Why Small Business Tech Support?
The IT Support keeps the computer networks of almost all kinds of organisations running smoothly, ensuring that the entire business runs smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Due to the very nature of this job, some businesses may need their IT Support to take temporary shift work during peak periods, during which case they will need to hire temporary IT Support. The majority of businesses however will not need their IT Support on a permanent basis. In these circumstances, it is more practical for them to hire IT Support on a part-time basis, so that they do not incur expenses that they would not normally have to bear.
IT Support takes on many forms, including support for hardware and software maintenance.
When it comes to hardware, an IT Support service provider offers guidance on how to best care for old equipment. There are also those who offer advice on how best to update hardware based on current industry standards. Those businesses that require software maintenance may require their IT Support specialists to work on fixing the latest technology in an effort to keep their systems running as efficiently as possible. Similarly, a computer support company that works with the design and creation of new hardware will also have suggestions on how best to use existing technologies effectively, rather than making the systems more ‘lazy’ by not using them to their fullest potential.
It is important for businesses to keep their IT Support up-to-date on a regular basis. This is in the interests of both hardware and software maintenance. By ensuring that the IT Support service provider can offer guidance on what steps to take in relation to hardware, you can rest assured that they can advise you on what is necessary for software maintenance. By being on top of industry developments, businesses can ensure that their systems are running at their optimum performance levels. In turn, this can only enhance the services they offer, and consequently – improve their bottom-line.
One of the most common IT Support service tiers is the ‘all round’ support level. This would include hardware and software support, which includes addressing generic problems such as hanging programs, corrupted files, DLL errors, and file folder corruption. At this level of IT Support, all issues relating to the hardware would be addressed, and the user would receive full assistance from a qualified professional. At this level of service, the IT Support Service provider will use a bespoke technical solution to resolve any problems a user might be experiencing.
The second most common IT Support service tier is the ‘remote access’ tier.
At this point, IT Support professionals working through a remote access programme would be able to assist users of their choice. These professionals would be in a remote position to access the system of any user and resolve issues that arose. Remote access is one of the most successful ways to resolve IT Support issues because it enables IT Support teams to focus on the customer requirements instead of being tied up in technical issues. Remote access IT Support is usually provided by a specialist third party company, and so the costs associated with this form of technical support are higher than other tiers of support. However, the convenience of remote access is well worth the additional cost.
The final IT Support service tier is ‘tiered support’. At this level, IT Support professionals working through a tiered support programme would be more likely to be given access to higher level features and resources. For example, they may include a software package which enables them to carry out diagnostic tests on the computer in order to determine whether a hardware or software problem is causing an issue. They may also be provided with an on site technician, who may be able to carry out more in-depth testing if required.
IT Support services are delivered via many different channels. For example, they can either come to the location of a company or they can be sent through the post. Many IT Support personnel now work on an onsite basis, rather than having to spend time travelling back and forth between premises. However, for larger companies, it is often beneficial to have staff that are able to deploy to remote locations when necessary. One of the positive customer aspects of IT Support is that staff will often be able to use their IT support skills not only within the business but also outside the business as well, such as helping customers with Internet connectivity issues.
- IT Support is broken down into three different support levels; IT Managed, IT Certified and IT Managed Nuker. IT Managed technicians are the lowest level of support, consisting of basic troubleshooting skills and equipment that are designed specifically for the tasks IT Support professionals undertake.
- IT Certified technicians, on the other hand, are trained to run one of several different level two IT Support suites, including load balancing, recovery and servers.
- A qualified IT Manager will possess a comprehensive understanding of network infrastructure and how it affects business operations, and will be well versed in hardware and software.
