And this simple question alone can help you understand whether you're wasting IT budget.
Many small to medium sized businesses outsource their IT management and cyber security to third-party IT support services companies.
However, not all of these companies are created equal.
And the last thing you want to do is hire incompetent IT support services.
The creators of the “Techcess” podcast, m3 Networks (headed up by “Techcess” host Mark Riddell pictured) pride themselves in offering a more robust and means-tested IT support service.
And they have a lot of experience in knowing what challenges await, and the red flags to look out for, which they want you to benefit from in this episode.
If you're not careful, you could end up paying for subpar IT support services that leave your business vulnerable to attack.
Here's what you need to know about the dangers of using an incompetent IT support services company and a simple way you can find out if you have been…
Click the player below to listen to the episode right now.
You don’t know what you don’t know when it comes to IT
There are so many IT support services providers out there and unless you know a lot about IT yourself, it can be difficult to ascertain which ones are at the right level for your business.
Of course, very few of them will turn their back on new business and so you have to approach it with a certain level of trust that they’re equipped to handle your business.
If they’re not, it could be disastrous.
And this is why you need a more robust way of identifying whether your IT supplier is fit for purpose.
And that is the point of this episode.
Poor cyber security practices can lead to data breaches
One of the most dangerous things about using an incompetent IT support services company is that they might not have proper cyber security protocols in place.
This could lead to data breaches that compromise sensitive information like customer credit card numbers or social security numbers.
In addition, a data breach could also cost your business a lot of money in fines if you're required to notify affected individuals under local and international laws.
Not to mention, a data breach could also destroy your company's reputation if word gets out that you're not properly protecting customer data.
Inadequate IT management can cause system downtime
Another danger of using an incompetent IT support services company is that they might not be able to properly manage your IT systems.
This could lead to system downtime, which can be extremely costly for businesses that rely on technology to function properly.
For example, if your website goes down for an extended period of time, you could lose out on revenue from online sales.
In addition, system downtime can also lead to disruptions in other areas of your business, like your ability to communicate with customers or process orders.
Poor customer service can leave you feeling frustrated and helpless
Another danger of using an incompetent IT support services company is that they might have poor customer service.
This can leave you feeling frustrated and helpless when you need help with a technical issue but can't get anyone on the phone or live chat to assist you.
In addition, poor customer service can also lead to longer wait times for support and/or less satisfaction with the overall service you receive.
So how do we avoid working with an incompetent IT support services company?
In this episode of Techcess, Mark Riddell from m3 Networks shares with us one simple question you can ask your IT services provider.
The answer they give will help you establish whether or not they have your cyber security needs covered.
Spoiler alert! Don't read any further if you don't want the episode spoiled! – Excerpt from episode…
"Most people do not know whether the IT companies are actually patching their systems on a regular basis. And quite often during those conversations they'll say, well, I'll go and ask them that question and hand in hand every single time so far when a potential customer has gone and asked their current IT provider if they have a patch management service in place to patch their operating systems on a weekly basis, it always comes back. As I know, or even worse, we had someone asked the IT company and they spoke to their account manager at the IT company and their account manager didn't even know if patch management was part of their service. And this is actually quite shocking."
Techcess is a podcast from m3 Networks