Insights

Introduction

If you're one of the many government offices in the Philippines that see the value of leveraging technology for growth, relying on outsourced IT service providers will benefit your operations. Contrary to popular belief, outsourcing is not exclusive to overseas employers — local organizations that need support for their IT infrastructure and processes can also hire third-party vendors.

However, with so many contractors available, you might wonder: How do you choose the right IT service company to hire for your office? Read this article for tips on selecting an external tech team and learn how InfoBahn Communications, Inc. can help you. 

Which IT Services Should Be Outsourced?

Any technical task that takes up your time and resources should be delegated to an external provider. Hiring third-party support is especially practical if you have a small in-house technical team. Outsourcing provides flexibility — you can hire experts as needed, helping you save on administration and operational costs.

That said, what specific IT support tasks can you outsource? Here is a list to give you an idea about the technical tasks these providers commonly offer:

● IT Infrastructure. Includes the setup and maintenance of hardware, software, data centers, and cloud environments needed for business operations.

● Technical Support. Involves experts who remotely handle equipment setup, troubleshoot software, and diagnose common IT problems like internet issues.

● Data Backup and Cybersecurity. This includes the setup of data centers and backups, and the protection of your business IT infrastructure from cyberattacks.

Of course, knowing which IT services are available for outsourcing is just the tip of the iceberg. To identify which company to hire, you should consider your specific needs and the external team's credentials. 

5 Tips To Determine the Best IT Service Team To Outsource 

When deciding which IT service provider in the Philippines to outsource, consider identifying which tasks you want the third-party team to handle and the goals you want to meet. Additionally, you should check the company's reputation and capabilities. 

For details, we describe the steps you should take below: 

Identify Which Services To Outsource  

Outsourcing IT services is easy because you have an array of contractors to choose from. However, you must first identify which part of your processes requires external support. You can do this by assessing your organization’s current technical processes and determining gaps in the existing system that might impede you from achieving your goals.

Suppose you're a government agency wanting to improve your online ticketing system. You may have identified pain points by looking at user feedback and want to address those by providing a seamless experience. In turn, your outsourced IT expert may offer UX design, cloud computing, and cybersecurity services to simplify the process and protect your constituents’ data.

Choose IT Teams That Align With Your Goals 

After identifying the reasons to outsource manpower for your IT needs, look for a third-party contractor whose values, culture, and work ethic align with your department’s practices and goals. Working with an outsourced team will only be worthwhile if the service provider knows how to impact your organization while respecting company norms.

For example, suppose your agency involves acquiring private client information that you want to back up. In that case, your chosen IT service provider should have policies in place requiring its professionals to adhere to data privacy laws. When you're in the vetting stage, ask the potential contractor about their data practices. A reliable service provider should be clear, transparent, and confident in its ethical data management capabilities.

Check Experience and Certifications 

You should narrow your list of IT service providers to companies with years of industry experience and up-to-date certifications. An advantage of opting for a third party that's been in the game for decades is that they're seasoned professionals who are easier to communicate with, as they understand the whole picture and vision of the project, not just the technical part.

Certifications, meanwhile, indicate that your contractor is constantly learning and upskilling to keep up with industry standards and developments. Such a growth mindset can translate to your business being well-equipped and ready for the future, technology-wise. Some credentials you should look for are CISSP, Microsoft, and Google IT support certificates. 

Review Feedback From Past Clients 

One of the best sources of information regarding an IT service provider’s performance is the company's past and existing clients. Knowing their feedback is like getting a first-hand account of how the contractor works with enterprises and government agencies. To get the most relevant information, you should seek reviews from companies in the same industry as your organization.

You might not have a chance to talk one-on-one with past and current clients, but you can check their feedback from dedicated tech service review sites or Google reviews. You can also research how the tech company's employees, preferably the IT experts, think about their organization. Doing so may provide a glimpse into how the contractor treats its talent and clue you in on whether the company is a healthy or toxic collaborator.

Ask About Security and Risk Management Plans 

Seeing that the country is becoming more susceptible to cyberattacks, it's essential that you ask about your IT service provider's plans should your system be compromised. Specifically, inquire with the contractor about what contingencies are in place and the steps they would take if data were stolen or removed. Note that you should find the support's explanation clear and easy to follow — if the team cannot describe their action plan in layman's terms, they might not fully grasp it themselves.

The contractor must also have a prepared recovery plan should natural disasters happen. That contingency should be a given, considering that the Philippines is prone to infrastructure damage due to typhoons and earthquakes. A responsible IT service provider should be able to reassure you that your data will remain safe even if physical centers and servers are destroyed following unforeseen events.

Conclusion 

IT service providers available for outsourcing in the Philippines are on the rise, following an upward trend in the market. Your organization can take advantage of the technological boom, but only if you can find the best third-party contractor to help you. 

As such, you should only look for an IT team that can pinpoint your specific IT needs, align its practices with your culture and goals, holds updated certificates and years of experience, has received positive feedback from other clients, and is ready to implement a risk and disaster plan in place should the worst-case scenario happen. To learn how exactly third-party experts can help, check InfoBahn's range of services.

Contact us today and discover how we can improve your IT processes!