We’ve had many conversations with companies using a one-man band IT person and the most common issue that comes up is that the business feels that they’re too big for just one person. A one-man band IT person can be ideal for businesses of 2 or 3 people but when that company starts to grow beyond 5-10 people, we find businesses need a different kind of help.
Your needs are out of their depth
The service one-man bands tend to provide is old-school IT support for when you need something fixed. This usually means they don’t have the capacity to find software that will benefit the company, or teach people how to use it effectively. It’s all about fixing. For instance, you might want to use Microsoft Teams as the primary communication tool inside the business so they can quickly and easily collaborate within the team and also 3rd party partnerships, but the one-man bands may not have the knowledge on how to implement it or show you and your employees how to use it effectively.
Security is often lacking
From our experience, companies with one-man bands often lack the security posture a business needs. This comes down to a lack of knowledge, time, and a lack of proactivity. An IT company should be making sure the client is aware of what’s happening in terms of security and what’s needed to keep them secure, including software updates and maintaining secure passwords.
They’re often reactive rather than proactive
It’s important that your IT company is proactive, and focuses on the bigger picture. Reactive IT support is when a problem is fixed after it has occurred. You know the scenario; your email software inexplicably wipes out your inbox, you call support, and they figure out it was due to a virus. Proactive IT support aims to stop issues like this from happening in the first place. In our example, proactive IT would have ensured the latest anti-virus software was running on your device and those in charge of your infrastructure were fully up-to-speed with the latest email-killing virus.
They don’t give you the attention a growing business needs
Businesses need support, and your IT support team should create a plan or roadmap for the business, such as helping you with a budget and helping you align your IT with your business goals. It’s important to build an IT strategy, but a one-man band often won’t have the time.
Slow response/availability that only gets worse
Another disadvantage is that response times tend to be too slow, often waiting a couple of days for a simple fix or some info which can be very frustrating. Not only that, but if they are ill or go on holiday there’s the potential of not having any IT resources available which is very risky for a growing business. As the business grows, the one-man bands tend to be overstretched, and these problems get worse.
Don’t lose that personal touch
You might be worried that by moving away from a one-man band you’ll lose that personal touch. We understand your concerns. With us, it’s different, as we’re an IT support partner, not a provider. We’ll have your best interests at heart right from the start and prevent IT problems while also helping your business grow.
It pays to have a knowledgeable, experienced IT support team by your side and thankfully, you’ve found one.