In this day and age of computers, most people have some kind of knowledge of how this equipment works. Many workers or owners of small businesses even like to believe that they are technically savvy. Yes, they do possess the skills to setup a small network at home or get their computer working on the Internet, most of the time they just fiddle with it until it works, however small businesses cannot afford to rely on an employee with an interest in computers to setup their corporate network.

What I have found in these non-professional networks are several flaws. Security of business data is non-existent or done incorrectly or the wrong solution is purchased. Data is shared in many locations making it hard to administer or find the correct data. Finally, system updates are not happening at all.

Small Business owners have also purchased equipment from the local computer shop and have invested in the wrong software (XP Home vs. XP Pro) and have been focus to occur extra costs by purchasing an upgrade version of the software in order to attach to their domain.

Hiring a firm and outsourcing your computer and network service is the only way to go for the small business. Although the initial investment may be slightly higher than doing it yourself, the benefits of having your IT infrastructure setup correctly and securely will bring a lasting benefit and reduce the overall cost of ownership.

So you have made the wise decision to outsource your IT-- what do you need to look for in a computer service company?

Professionalism