IT support for businesses can come in many guises. At Microcomms, we offer a full breadth of technical support and services. This includes security and consultancy services to ensure your technology is always working its hardest for you, of which our work with A&P in Falmouth is a great example.
In a recent blog, we explored the importance and the many benefits of an SLA with Microcomms. With business moving so fast and with most systems being based online and communications largely being made by email, strong IT is a must. It will help you keep pace with your competitors, capitalise on opportunities and provide the best service to your clients. But having strong IT is often easier said than done.
The world of IT can be very complex, and the needs for businesses are almost always different for everybody. What’s more, for many businesses, budgets cannot justify the cost of a full-time IT department. And without the proper expertise, managing IT can quickly become a headache. This is where we come in. Our Service Level Agreements provide our clients with a sure-fire way to ensure technological peace of mind. With an SLA in place, business owners can focus on what’s important: growing their business.
One thing that we can help our clients with via an SLA is security. Our work with Cornish company, A&P, is a good example. This ship repair and refit business is located near the mouth of the world’s largest natural deep water harbour. Due to the nature of the business, health and safety is one of the most prominent business drivers.
When we came aboard, the business had a legacy IP CCTV system, which was crucial to the monitoring of the site. We were tasked with improving, enhancing and providing a higher level of support and maintenance on the system than they had previously had. This started with a full audit of the site’s cameras, CCTV server and associated cable infrastructure. In doing so, we were able to build a comprehensive report, detailing the locations and names of every camera, as well as what remedial action was necessary to rectify any camera and cabling issues.
Once the remedial work was complete, we set about providing a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This covers ad-hoc repairs, on-site quarterly checks and monthly remote server health checks. Again, security on site is paramount, so being able to deliver these services with regularity leaves the client with peace of mind. We work very closely with A&P, consulting with both them and their IP CCTV manufacturer. We advise the client on the upgrades and expansions required, whilst working with the manufacturer to ensure the correct equipment is specified and installed.
This is where the value of an SLA comes into its own. It is not only about having our expertise and technical skills on hand to deal with any unforeseen problems. It is also about working with manufacturers and other technical specialists on your behalf, saving you both time and stress.
In effect, what we become via an SLA is an extension of your team. We have trained experts who are appointed to your business depending on the skillsets you require. What’s more, we don’t just cover security and CCTV maintenance, but a full breadth of technical support and services.
Some services come under an SLA ‘as standard’, while others are optional. What they all have in common is that they are designed to be proactive, helping your business stay ahead of potential issues. They are designed to identify and put in place the right systems to keep your business operating. Particularly nowadays, an IT disaster can be felt across the entire business, and that’s what we’re here to prevent.
Services include health checks, which prevent service downtime and therefore save time and money. These can be done remotely or in-person, and can either be reported to your maintenance team, or actioned by us. We can also provide server checks. Server checks can cover Windows updates, critical service functionality, performance and capacity managements. Security checks are another valuable addition, covering both visual and physical checks, patch management and firmware checks. We can also check and patch all of your active equipment, such as routers and switches.
Ultimately, what your SLA looks like is completely down to the needs of your business. Even if you’re unsure what you need, if you don’t have the time or resources to explore your technical support requirements, we can help. Whatever it is, our ultimate goal is to provide you with the peace of mind that your technical infrastructure is taken care of. In doing so, you can focus on the thing that matters most: running your business.
To find out how we can help with a bespoke Service Level Agreement, be sure to give us a call.
