Why Choosing the Right IT Support Matters
The wrong IT provider does not just waste budget — misconfigured systems can cause data breaches or extended downtime that costs far more than the contract value.
7 Questions to Ask Before Signing
1. Is there a written SLA?
A good provider specifies exact response times: e.g. 2-hour remote, 4-hour on-site. No written SLA = walk away.
2. How many engineers? What skillsets?
Ask whether they have dedicated Network, Security, Server, and CCTV engineers — or is it one person doing everything.
3. Do they have relevant industry experience?
Factory requirements differ significantly from office IT. Ask for case studies or references from similar businesses.
4. Do they produce and hand over IT documentation?
Network diagrams, asset lists, and runbooks should belong to you — not locked with the provider to enforce dependency.
5. What monitoring tools do they use?
Good providers alert proactively — before systems fail, not after you call to report them.
6. How do they handle your credentials and data?
They need system access — ask how credentials are stored, who can access them, and whether there is an NDA.
7. What are off-hours and emergency charges?
Some providers have expensive call-out fees outside business hours. Clarify this before signing.
HTI Answers All 7
HTI provides written SLAs, multi-discipline engineers, 200+ factory references, and full IT documentation ownership for clients. Contact us for a free IT consultation today.