As a Business Owner are you really Independent from your IT provider?

I know this article may be counter-productive. But as an IT Consultant and IT professional; I have witnessed the pure destruction of when an IT employee, consultant, and or IT company relationship ends. So many businesses are left grappling with what to do next when THEY now have to manage their own networks and equipment.

They really don’t know what all the “IT guy” really did and now have to deal with all the things being IT. IT is way more than just having Admin passwords. How are you going to manage the Millions of data packets traveling through your network cords? Who is now managing all the information coming into and out your business? Millions of dollars are being spent to hack and scam your employees. Who will train them on how to spot spammy emails asking for your confidential data?

The list could go on and on but the point is IT is a science and needs the right people and team to manage the needs of even the smallest business. Far too many companies have had to close their doors because of security hacks and breaches. The scary thing is that this is going to happen more and more because small business owners don’t understand or appreciate IT until something happens.

By then its’ too late to invest that money or resources! Most of the time the issues did not have to happen. Could been resolved or not even happened if the business owner decided to invest in his IT.

SO this post is help all business owners that have fired or divorced their IT guy this July 4th.

Here are my top 5 things to ask your IT guy before the relationship ends:

1. Administrative Passwords: These are the passwords not only to your computers but also any IT equipment. Like your switches; routers; servers and any other accounts like your web-hosting account or wireless mobile accounts.
2. License info: Not only do you need licenses for products like Microsoft Office but for all your computers need licenses from Microsoft. You need this information to make changes to any of the desktop operating systems.
3. Wifi Passwords: This is needed to make sure you have business continuity.
4. Any Contract information: You will at some point need this information when it comes time to renegotiate your IT contracts.
5. Any open projects: This is a no brainer but this is needed to make sure you are abreast to any open projects so you can plan accordingly.

I hope this list helps you spark any questions you may have before you end your IT contract with your IT Guy.

Thanks,

Andre McDearmon Jr.