5 Signs You’ve Outgrown Your IT Partner

Your business isn’t the same as it was a year – or even six months – ago. As you scale and evolve, so should your IT partner. However, many organizations find themselves shackled to legacy relationships that no longer serve their operational or strategic needs.

The result? Sluggish performance, increased risk and missed opportunities for growth and innovation.

If you’re unsure whether it’s time to reassess your IT relationship, here are some signs that you’ve outgrown your IT partner.

Read: Understanding Your MSP Contract

1. Your Growth Has Outpaced Their Capabilities

Perhaps the most telling sign is when the sheer scale and complexity of your business have surpassed what your IT partner can handle. You may be experiencing more frequent and widespread IT issues or constantly waiting on your IT provider for updates, support or basic improvements.

Remember, your IT partner should be a catalyst, not a bottleneck, so if their team is too small, does not provide the timely support you need or lacks the expertise advanced solutions, it’s time to question whether they can support your future goals.

2. You’re Doing More IT Work Than They Are

Take a look around your office. Are your employees constantly troubleshooting their own IT problems or dealing with slow response times? Are they experiencing repeat tickets or recurring issues with no permanent resolutions? Are they spending valuable time dealing with lagging systems, software glitches or connectivity issues instead of focusing on their core responsibilities?

Your employees depend on technology to get their work done and have a positive work experience. When your team becomes the first line of IT support, it clearly indicates that your current provider isn’t proactively handling issues or providing the level of assistance your business requires, leading to a lack of productivity and high stress levels. Your strategic partner should take full ownership of your technology environment so your staff can focus on what they do best.

3. There’s No Strategic Planning

Technology should support your business and drive it forward. More importantly, your IT partner should bring knowledge and expertise that will provide forward-looking recommendations and planning. If your IT partner isn’t helping you think strategically about digital transformation, automation or security, they’re not a partner.

Ask yourself: When was the last time your IT provider came to you with an IT roadmap? Have they discussed how new technologies, tools and trends could improve your efficiency, enhance your security posture or give you a competitive edge? You deserve an IT provider that understands your goals and proactively recommends ways to meet them with technology.

4. Your Security Posture Is Weak

Cybersecurity is not optional. If your IT partner isn’t prioritizing it, neither are you. Data breaches, compliance fines and reputational damage are one misstep away when proper protections aren’t in place.

If you are receiving unclear or vague answers to your security questions, you are missing an incident response plan (IRP) or you experience infrequent risk assessments, these are warning signs that your IT partner doesn’t have your security in mind.

5. They’re Stuck in Reactive Mode

Remember when a quick fix for a crashed computer was all you needed? As your business grows, a reactive, break-fix approach is no longer sufficient. If your IT partner only shows up when something is broken, they’re not proactively preventing problems that can lead to expensive downtime.

A strategic partner should anticipate your needs in advance, monitor your systems for potential issues and vulnerabilities and implement preventative measures to keep your operations running smoothly.

Is It Time to Move On with Thriveon?

An IT partner should evolve with you, not stay stuck in the past. The right partner helps you avoid IT issues, align technology to your vision and give you a competitive edge. If any of these red signs feel familiar, it’s worth considering whether your current provider is truly the best fit for your business. The alternative? Thriveon.

We are a managed service provider (MSP) that provides robust services covering proactive IT management, cybersecurity and Fractional CIO. We align your business to 500 industry best practices to ensure your business is secure and ready for the future.

Schedule a meeting now for more information.