Does my business need IT consultation?

We live in a world where every business uses IT to some extent. The hardware and software we use on a daily basis can be crucial to keeping the lights on and the doors open.

IT consulting services do just that, by anticipating possible problems with your IT systems and reacting to any incidents that occur, whether your business is global, national or local.

This can keep your systems agile during times of rapid change, allow you to embrace new technologies, and protect you against cyber security breaches and costly fines for data loss.

Employee training is another of the most important IT services for small businesses, as properly trained staff are more likely to get the best from the technology they use, without breaking it or unwittingly installing a virus.

So, what is an IT consultant, and do you need one? In this guide we’ll look in more detail at the answers to those questions, to help you decide.

What is an IT consultancy service?

An IT consultancy service gives you somewhere to turn when you’re planning new installations and upgrades, expansions, or just troubleshooting an IT outage on your network.

You don’t have to have a lot of computers to benefit from an IT consultant. You might run a small business with just a handful of devices (e.g. smartphones, laptops, internet, printer, EPOS till and card reader).

Remember, IT also includes the software you use. From your operating system and word processor, through to your accounts software, keeping programs fully updated gives you access to the latest features and blocks any newly discovered security vulnerabilities.

Most small businesses do not have the resources for an in-house IT team on the off-chance that something comes up. That’s where outsourced and managed IT consultants come in.

What services do IT consultants offer?

Let’s return to the original question: What is an IT consultant?

For small businesses, IT consultants can provide expertise that isn’t available in-house. That might be as part of IT procurement processes, or as a 24/7 emergency response if something breaks.

The role is essentially the same for larger clients, even up to multinational enterprises. But the complexity and the size of the IT budget is much higher, and there may be even more pressure to proactively prevent cyber security breaches.

Regardless of the size of your business, the best IT consultants will take your circumstances into account, and provide the right advice for you – giving you systems that work, adapt to changing business conditions, and maximise your productivity over time.

Types of IT consultancy services

You may find it easier to think of IT consultancy as a package of IT support services. This package can be tailored to your needs, and may include:

On-site support

Good IT consultancy services are more than just a helpline. You should be able to get an engineer on-site when you need one, to see first-hand what your systems are doing.

IT problem management

In the event of a problem or outage, your IT consultant should take charge of the incident, restoring systems to full working order quickly and effectively.

Specialist IT support

You may need bespoke IT support services, perhaps due to the complexity or size of your business, or because you operate in a niche market. The best IT consultants see this not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to tailor your managed IT services and give you exactly what you need.

Ongoing collaboration

Long-term collaboration can allow your IT consultancy to function almost as an in-house department. This ability to understand your IT systems can allow them to spot common problems and take action to mitigate them, saving you money and downtime.

Is an IT consultant right for my business?

You might still be wondering if IT consulting services are right for you. Let’s think about it in terms of the size of your business.

SME

For SMEs it’s not about scale, but significance. If you only have one till or computer and it breaks, you could be forced to close your doors until you can get it repaired.

Having a reliable 24/7 IT consultancy just a phone call away can often get you back up and running faster, as well as giving you access to expert advice to get the best out of your limited IT budget when buying new devices and software.

National

National brands can benefit from using a single IT consultancy with the capacity to cover your entire network. Venom IT are based in Manchester, giving us great transport links with Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, London and other cities up and down the UK.

You want to know that wherever a problem occurs, your IT consultancy can respond. With round-the-clock callouts and a workforce of trusted engineers, we’ve got you covered.

Multinational

The largest and most complex IT networks often suffer from bandwidth and security problems. You want data to flow quickly in and out of your network, without putting you at risk of breaches and cyber theft.

We have the expertise to protect you against such threats, as well as to advise on the most efficient use of large IT budgets when procuring bulk hardware and enterprise software licences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the FAQs we receive most often about our IT consulting services for SMEs, national and multinational clients.

What is the difference between IT support and IT consulting?

There is a lot of overlap between these two terms, and different IT service providers may define them differently. In general, IT support is often more of a helpdesk service, whereas IT consulting is more in-depth and strategic, especially when planning future installations. A good IT support provider will be able to offer both.

How much does an IT consultancy typically cost?

IT consultancy costs vary widely depending on what you need. For obvious reasons, a multinational corporation will likely spend much more on IT consultancy than an SME with just a few computers to maintain. Book an initial no-obligation consultation for a bespoke quote based on the terms and scale of your contract.

Are IT consultancies suitable for long-term projects?

Yes! Long-term collaboration can allow IT consultancies to deliver even more tailored insight and strategy. If you are planning a growth project, or just looking for ongoing maintenance and upgrades to your existing IT infrastructure, Venom IT can provide the expertise you need both now and going forward.