ICT realizes that in the ever changing computer world we live in today, your computer network has consistent needs. To resolve these needs, business owners are faced with how to solve this problem. ICT has identified 3 distinct approaches every business owner is faced with in dealing with this problem:
Option #1 - Have the “computer fix it” guy come out on when the problem occurs. In the past this solution was viable. If the computer stopped working, you could move over in your swivel chair and pull up the typewriter to get the memo out. In today’s business landscape computer network systems need to be operational all hours the business is operating. The “computer fix it” guy is not prepared to deal with this level of uptime, nor are they prepared to react immediately in the event something fails. Unfortunately, many business owners fail to realize the cost of downtime and unproductive salaried employees. Finally, the “computer fix it” guy fails to provide expertise in navigating thru your computer network system. He doesn’t provide insight into the bigger picture, doesn’t completely understand your computing needs, has no residual service offering, and finally provides you with no documentation or report on what you have or what he has provided. Basically, he is the spare tire on the car.
Option #2 - The ICT Managed Care offering. ICT Managed Care is a comprehensive and customizable, service value proposition. Our proposition is a business relationship which aligns maximum value to your IT dollars with premium strategic technology support, best of breed tools, innovative systems and processes, and always available personnel. At ICT, we have developed our core service offering, ICT Managed Care, over many years of developing processes, procedures, tools, and practices, to deliver the most successful managed services offering around. We understand technology, we understand business, and we understand people. More
Option #3 – Hire the full time IT person, or tasking the computer savvy office employee with maintaining your IT operations. Here are the good and bad of hiring a full time IT person:
The Good:
- Person is readily available onsite if necessary.
The Bad:
- The person is overpaid and under utilized.
- The person does not have a diverse enough skill set to manage all your IT operations.
- The person is over utilized and cannot keep up with your IT operation demands, as he is a single person.
- The person is reactive in nature to the needs of your network, so problems are fixed not solved or prevented.
- The costs to pay his salary sap the IT budget that could be used at ICT to deliver a premium service, expert advice, a team of IT professionals, and benefit from advanced IT tools to deliver stunning documentation and reports.
The Ugly:
Now your other choice in this area is tasking the “office floater” to be your technology guru. This solution is an ill-fated mistake on several levels. Here are some reasons this is a bad idea:
- The person is not skilled in taking care of your complex IT infrastructure.
- The person is not getting done what you hired him/her to do.
- The person is not seeing any big picture, not understanding the technology, and not making the best educated decisions for your IT dollars.
Again, he or she is a single person without the experience, knowledge, management, tools, and team to take care of your valuable IT infrastructure.