How to Hire an IT Company: Top 10 Questions to Ask

Hiring a managed service provider (MSP) can feel like a daunting task. Your organization’s success and security depend on finding a technology partner that understands your needs, adapts to your challenges and offers solutions that help you grow. So, it makes sense that you’re asking how to hire an IT company. 

It starts with asking the right questions. 

Below, we’ve compiled 10 essential questions you should ask each company you’re considering. The answers should guide you through the process of choosing the best IT company for you. 

1. What Experience Do You Have in My Industry? 

IT needs vary significantly across industries. A company in healthcare will have very different compliance and security requirements than an accounting firm. For example, some businesses need to be compliant with regulations such as HIPAA and some companies just want to protect the sensitive information they hold onto. Choose an IT provider that has specific experience in your field. 

At Intrust IT, we understand the unique challenges you face and offer tailored solutions to meet your business goals.

2. How Do You Ensure the Security of Our Data and Systems?

Cybersecurity is non-negotiable for any business. Ask potential IT providers about their cybersecurity protocols, tools and strategies. Do they offer services like network monitoring, multi-factor authentication and endpoint protection? Knowing how they will secure your data and systems is critical to building trust. 

3. What Are Your Service Level Agreements (SLAs)?

A good IT company should clearly outline its SLAs, including response times, uptime guarantees and issue resolution timelines. These agreements set clear expectations and help avoid misunderstandings down the line. 

For example, if your business relies on 99.9 percent uptime for critical applications, the SLA should specify how the IT provider plans to meet that target, along with their processes for managing outages or disruptions.

4. What Is Your Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Plan?

Every business needs a solid plan for when things go wrong. Imagine a severe weather event disrupts both your business and the IT provider’s operations. If the provider lacks a robust recovery plan, their ability to assist you could be compromised. 

By choosing an IT company with strong disaster recovery protocols, you gain confidence in their ability to handle emergencies effectively. Asking this question is a crucial step in understanding how to hire an IT company that prioritizes both your business and its own operational resilience.

5. How Would You Rate Your Ability to Provide Technical Support?

An IT company should confidently assess their ability to deliver exceptional technical support. Ask them to explain their support structure, availability and response times. For example, do they offer 24/7 support, or are their services limited to business hours? A top-tier provider will have multiple support channels to ensure help is always within reach. 

At Intrust IT, we know it’s critical to maintain business continuity to ensure safe operations and satisfaction. Choosing a provider with reliable, accessible support ensures your team can focus on what matters most

6. How Can You Help My Business Reduce Costs?

A reliable IT company should have strategies in place to help your business minimize expenses while maximizing value. This might include leveraging cost-efficient technologies, such as cloud solutions, to reduce the need for expensive hardware or automating repetitive processes to save time and resources. Additionally, proactive network monitoring and maintenance can prevent costly downtime and unexpected repairs.

7. How Do You Ensure Compliance?

If you are in a regulated industry, you know how difficult it can be to ensure that you are meeting compliance standards. A potential IT partner can make the compliance process much smoother. It’s important to ask the strategies they use to ensure compliance, what compliance regulations they have experience with and how they keep up to date with new laws or requirements. 

7. Do You Offer Proactive Network Monitoring?

Proactive network monitoring is key to preventing problems before they disrupt your business. Ask how the provider plans to monitor your systems and what steps they’ll take to address potential issues before they escalate. 

9. Can You Scale Your Services to Meet Future Needs?

As your business grows, so will your IT needs. A reliable IT company should be able to scale its services, offering additional support, tools or infrastructure to match your evolving requirements. They should also have a proven process for integrating new technologies seamlessly, ensuring minimal disruption as your business expands.

10. Can You Provide References From Previous Clients?

Reputation matters. Ask for references or case studies from businesses they’ve worked with in the past. Speaking with current or former clients gives you valuable insight into their reliability, expertise and ability to deliver on promises.

How to Hire the Right IT Company for Your Business

Hiring the right IT company is about more than just checking boxes. It’s about building a partnership with a provider that understands your business, supports your goals and helps you navigate your technology. By asking these 10 questions, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence needed to make an informed decision.

At Intrust IT, we understand that technology can feel like a necessary evil and cybersecurity concerns are always looming. As a locally owned small business, we empathize with business owners and deliver service that makes our clients happy.
Ready to take the next step in partnering with an IT company? Speak with one of our experts at Intrust IT today to see how we can be the partner your business deserves.