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Emergencies and choosing the right consulting firm
We all go into the office, and turn our computers on in the morning. Everything works. But what if one day you went in, and everything didn't work? Or maybe there's been a deletion of files?
Whatever it is, this is an emergency and you don't know what to do. There are many great consulting firms out there to choose from. If this situation arises look for some key points when you get bids on a job:
Are they promising absolutely that they can recover your data?
If so move on and find someone who doesn't. Data recovery is tricky at best, and you will still be billed for the time spent trying to recover your data.
Do they give you a quote over the phone without actually coming to evaluate your situation?
If so, same thing move on. You want someone to have a full understanding of what's going on. No matter how good we are at communications, unfortunately when someone is on the phone there's too much room for interpretation on either side.
Is your emergency job top priority for the firm, and the consultant being sent out?
If the person you call seems distracted, or uninterested in you or your issue move on. There should be an active interest. They should also be offering to send someone out right away to evaluate the situation.
Are they checking your current backup equipment out, and then talking to you about cost effective back up options?
I know, we hear it so much, we tune it out. Back your computers AND your servers up. A good consulting firm should be looking at your current equipment, after they have resolved your emergency. Once they've taken inventory you should be offered a good, cost effective backup solution. This is where the ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Emergency recoveries can often be time consuming and costly. If you have the chance and are reading this, call us, or your favorite firm you work with for backup solution bids. Any consultant will be thrilled to see you backing up before anything happens!
What about your computer systems in general?
When a consultant sees your equipment, they should also be evaluating age, likelihood of failure, and either how you can extend it's life span, or replace it painlessly. Perhaps getting a new server is the best thing for you, maybe its more cost effective to upgrade your PCs. It's all part of the plan to keep you up and running. If your networking technology is out of date, that can also slow you down tremendously.
Get a good faith estimate from your consultant. Sometimes when a consultant goes in, one thing appears to be wrong. However when the problem is further researched, a deeper problem is revealed. The estimated fix time may need to be adjusted. Most consultants want you happy and to make sure you have the best preventive measures available to you. Your systems should always be cost effective and match your business. You don't need to have the motherload of systems for a large company if you're a small business. If you have questions on something a consultant is telling you, call another person, get a second opinion. Think of it as medicine for your small or medium business. Your technology directly affects your economice health, if you don't agree with something get a second, or even third opinion.
Whatever it is, this is an emergency and you don't know what to do. There are many great consulting firms out there to choose from. If this situation arises look for some key points when you get bids on a job:
Are they promising absolutely that they can recover your data?
If so move on and find someone who doesn't. Data recovery is tricky at best, and you will still be billed for the time spent trying to recover your data.
Do they give you a quote over the phone without actually coming to evaluate your situation?
If so, same thing move on. You want someone to have a full understanding of what's going on. No matter how good we are at communications, unfortunately when someone is on the phone there's too much room for interpretation on either side.
Is your emergency job top priority for the firm, and the consultant being sent out?
If the person you call seems distracted, or uninterested in you or your issue move on. There should be an active interest. They should also be offering to send someone out right away to evaluate the situation.
Are they checking your current backup equipment out, and then talking to you about cost effective back up options?
I know, we hear it so much, we tune it out. Back your computers AND your servers up. A good consulting firm should be looking at your current equipment, after they have resolved your emergency. Once they've taken inventory you should be offered a good, cost effective backup solution. This is where the ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Emergency recoveries can often be time consuming and costly. If you have the chance and are reading this, call us, or your favorite firm you work with for backup solution bids. Any consultant will be thrilled to see you backing up before anything happens!
What about your computer systems in general?
When a consultant sees your equipment, they should also be evaluating age, likelihood of failure, and either how you can extend it's life span, or replace it painlessly. Perhaps getting a new server is the best thing for you, maybe its more cost effective to upgrade your PCs. It's all part of the plan to keep you up and running. If your networking technology is out of date, that can also slow you down tremendously.
Get a good faith estimate from your consultant. Sometimes when a consultant goes in, one thing appears to be wrong. However when the problem is further researched, a deeper problem is revealed. The estimated fix time may need to be adjusted. Most consultants want you happy and to make sure you have the best preventive measures available to you. Your systems should always be cost effective and match your business. You don't need to have the motherload of systems for a large company if you're a small business. If you have questions on something a consultant is telling you, call another person, get a second opinion. Think of it as medicine for your small or medium business. Your technology directly affects your economice health, if you don't agree with something get a second, or even third opinion.
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