If you’re like most business owners, you may not know the difference between reactive and proactive IT support. Many people think that all IT support is the same, but this could not be further from the truth. IT support can typically be classified as either reactive or proactive.
The difference lies in when your IT comes into play. Do you continually call your IT guy to troubleshoot simple issues? If your IT support is reactive, it’s often the road block keeping your organization from going about business as usual. Do you rarely have to get in touch with your IT provider due to smooth operations? If your IT support is proactive, it’s often the stepping stone that allows your organization to operate seamlessly.
If you’re not sure which type of IT support your business is currently using, continue reading to learn a few ways to tell if your IT support is reactive or proactive.
Reactive IT Support
Reactive IT support is what you typically get from an in-house IT staff. They are reactive because they are waiting for something to break before they try to fix it, also known as break/fix IT. This can be a very costly way to run your business, as you will likely experience downtime, data loss, or worse.
- Your network has downtime often without any warning.
- Your computer crashes often and you don’t know why.
- You have to wait for your IT guy to show up in order to get your work done.
- Most of the time, an issue will pop up and not get fixed until after it causes problems for you (if it gets fixed at all).
- You find yourself spending a lot of time on the phone with your MSP trying to figure out what’s wrong with your network.
A typical reactive IT support provider won’t be able to help you efficiently manage your downtime or solve complex issues. Their job is to keep the lights on and make sure your network doesn’t go down completely. They simply aren’t equipped to deal with anything beyond basic issues — which means most of the time, you’ll be the one dealing with them.
Proactive IT Support
Proactive IT support is what you get from many managed services providers (MSPs). They are always on the lookout for potential problems so that they can fix them before any damage is caused. This can save you a lot of money in the long run, as it keeps operations running smoothly and protects your network.
- Your MSP is proactive, meaning they’re constantly looking for potential issues before they develop into problems. This allows them to make small, inexpensive changes to your system that can prevent downtime in the future.
- Your IT support is there for you whenever you need them. If an issue arises, they’re on top of it quickly and efficiently.
- Your MSP lets you know when something isn’t working correctly before it causes any problems for you, saving you time and money in the long run.
- You don’t find yourself on the phone with your MSP, trying to figure out what’s wrong.
A proactive IT support team will be able to quickly solve complex problems and prevent issues from developing in the future. Instead of constantly chasing down network problems, you can use their expertise to help you streamline business operations while improving security. This is what you want from IT support, as it can truly improve your organization’s efficiency.
Once you begin looking for proactive IT support, make sure to ask a few specific questions. For instance, what kinds of processes does your MSP have in place? What type of documentation do they provide to keep everyone up-to-date on current issues? How well do they communicate with your team? Look for an MSP that is invested in helping to improve your organization.
Partner with a Proactive IT Provider
If you’re not sure which type of IT support your business is using, it’s time to reevaluate. Switching to proactive IT support can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
Contact Simple Systems today to learn more about our proactive managed services solutions customized to help your business thrive.
