urgent issues are prioritized, and what happens to your data and admin accounts if you leave. If any of those are vague, ask before you sign, not after.
- Do you come onsite, or is it all remote?
Both. Most IT issues are fixed remotely, because remote support can begin without waiting for a technician to drive over. When something needs hands on it, like a failed switch, a new office or a hardware swap, we come onsite from our Redlands office. Onsite visits are included in our managed IT agreements at no additional charge.
Working with your IT person
- We already have an IT person. Do we still need an IT company?
Maybe not for everything, but probably for some things. Co-managed IT keeps your IT person in charge of day-to-day support and adds an outside team for the work one person cannot cover alone: 24/7 security monitoring, compliance documentation, Microsoft 365 security, large projects, and backup when they are out. It does not replace them. It gives them backup.
Security and insurance
- What security do cyber insurers require?
Most cyber insurance applications ask about the same core controls: multi-factor authentication (MFA) on email and remote access, endpoint detection and response (EDR) on every computer, backups that are tested and kept separate, timely patching, security awareness training, and a written incident response plan. Answers that turn out not to be true can put a claim at risk.
- Does the FTC Safeguards Rule apply to my business?
If your business handles customers' financial information, it may. The FTC defines "financial institution" broadly, well beyond banks, and the rule requires a written information security program built on a risk assessment, with controls like multi-factor authentication, encryption and access controls. Smaller firms are exempt from some provisions. If you are not sure whether it applies, it is worth checking.
Law firms
- What should a law firm look for in an IT provider?
Look for a provider that already supports your practice management software, documents your security in a way you can show a client or the state bar, gives attorneys remote access that works from court and home, and has a plan for the day something goes wrong. General IT skills are table stakes; law-firm experience is the difference.
Don't see your question?
Ask us. An intro call is a conversation, not a pitch, and you'll get a straight answer about whether we're the right fit.
Book an Intro Call →Or call us directly: (951) 398-0021