So, you’re wondering how much IT support costs in Birmingham? We’ve got some good news.
There’s no one-size-fits-all price.
Why is that good news? Because if there was, you’d probably end up paying over the odds for the support on offer.
The cost of effective IT support depends on a number of factors. For instance, does your business have just five users or a larger team of, say, 50? What existing IT infrastructure do you have in place and are you after remote or full onsite support?
There are loads of variables, and the best IT companies will steer away from providing ad-hoc services, because they know that removes the proactive approach needed to make sure ‘the lights are always on’.
What factors does IT support take into consideration?
When looking for the most cost-effective IT support in Birmingham, you should ask the following questions from the outset.
Does the price include:
- limited or unlimited support?
- onsite assistance or purely remote support (there’s nothing wrong with the latter, but the former will probably come at a premium)?
- per user or per device support (if a director has both a desktop PC and a laptop, will you be charged for two devices?)?
- backing up of your data?
- monitoring and maintaining your infrastructure?
- Office 365 licences?
It’s also important to remember that modern IT support has moved far beyond fixing stuff. These days, it’s about helping you use technology as an enabler and to give you efficiency and competitive advantage.
Within the price, you should also expect provision for consultancy and cyber security, which includes not just the provision of antivirus but continual education and knowledge sharing about cybercrime.
This is why regular, pro-active catchups should also form part of the quote. They’ll help with all of the above, along with user adoption and strategic help as you grow.
What hidden costs should I be wary of?
Look out for unpredictable pricing. For instance, if you’re only paying for remote support and something needs to be fixed on site, do you know how much extra that will cost?
What if you make a number of calls to the support line that goes above a preset monthly allowance? These restrictions are, unfortunately, sometimes in place and can typically only be found in the small print of your contract.
Similarly, if the IT support firm doesn’t undertake regular catchups, they’ll be far too reactive. When something goes wrong, they’ll have to undertake an emergency call out, and charge you premium costs for the privilege.
Hidden costs can be avoided by having open, honest conversations from the outset, but ensuring you have the right level of support and assistance will also remove any chance of nasty surprises further down the line.
What defines ‘cheap’ IT support?
You really do get what you pay for in this game. Cheap IT support will not only cost you more in the long run – it’ll be potentially harmful, too.
Inadequate cyber security and the hours lost to downtime as a result of unmonitored hardware will far outweigh the cost of cheap IT support.
Those inadequacies always point back to there not being enough IT support in place. It’s a bit like buying a car which doesn’t feature brakes or a steering wheel. Sure, you’ll save on the cost due to fewer materials, but you’ll inevitably crash when you put it to work.
What are the tell-tale signs it’s a good deal?
If the IT support you’ve been quoted for is based on a per-user fee and includes unlimited onsite and remote support, you’re probably onto a good thing.
There also shouldn’t be any confusing small print and, most importantly, the company should encourage a full discussion before anything is signed in order to ascertain exactly what you need.
Look for phrases like ‘multi-layered security’, ‘proactive approach’, and ‘advanced Office 365 protection’. That way, you’ll gain all the peace of mind you need.
If you’re hunting for great IT support but have hit a brick wall, get in touch with the Compex team. We have 3 cost-effective options to choose from, which range from £30 – £55 per user, depending on your requirements. As a guide, a typical 20-user company would pay around £700 per month.
It sounds like you haven’t spoken to us yet, after all!
