New employees judge your organization quickly. Having their technology ready makes a strong first impression and reduces risk. Before the start date – Receive the request from HR with name, role, manager, start date, and location – Create accounts: Microsoft 365 or Google, plus role-specific apps – Assign licenses – Set up groups and permissions…

Co-managed IT is a partnership: your internal IT staff handle what they do best, and an external provider fills the gaps. Why companies choose it – Your internal team is stretched thin – You need after-hours or holiday coverage – Specialized skills (security, cloud, networking) are missing – You want enterprise-level tools without building them…

A bad IT partnership costs money and creates risk. These warning signs deserve attention. Sales and communication – Pressure to sign quickly, or “limited-time” discounts on long contracts – Vague answers about services, pricing, or security – Promises that sound too good: guaranteed “zero downtime” or “never get hacked” – No references, or only hand-picked…

Most IT companies sound capable in a sales meeting. These questions reveal the difference. Experience and fit 1. How long have you been in business, and how many clients are our size? 2. Do you have experience in our industry? 3. Can we speak with two or three references? Service and support 4. How do…

Many businesses stay with a poor provider because switching sounds painful. With a plan, it doesn’t have to be. Before you decide – Document what’s not working: response times, recurring issues, communication, security gaps – Review your contract for notice periods, exit fees, and data return terms – Get quotes from new providers Step 1:…

The first three months with a new provider set the tone. A well-run onboarding is organized, communicative, and focused on risk first. Days 1–30: Discover and stabilize – Kickoff meeting: goals, contacts, escalation, and expectations – Discovery: inventory of devices, users, software, network, licenses, and backups – Credentials and documentation: secure handover of passwords and…

A service level agreement (SLA) turns promises into measurable commitments. Without one, “fast support” means whatever the provider says it means. Key elements Response time. How quickly the provider acknowledges and starts work on a ticket, usually by priority. Resolution time. How quickly they aim to fix the issue. Response alone isn’t enough. Priority definitions.…

Managed IT pricing depends on what’s included, so “price per user” alone can mislead. Here’s how to make sense of quotes. Common pricing models – Per user, per month: a flat fee for each employee, usually covering their devices and support. Simple to budget. – Per device, per month: priced by the number of computers…

Every business handles IT somehow. These are the three most common models. Break/fix You call a technician when something breaks and pay for the time. – Pros: no ongoing commitment, low cost if little goes wrong – Cons: unpredictable bills, slow response, no proactive maintenance, and nobody responsible for the overall picture In-house IT You…