What is a support contract? |
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Usually, an IT support contract is an agreement in writing between you and your chosen IT providor. Often we find these are verbal agreements or a simple passing of casual emails. We urge you to only work with IT support companies (like oursleves) that provide a full service and a concise legal agreement. This is the professional way to operate and this will also provide you with some protection for your business should you have any problems. Here are a few of the key things you will (or at least should) find in IT Support contracts:
- Single points of contact for your company
- Guarantees of properly licensed software
- Confidentiality agreements
- Clear and concise lists of items covered by your contract
- Statements of the scope of the cover and importantly, what is NOT covered
- Periods of cover (usually annually with monthly or quaterly payments)
- Notice periods for each party to terminate (lets hope it isnt requried though)
IT support contracts are meant to be legally binding agreements between you and your chosen IT support company. This allows them to provide you with a fully insured and professionally underwritten service. This is critical and always ask to see your IT support companies professional credentials and their third party liability insurance etc.
Why is an IT support contract better than AD-HOC or pre-purchased blocks of time?
IT support contracts usually offer a much better value proposition than the increasingly common pay as go type support offerings advertised by many providors. Why is this? Well its simple really. If you have chosen well your IT support provider will be proactive and build a relationship with you and your business. The genuine companies will (like us) want to help you develop your business through effective use of IT, be proactive and offer much quicker resolution times to your day to day and ongoing issues. The relationship benefits are clear enough, often a contract will offer items such as these listed below over and above that of an AD-HOC agreement:
- IT support contracts will offer your business a reduced rate for additonal (out of scope) work
- Single points of contact & consistancy of service
- Proactive reporting and scheduled maintenance
- Quantifiable costs on an ongoing short or long term basis
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Whether you have an existing
provider that's providing a
dissappointing level of support,
or you're thinking of getting your
first contract - click here to
read how our contracts are
better than our competitors.
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Click here to read an overview
of our IT support service. Whether
you're an IT manager that needs
expert help with Microsoft products
or you're a small business with
no onsite help at all....
We can help!
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Click here to read about our
standard IT support packages.
We've created 3 standard support
packages that suit many SME's.
We also can create a bespoke
contract with engineer time on-site
if you need extra day to day help. |
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