Switching IT Companies in Wichita, KS

What Should You Know About Switching IT Companies in Wichita, KS?

You’ve been feeling that things could be better with your IT infrastructure. Your IT systems are not as in sync with your business as they should be. Your employees are constantly dealing with nagging, unresolved issues. Your fairly new devices have been getting slower by the day. Even on a day when things are going well, you have that uneasy feeling that your IT isn’t actually that great. You don’t like to think about what could happen on a bad day when the server goes down or you become the next victim of a ransomware attack.

Do you think this is just how it’s going to be from now on? Doesn’t every business have issues with IT? 

It doesn’t have to be this way. You just have to know how to make it better. You feel tied to your current IT company. You don’t want to end the relationship. Your current IT company has all the access to your network. You’re not sure you want to start from scratch with another IT company. Perhaps your contract is almost up, or you’re not getting what you expected from your current arrangement.

You’re not alone. Let’s be honest, switching vendors for any reason can be distracting and time-consuming. However, sometimes it’s the best move for your business. Switching IT companies in Wichita, KS should be about adding value to your business. Unfortunately, value can be lost during the switch if your processes, needs, and expectations are not planned and communicated in advance.

You may feel that making the decision to switch and the transition process might be the hardest part of your new IT services contract, but it doesn’t have to be.

Avoiding Problems When Switching IT Companies in Wichita, KS

Step 1: Don’t Immediately Cancel Your Existing Service

You’ve met with your current IT company, attempted to work it out, and determined that you need to make a change. Now, you should determine if your existing contract determines your timeline for switching to a new IT company. If you do have a contract, it is imperative that you read it to make sure you’re not missing anything.

Confirm the following:

• When does the contract expire?
• What are the renewal terms?
• Will you be in breach of any terms?

Switching IT companies can be time-consuming and it can interrupt your daily business operations if you are not careful, and this could cost you more money. Don’t cancel your service from your current IT provider until you have everything in place with your new IT provider. It is vital to research, vet, and select a new IT company before canceling your current contract.

Step 2: Make Sure You Have Network Information, Network Access, and Passwords

During the transition process, make sure you have admin access to all accounts, data, and applications. Also, make sure you have a master list of passwords and other login credentials your new IT company will need to access your network.

If your current IT company set up your network, they likely created passwords to critical applications that you don’t have access to. If this is the case, they have the keys to your network and data. This is where the status of your relationship with the IT company comes into the picture.

When the transition to switching IT companies is smooth, you can give notice to end your contract at the same time your new IT company begins. Your previous IT company will provide you and your new IT company with the information they need to take over the management of your network.

While you may think that you will easily obtain your passwords and network access from your previous IT company, many IT companies have withheld passwords and attempted to prevent network access. More time during the transition between the two IT companies will ensure continuity of operations. It also gives your new IT company more time to navigate the transition process.

Step 3: Ensure Your New IT Company Conducts a Security Assessment

Before making the switch to a new IT company, you should have a security assessment. Ask your new IT company to conduct a security assessment to ensure that any existing vulnerabilities and backdoors are addressed and resolved before the transition is completed.

The security assessment ensures you are starting with their IT services safely and securely. Your new IT company should be able to catch any old security issues and ensure only the users you want to access your network are able to access it.

Your new IT company will change computer names, patch and/or update toolsets, and ensure everything is up to date. Your new IT company will take complete control over your IT environment before your business resumes.

Step 4: Cancel the Service with Your Previous IT Company 

Once you are confident that you have a new IT company in place, you can cancel the service with your previous IT company.

The off-boarding process can be one of the tricky pieces of the puzzle. Most of the time, the other IT company is cooperative. The IT company will designate a time to remove all their equipment and uninstall the applications software before the new IT company installs theirs.

Your old IT company will coordinate their off-boarding time with your new IT company’s onboarding time. This ensures there is minimal impact on your business operations. If you’re leasing any hardware from your previous IT company, they will need to physically remove it.

Step 5: Make Sure Your Staff Knows about the Change 

Downtime during the transition to switching IT companies can be prevented if your staff has a plan. Your staff should be made aware of the IT company change as soon as possible. Most times, you can do this in advance. However, there will be times when a situation is sensitive and an immediate change needs to be made.

Regardless of the situation, your staff should be given instructions about who they should reach out to from now on if they need help, and should be guided on how to contact them. Your staff should always have someone they can reach out to for help. Understandably, support for the first few weeks of the transition process may be a little slow as the new IT company becomes familiar with your systems.

Systems should be accessible during the IT company transition, but sometimes systems are not accessible for various reasons. If any of your systems will not be unavailable during the process, make sure your staff knows in advance.

How Can OneSource Technology Help with Your Transition?

The answer lies in our high level of expertise and over two decades of experience transitioning Wichita, KS clients from different IT companies over to our services. We’ve seen a variety of situations, so we’ve gained the expertise needed to develop comprehensive and efficient solutions for every type of transition. Businesses in need of IT support in Wichita, KS have enjoyed a pain-free transition from their previous IT company to OneSource Technology.

For further assistance with switching IT companies, contact us today.  A member of our team is waiting to discuss your concerns and is ready to put you on a path that ensures you will get the most out of the technology and IT solutions you have invested in. Call (316) 788-1372 today!

Thanks to our colleagues at Orion Networks, an IT company in Columbia, MD. Visit their website.