Traditional IT Support Vs. Current IT Support
IT Support is a support service which supports clients of specific technologies or services. IT Support, often called IT support, help desk or support management, is different from traditional technical training. In traditional training students are taught how to use a particular piece of computer hardware or software. Once a student has mastered the software or hardware, they then need to learn how to troubleshoot or resolve specific problems. IT Support does not require that a person be technologically savvy; instead, it focuses more on how a person can resolve an IT issue quickly and effectively.
IT Support involves the use of various tools, such as email, web browsing tools, antivirus software, system utilities, disk cleaners, and other tools. A typical IT Support job would entail taking care of issues that pertain to a computer’s hardware, software, and user settings. In some cases, IT Support professionals may be called upon to resolve issues that involve viruses or spyware. In other instances, IT Support will work to keep a client’s operating system, applications, hardware, drivers, and so forth in optimum operating condition. This part of the job requires that the IT professional know how to take care of specific hardware and software, in addition to knowing how to handle viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malware that may be placed on the computer by the opposition.
An IT technician can also help with hardware and software maintenance. Computer maintenance is something that most people don’t think about until their system starts to act funny; however, if proper maintenance is not performed, then it could very well result in the total failure of the entire system. In some cases, the support technicians will also have to perform data center upgrades or repairs.
Different Tasks IT Technicians Undertake
In many cases, there will be a need for an IT technician to perform a number of different tasks that will include the handling of virus removal, anti-spyware applications, patching, and server support. In other instances, he or she will be required to help install new components or expand the capacity of the one being used. For the latter position, there will likely be need for a knowledge of network architecture, security maintenance, and troubleshooting. In some IT positions however, there will only be need for general maintenance duties; there will be special IT support positions that deal with only one aspect of IT, for example network troubleshooting.
Network support tiers are very important in the IT world. Without the proper support tiers, many companies could find themselves quickly running into trouble. There are many companies online that offer IT maintenance on several different levels. In fact, many companies only use the first two tiers in their selection process, which are known as the basic in-house IT department and then the specialty teams that are usually part of their data center installation team.
The level of IT support you need depends on your company’s budget, the type of services you are looking to provide, and the level of satisfaction you are looking to receive from your employees. For many companies, it is sufficient to provide the basic IT department with troubleshooting, application support, and basic support for virus detection and removal. There are many companies that prefer to utilize more specialized IT technicians who specialize in only a handful of services. For these companies, the most cost-effective approach is to outsource their IT issues to independent consultants, who can serve as virtual help desk personnel for a fraction of the salary charged by traditional IT departments. This approach saves both time and money, and allows the business owner to better focus on providing customer service.
Troubleshooting Hardware and Software Issues
In order to provide IT support to your customers and to maintain your business in operation, you must have solid knowledge and training in troubleshooting hardware and software issues. One of the best ways to do this is to specialize in a specific branch of IT support. For instance, in some industries, support technicians specialize in a particular type of computer problems, such as Windows XP support or Microsoft Office support. If your company requires a lot of this expertise, you should look into a course that trains you in each specific aspect of operating different types of computers and operating systems. For example, you may be required to know how to troubleshoot specific programs like Word or Excel, or how to repair a specific piece of hardware.
A typical IT technical support level involves being able to perform the following tasks: troubleshoot hardware issues, diagnose hardware issues, send emails to customers, respond to phone calls, use web browsing tools, download and install programs, copy and paste data, and much more. However, there are two other specialized support tiers that you may want to consider hiring. These technicians have the additional abilities of being registered consultants. Consultants are qualified to provide answers to questions about specific applications, operating systems, browsers, and hardware. As a consultant, you will not be able to provide detailed answers to questions about applications, but you may be able to answer basic questions.
