Changing your IT support provider can feel like a daunting decision.
Your current provider may manage your Microsoft 365 environment, business email, backups, cybersecurity, internet connections, phone systems and administrator accounts. It's understandable why many businesses worry that changing provider could lead to disruption.
The good news is that, with the right planning, switching IT support should be a smooth and controlled process. In most cases, your employees should notice very little difference apart from receiving better support.
This guide explains when it might be time to change IT provider, what information should be transferred and how to ensure the transition is secure and well managed.
Every IT company will occasionally experience technical issues. What matters is how they respond and whether they help your business move forward.
Some common signs it may be time to review your current provider include:
A good IT provider should do more than fix problems. They should help improve reliability, reduce risk and support your long term business goals.
Yes, although it's important to review your existing agreement first.
Check:
Even if you're tied into an agreement, there's nothing to stop you speaking to another provider, reviewing your current environment and preparing for a future transition.
Before notifying your current provider, it's worth preparing a transition plan.
A typical process includes:
Planning ahead helps avoid unnecessary disruption and ensures your business remains protected throughout the process.
A professional onboarding process should cover every part of your IT environment.
This normally includes:
Your new provider should review:
Your business should always retain ownership of its Microsoft 365 tenant.
A complete review should include:
Accurate documentation makes future support much easier.
Where applicable, your provider should document:
A complete network review should include:
Missing documentation can significantly delay fault resolution when problems occur.
Modern IT support should include a thorough security review covering:
Installing security software is only part of the process. Someone also needs to monitor alerts and respond when risks are identified.
Before the transition is complete, your new provider should confirm:
Reliable backups are one of the most important safeguards any business can have.
In most cases, no.
Support systems, monitoring tools and documentation can usually be transferred with little or no interruption to staff.
Some larger projects, such as replacing a firewall or changing internet connectivity, may need to be scheduled outside normal business hours.
A good provider will explain any risks in advance and prepare a clear implementation plan.
Our onboarding process is designed to make switching provider as straightforward as possible.
We begin by reviewing your users, devices, Microsoft 365 environment, cybersecurity, backups, business applications and network infrastructure.
From there we:
Our goal is to provide a smooth transition while giving you a much clearer understanding of your technology.
You don't need to wait until your contract expires to start planning.
If you're considering changing IT support, we're happy to review your current environment, explain the transition process and identify any potential risks before you make a decision.
You can also use our IT Support Cost Estimator to understand what managed IT support could cost your business:
If you'd like to discuss your current IT support with an expert, book a free, no obligation consultation with Matthew Southgate, Founder of 39D:
https://calendly.com/matthew-39d
There is no obligation to change provider. We'll simply help you understand your current position and explain the options available.
