How do you Switch to a Managed IT Services Provider Safely?

Every relationship has loose ends after it's ended. Making the switch to a different Managed IT Services Provider isn't any more different. As the service provider helping you move, Computer One will take you through a controlled onboarding which includes the responsibility of removing you from the prior service.

What can we do to ensure that your transition is safe? In general, we'll help you finish the financials, create processes for support, secure the equipment and software you use to run your company, and make sure that you are not in a mess on time of the transition.

Here's the way we do it:

Financials

It is important to understand who is accountable for what in relation to financials. There are a lot of misperceptions regarding who is responsible for what hardware software, contracts and hardware. Computer One will take care of coordinating the service providers you use to establish the cutover date for your services and let you set the date to allow billing from your previous service provider to cease.

The intricate, integrated structure of systems for IT and the need to be prudent during change can mean that crucial services are being run in parallel by two providers for a short period until you're confident enough to let the previous service provider depart. This is a normal thing. It could be a brief time of double-billing However, you should think of it as an insurance policy against the possibility of losing the ability to operate for a few days. That would cost you a lot more.

Support Processes

Your previous provider may know the best ways to respond to your request for assistance. These strategies must be documented and be available to share with us when you transition.

In the event that such a body of knowledge is not available or the previous service provider doesn't want to make it available, Computer One will take the responsibility of creating it. This knowledge will form the foundation of our assistance for your company. It can mean that any of our support desk staff can solve your problems, and in time, it will be incorporated into every team member. It's your intellectual property, and you are free to access at any time and take it with you should you decide to eventually leave Computer One's services.

Hardware

Do you have all the switches and the access point you use in your facility? What about your PCs and any hosted or on-site servers? If they are located offsite, what data center is they located in Do you have permission to manage them? Are they up-to-date or delete them? Do you have all the current licenses? Computer One will step in to take on the difficult and complicated task of determining who is the owner and how it can be used during and following the change.

If we find that your hardware is not in support from the vendor and requires an upgrade (this occurs frequently) we can offer temporary or permanent solutions to ensure that your transition stays in the right direction. It could mean purchasing new equipment as well as managed rentals or an extension of your lease on your current hardware. We'll handle all arrangements and keep you informed of the options available so that you can take the option which is the most cost-effective for you.

Software Licensing / Cloud Licensing

Have you established direct billing arrangements with your software providers, or are you controlled and billed by the provider as part of their license agreements with vendors? Do you have an asset register that has the deadline dates for software renewals?

It's the 4th area in which Computer One will take the leading role, if necessary. Computer One will communicate with your existing provider, locate all needed licenses, organize the transfer of these licenses to Computer One and ensure that the change is seamless.