Without a full-time IT technician on staff, the person in your office with the most computer knowledge becomes the “IT Manager by Default.” If you haven’t thought about the need for outside help or haven’t yet started the search, read on.

Eventually the realization hits you - an important component of your company’s ability to function falls on the shoulders of someone with other important responsibilities. It’s time to find someone with specific training and skill sets to deal with Information Technology (IT). This could be an employee but statistics indicate outsourcing to a firm that specializes in the field may be the smarter choice. So, when choosing an IT consulting firm, what should you look for? The following list will help you choose one that suits your needs and style:

INTEGRITY - The most important attribute to look for in your new "partner" is integrity, as the IT sector has its share of opportunists. You want a partner who will make decisions and recommendations that are best your organization, not theirs. A good way to determine this is to request a list of their current and former clients and make some calls. The feedback should give you an indication of the company’s level of integrity.

TRUSTWORTHINESS & HONESTY – An effective IT partner needs to become fairly embedded in your organization, which provides them with access to valuable information about your company’s trade secrets, strategy, hiring/firing plans, and more. You must be confident that those "soft" assets are secure, and interviews with the company and past and current clients will help to determine this.

PROFESSIONALISM - It is important that the company operates in a professional manner by being responsive to your needs in a timely fashion. You must be able to count on appointments being kept and that your company’s inside information is treated with discretion.

COMMUNICATION - Your IT partner must have the ability to communicate on several different levels. Sometimes it’s important to convey a significant amount of technical detail. At other times, it is important to discuss higher-level issues while technology plays a secondary role. Make sure your partner has the flexibility, intelligence and savvy to communicate on different levels or you will be frustrated with the results.

LONGEVITY & STABILITY - The Company you select needs to be there when you need them, which goes beyond its mere survival and existence. Because your partner learns a lot of institutional knowledge, it’s important that the knowledge exist at your partner’s "corporate" level and not just in the head of one engineer. An outsourced provider offers continuity to an organization with a high turnover rate.

TECHNICAL PROWESS – There are ways to verify that the company has a solid understanding of the technology involved. Personal interviews help if someone in your company adequately understands the technology and IT industry lingo. Look for industry certifications such as Microsoft Certified Partnership (MCP). Microsoft-designated companies meet certain criteria such as having multiple people on staff with technical certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). Microsoft certification is significant because many network environments are Windows-based. Microsoft Certified Partner designation indicates that the company’s engineers have the skill-set and Microsoft resources to provide the best IT solutions. Non-Microsoft certifications include Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE), and Red Hat Certified Engineer, (RHCE). While certifications don’t guarantee practical knowledge, they demonstrate a certain level of technical knowledge. Certifications, coupled with years of hands-on experience are the best indication that a company will meet and exceed your technology needs and expectations.

There is a reason that technical ability was the last attribute mentioned. IT skill sets have become commodities found at varying levels of expertise in different IT consultants and companies. The other attributes, (integrity, trustworthiness & honesty, professionalism, communication, longevity & stability) are more important and will truly add value to your organization.

If you decide to outsource your IT needs and use this checklist, your chances for success will be greatly enhanced. Not only will you free your in-house “IT Manager by Default” to focus on other important business, but you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your company’s IT needs are in the hands of a competent professional.

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