How to Choose the Best Austin-Based Managed IT Consultant for Your Business

Austin, Texas is a thriving tech hub, sometimes called Silicon Hills. With an active tech scene and a growing number of tech companies, there is a lot of opportunity for a small business to grow and thrive. To stay competitive in this tech-savvy environment, businesses in Austin need to embrace technology and ensure they have reliable IT support. A good IT consultant can help businesses in Austin navigate the complex world of technology, providing expertise and support to keep their operations running smoothly and securely.

By choosing the best Austin-based managed IT consultant for their needs, businesses can benefit from specialized services tailored to their requirements. Whether it's network security, data backup and recovery, or cloud services, a reputable IT consultant can help businesses in Austin optimize their technology infrastructure and stay ahead of the competition.

Why Do You Need an Austin-Based IT Consultant?

Before we dive into how to choose the best-managed IT consultant, let’s first understand why you need one in the first place.

Technical Expertise and Experience

Managed IT consultants are experts in their field. They have the knowledge and experience to handle all your IT needs, from setting up new systems to troubleshooting technical issues. By outsourcing your IT needs to a managed IT consultant, you can rest assured that your technology is in capable hands.

Long-Term Cost Savings

Hiring a full-time IT staff can be expensive, especially for small businesses. By working with a managed IT consultant, you only pay for the services you need, when you need them. This can save your business a significant amount of money in the long run.

Put the Keyboard Down, You’ve Got a Business to Run!

Managing IT needs can be time-consuming and take away from your business’ core operations. By outsourcing to a managed IT consultant, you can focus on what you do best while leaving the technical aspects to the experts.

Someone Needs to be Thinking About Your Cybersecurity

Modern cybersecurity threats are becoming more dangerous and widespread, and businesses are facing a massive challenge trying to stay ahead of them. A good IT consultant will have their finger on the pulse when it comes to cybersecurity and will take a security-first approach with everything they do and recommend.

How to Choose the Best Austin-Based Managed IT Consultant

Now that you understand the benefits of working with a managed IT consultant, here’s how to choose the best one for your business.

Measure Twice and Cut Once

That old carpentry proverb even applies to IT, especially when looking for someone you can trust to manage your network. It’s not uncommon for managed IT providers to establish yearly (or longer) contracts, and that can be pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t really know how the relationship is going to flourish. A good consultant will understand that and be very upfront about what they can do, how they will go about solving issues you have, and give you plenty of confidence before you have to sign a contract.

Research and Compare

Once you have a list of potential managed IT consultants, it’s time to do some research. Look at their websites, read reviews, and ask for recommendations from other businesses in your network. It’s also essential to compare the services and pricing of each consultant to find the best fit for your budget and needs.

Consider Their Location

While technology allows for remote work, it’s still essential to consider the location of your managed IT consultant. If you’re a business in Austin, it’s best to work with a consultant based in the same city. This allows for easier communication and faster response times in case of technical issues.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of “big box” IT companies that serve small businesses nationwide. These IT companies tend to be more focused on acquiring other IT companies to expand, and less concerned about providing that custom-tailored approach that most small businesses really need and deserve. You don’t want your business to feel like it’s just being filed under a certain category and then given a specific tier of service. 

Look for Experience and Certifications

When it comes to IT support, experience and certifications matter. Look for a managed IT consultant with a proven track record and relevant certifications. This ensures that they have the knowledge and expertise to handle your IT needs effectively.

Inquire About Support and Response Times

When you have a technical issue, you need it resolved quickly to minimize downtime and disruptions to your business. Inquire about the support and response times of the managed IT consultant you’re considering. Do they offer 24/7 support? How quickly do they respond to technical issues? These are essential factors to consider when choosing a managed IT consultant.

Ask About Cybersecurity Measures

Data security is a top concern for businesses, and it’s crucial to ensure that your managed IT consultant has proper security measures in place. Ask about their data security protocols and how they protect your sensitive information. This includes measures such as data encryption, firewalls, and regular backups.

Do They Fit You Like a Glove, and Will They Still Fit in 1, 2, or 10 Years?

As your business grows, your IT needs will also evolve. It’s essential to choose a managed IT consultant who can scale with your business and provide the necessary support and services as you expand. This will save you the hassle of having to switch consultants in the future.

Why Capstone Works is the Best Managed IT Company for Your Austin Business

We’ve been serving Austin and the rest of central Texas for over two decades, and we’ve rescued more than a few small and medium-sized businesses from computer “experts” and IT “gurus” that were just not pulling their weight. We’ve got a long-standing track record for making our clients happy and helping them get more from their technology. It’s as simple as that. 

We’re not a sales company, we’re not here to sell you hardware, and we’re not focused on quantity. Let our technical account managers sit down with you and discuss your business objectives, and we think you’ll realize just how different we are compared to those other computer guys.

Want to set up an appointment? You can block one off on our schedule and we’d be happy to change the way you think about your IT! You can set an appointment directly here.