4 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an IT Consultant

An experienced and professional IT consultant would know that most businesses have already moved to the cloud in some regard and this trend is set to continue. Almost any software solution that you are using for your business is now available to run in the cloud. However, there are still a few important considerations to make before answering this question with a ‘YES’.   

Such as: 

• Are you ready to budget for ongoing monthly charges for cloud services?  
• Most cloud services are subscription based and would move you from a CapEx to a OpEx model of expenditures. Many cloud services are billed as monthly fees instead of one-time expenses upfront. 
• What is your plan to back-up the data that you will be moving to the cloud?  
• Just because your data is now living in cloud-based software, does not mean that it is necessarily backed up or retained to the length or degree that your business may need or may be required to for compliance. 
• Do you have any on-premise infrastructure that will need to be supported in the cloud?  
• Which programs or infrastructure will need to remain onsite for a period or indefinitely? Moving to the cloud is not an all or nothing game. Often it is best done in stages. For those programs and infrastructure that remain onsite, how will they work and communicate with the new cloud-based programs? Will there be any hurdles or additional projects to make the new hybrid environment work efficiently? 

The harsh reality about the world that we live in today is that the security climate is changing every day. Ransomware is hitting a business every 11 seconds globally. No one can guarantee 100% network security. If your consultant makes tall claims about network security without any concrete plans, then you need to think twice before procuring their services.   

Instead of bold promises, a seasoned consultant who knows the technology industry would suggest measures and solutions that you can take to reduce the risk of Ransomware and network attacks.  For instance, developing a multi-layer approach to network security is key to protecting against attacks. In this approach, businesses focus on protecting the endpoints and have a solid disaster recovery solution along with a reliable backup. Moreover, implementing strict IT policies such as secure remote access for employees are key components of this approach.   

A savvy businessperson knows that money spent on technology for your business is not simply an expense, rather, it is an investment. A good IT consultant stands by this philosophy.   By sitting with you and discussing your business needs, an experienced IT consultant would provide you with a blueprint of the things you should, could and must not do, and the reasons to support these recommendations. 

With a proactive and strategic approach, they should be able to provide you with a clear picture of the future, including areas where you can plan to save and areas where you must plan to spend. Long-term technology planning is the best strategy to avoid unplanned expenses and upgrades. The right consultant’s recommendations should also provide you with savings and benefits by offering predictability, streamlining your business processes, and increasing your staff’s daily overall efficiency. 

Many businesses prefer to have an in-house team of IT professionals to support their business needs. As easy and effective as it may sound, the fact of the matter is that setting up a dedicated IT team for a business is an uphill task.  From the additional space you will need to house the infrastructure, from hiring and managing skilled techs – a full in-house IT team will require a lot of your effort and time. This could distract from your existing businesses processes, sales, and operations – the reason why you need IT consulting in the first place.   

A good IT consultant will be able to provide you with the pros and cons of hiring them vs. creating an in-house team so that you don’t have any doubts in your mind. Other times, hiring an IT consultant to manage the strategy of an existing IT department is a smart move. The Walker Group offers many services to fit different business environments from supplemental network engineers to strategic IT Consulting to Fractional and Interim CIOs. 

Hiring an IT consultant to handle or oversee your technology needs is a big decision. You do not want to risk putting your critical business decisions into the hands of someone who is not capable of handling it. Getting satisfactory answers to the questions above is great starting point for you to narrow down your search among the countless options you will find in the market.