| For organizations looking to simplify their IT operations, | | | | Beyond this critical factor, there are 10 key questions |
| outsourcing can be a tremendous help. Having one | | | | to ask a prospective service provider. They are: |
| provider, one network, one point of contact, and one | | | | 1. Does your firm background check, criminal check, |
| level of expected quality can be a tremendous boon | | | | drug screen, IQ test, and technical test all your |
| to the organization's productivity and bottom line. | | | | candidates? |
| Why Outsource? | | | | 2. Does your firm provide only a proven (have |
| Outsourcing allows your organization to focus your | | | | previously worked successfully in another area of the |
| existing IT staff on core, strategic initiatives. It also | | | | business) people for its full-time on-site positions? |
| allows you to tap into the select specialized skills of | | | | 3. Does your firm provide trained backups in instances |
| external resources that would not be cost justified for | | | | where the full-time person is unavailable due to illness, |
| you to build internally. The ability to work with | | | | emergency, or other? |
| outsourcing partners that have deep technical | | | | 4. Does your firm provide technical support to your |
| know-how reduces risks, increases your IT | | | | full-time on-site personnel so they don't spend hours |
| department's contribution, and greatly improves | | | | working on a specific problem? |
| organizational security and control. | | | | 5. Will your firm save me tens of thousands of dollars |
| By selecting the right partner, your organization can: | | | | per year on IT projects by being able to provide only |
| -Ensure IT reliability and continuity. | | | | the requisite subject matter expertise to your on-site |
| -Make IT costs predictable. | | | | teams? |
| -Experience significant cost savings by not having to | | | | 6. Does your firm to have the ability to provide 24 X 7 |
| chase the latest technological trends or operate | | | | X 365 network monitoring and management as well |
| second and third shifts. | | | | as after hours response? |
| -Concentrate scarce resources on mission-critical | | | | 7. Does your firm have significant numbers of additional |
| projects, focus on strategic planning while reducing | | | | technical personnel that can be brought in for projects, |
| management burden, and increase customer | | | | subject matter expertise, or emergency? |
| satisfaction by providing extra services - all can be | | | | 8. Does your firm have a vast network of |
| done when your staff is freed up through outsourcing. | | | | manufacturer and industry contacts that can be |
| -Leverage the provider's relationships with other | | | | leveraged when necessary? |
| technical product and service providers. | | | | 9. Does your firm have the ability to provide product |
| The Questions | | | | procurement, warranty, and parts logistics services? |
| The key to receiving the full benefits of outsourcing is | | | | 10. Does your firm have dedicated Service Delivery |
| singularly dependent on selecting the right service | | | | managers that oversee your solution, the SLA's, and |
| provider. First and foremost, you are looking for a firm | | | | your full-time on-site personnel? |
| that will treat you as a partner and has the flexibility to | | | | If you're not satisfied with the answers, keep looking. |
| put a support solution in place that is customized for | | | | The right partner is out there. |
| your organization. | | | | |