Calgary IT Consulting – How to Choose an IT Consultant
Whether you own a small mom-and-pop shop or oversee a large multinational corporation, information technology (IT) plays a crucial role in your success. A managed IT infrastructure can enable your company to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and increase productivity—all of which have a positive impact on your bottom line.
However, keeping an IT infrastructure secure, reliable, and up-to-date can feel like a full-time job. Many small to mid-sized business owners simply cannot keep pace with evolving IT demands all on their own.
That’s where outsourced IT consulting services come in.
Outsourced IT consulting is a service provided through a Managed IT services provider that gives businesses access to a team of experts to help guide business-critical technology decisions. These IT consulting teams advise companies on the best strategies and solutions for their unique IT needs and overall goals.
There are a lot of SMBs in Calgary, Alberta, that could benefit from IT consulting services. Calgary hosts more small businesses than any other Canadian city. A team of IT consultants can help these businesses stay ahead of the competition and meet their growth goals. Do you need an IT consultant for your Calgary business? Here is everything you need to know when looking for a local IT consulting service.
What is IT Consulting?
Before you can choose a third-party company that provides IT consulting, you must first understand exactly what this service entails.
As the name suggests, an IT consultant – or a team of IT consultants – will advise your company on all things IT-related. They will strategically evaluate your existing IT infrastructure and recommend solutions that improve performance based on your unique goals.
An IT consulting service may also provide your team with technical training. You may also have an IT consultant who oversees the processes that keep your systems secure and running smoothly. Your IT consultant will also work directly with your company to plan an IT strategy, coordinate implementations, and provide training to your employees.
Ultimately, a worthwhile Calgary IT consulting service will ensure that your technology pushes your company towards long-term growth and success, rather than holds it back.
How Will IT Consulting Benefit Your Business?
Now, let’s explore some of the ways that IT consulting, from a great IT support company, will benefit your business.
Better Cybersecurity Posture
Many SMB owners make the false assumption that they are too small to be targeted by a cybercriminal.
However, approximately 43% of cyberattacks are targeted at small businesses. Cybercriminals are drawn to smaller businesses because they often lack advanced IT security solutions, opening the door to numerous vulnerabilities.
Calgary IT consulting can keep your company protected from the region’s most prominent threats posed by hackers and cybercriminals by developing a robust cybersecurity strategy.
They will start by conducting an IT security audit to identify your business’s cybersecurity weaknesses. Then, your IT consultant will recommend advanced, multi-level security solutions to improve these areas.
One of the benefits of hiring a local IT consulting service – instead of a national provider – is they’ll focus on the regional IT threats to your business, rather than taking a generic approach to security.
Solutions to Your IT inefficacies
If your company uses outdated or incompatible technology, you’re missing out on the opportunities to run more efficiently. A Calgary IT consulting team will help advise/implement cutting-edge solutions that ensure your business gets the most out of its IT systems.
Your IT consultant will conduct a thorough assessment of your company’s current technology and look for oversights that may be holding you back. If they discover a weak point, they’ll recommend a plan of action that significantly improves operations.
Note: A quality IT consulting team should never try to sell you on costly upgrades or equipment that you don’t need. Instead, they should work with your budgetary requirements to deliver the most impactful solutions possible.
IT Training for Your Employees
Finally, your Calgary IT consulting team will train your employees to use all aspects of your business technology, and more importantly, teach them cybersecurity safety. Teaching your employees to stay safe online is essential, especially when you consider that 88% of all cyber breaches directly result from human error.
Your IT consultants will train your employees to look for potential online threats, such as phishing emails and sketchy URL links. In addition, they’ll teach them the best ways to handle sensitive data and company files, so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Qualities to Look for in an IT Consulting Service
Not all IT companies are the same in terms of their capabilities, professionalism, and ability to devise a plan that meets your company’s needs. That’s why it’s essential to research your options before signing on with their IT consulting service.
Here are some important qualities to look for in a Calgary IT consulting company:
1) Industry Knowledge
Any credible IT consultant will have some technical expertise, but if they don’t understand your industry requirements – you’re limited in terms of the solutions they can provide.
The right IT consulting service will be well-versed in the latest IT trends of your industry, such as compliance standards. This knowledge is essential to developing the right solutions tailored to your niche.
2) Excellent Communication & Advisory Skills
Your IT consultant(s) must possess strong interpersonal skills. They’ll have to work with you and your employees to develop a solution, and they must communicate clearly throughout the project. They should make it easy for your team to understand the solution – and not just deliver jargon-heavy explanations.
To get a feel for how an IT consulting team communicates, consult them before hiring and see how they answer your questions and share their plans. If they take the time to explain what they will do clearly in layman’s terms, it’s a good sign.
3) A Proven Track Record
Most importantly, an IT consulting team should have a proven track record of success.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to check their online reviews and see if they have handled any similar projects for companies in your sector. If others vouch for their work, you will have a better idea of their service quality.
Additionally, a credible IT company will be more than happy to provide client references or case studies on their IT consulting services upon request.
In Conclusion
As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring an IT consulting service in Calgary. A quality IT consultant or team will deliver a range of solutions that transform your technology infrastructure for the better. How can your business benefit from an outsourced Calgary IT consulting service? Let’s find out together.
