For far too many folks, the answer is: “When one of my computers is broken.” What these people fail to realize is just how many things in their office are related to IT.
As an IT professional, I can’t tell you how many times we get a call that goes something like this: “Hi Mr. IT Company, this is Ms. Client. I have my security vendor here installing the newest Security Gizmo 1000 and he says he needs my IT guy RIGHT NOW! Something about IP addresses but I don’t understand what he wants. Can you please have an engineer give me a call back within the next 5 mins?”
So now, we have an emergency situation. The security vendor is threatening to leave, the client doesn’t have the information they need, and the IT Company is in emergency mode.
This could have been avoided if the client had just given the IT Company a quick call after their initial engagement with the Security Company. We could have consulted with the security vendor on the client’s behalf. This would allow us, you and the security vendor to work together like the “3 Musketeers.” Trust me, we have these types of conversations every day. We are well versed in asking all the right questions to make sure that everything is in place and ready for the install of your brand new piece of “eye candy.”
Many clients just don’t realize how many things work together with their IT infrastructure—security systems, printers, HVAC systems, DVRs, and the list goes on. Even things like changes made by your website vendor can have a negative impact to things like email.
We even get calls for things like new or upgraded Internet. “I called Verizon and ordered faster Internet. They are here now installing and they are telling me the upgrade is done and now I just need my IT provider to reconfigure my firewall. Can someone come over right now?"
The point to all of this is simply this: Whenever you are contemplating a change to anything that has anything to do with your network, you should call your IT company. Not only does this let us prepare for the eventual install on you brand new “Thingamajig,” but it also gives us the opportunity to help you in your decision-making process and to prepare you for additional things that may be needed to support your new technology. Some new technologies may have prerequisites that you may not meet—software versions or patch levels, static IP requirements, special requirements, and wireless- or wired-connections. We can help sort all this out prior to having a vendor onsite asking questions you don’t have the answers to, or worse yet, having a new piece of technology come through the door that is not compatible with the infrastructure you have in place. That could cost you “100 Grand.”
So, help us help you. When you are considering making a change to your technology, give IT Radix a ring. We will work to make this a “sweet” experience.
First published in our November 2016 IT Radix Resource newsletter
