Size
Always chose a company that is large enough to cope with your requirements, but not so large that they concentrate on their major clients to your detriment. You really don’t want to become a small fish in a large ocean.
Fit
If you are considering IT infrastructure outsourcing, make sure you are dealing with an infrastructure specialist, with a track record and excellent references.
Service options
You should be able to choose from a variety of services and service levels. For example, a service provider should be able to establish the current state of your infrastructure, design an appropriate future state to take account of your specific needs, manage the change and then provide a choice of service levels regarding ongoing performance, availability and data management.
Project capability
Managing change without disruption relies on detailed planning, rigorous project and resource management and robust process management. Prospective outsourcing companies need to demonstrate that they have a proven track record in these areas and a history of well managed projects.
Attention to detail
The devil is in the detail and there is no substitute for experience when it comes to rooting out apparently minor issues which can lead to major problems. A suitable service provider will have a level of maturity based on “hands on” experience.
Currency
Technology needs to be up to date in order to take advantage of progress. But beware of anything too “bleeding edge” or unproven. A good supplier will have a mature view of the available technology and will be able to judge the optimum time to upgrade.
Skills
It goes without saying that the most important supplier attribute is the right skills to do the job. Some of the larger service providers claim that they can look after any technology, but that will be an irrelevance for most small to medium companies who will have mainly Microsoft based IT infrastructures. For them, it makes sense to find an outsourcing partner with the specialist skills and expertise to manage the fast moving technology and process developments associated with this type of infrastructure.
Service options
Ensure your chosen provider has a full range of services and service level options. This will ensure that they will be able to build a solution that suits your needs, rather than sell you a standard package.
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