10 Criteria for Evaluating Your IT Provider

10 Criteria for Evaluating Your IT Provider

In today’s digital landscape, your IT provider is critical to protecting your business's data and operations. You rely on them because you do not have the time or expertise to manage IT yourself. But how can you be sure they are doing enough to keep your business safe?

Here are 10 key criteria to evaluate whether your IT provider is truly safeguarding your systems and data:

1. On- and Offsite Backups

Reliable backups are your safety net against data loss. Ensure your provider offers both onsite and offsite backups to protect against events like ransomware attacks or natural disasters. Redundancy is the key to keeping your data safe under all circumstances.

2. Tested Backups

A backup is not dependable until it is assessed. If your provider has not assessed your backups in the last three months, it is a red flag. Regular tests ensure that backups work as intended and can be restored quickly in emergencies.

3. Limited Admin Accounts

Only two domain admin accounts—yours and your provider’s—should exist. This limits the risk of unauthorized access and ensures better control of sensitive systems.

4. Remote Management Access

Your IT provider should be able to manage network switches and access points remotely. Without this capability, response times to issues are slower, increasing the risk of downtime and unpatched vulnerabilities.

5. Active Firewall Security

Firewalls should have active security services like intrusion detection and malware protection. If your provider has not implemented these, your network may be exposed to cyber threats.

6. Segmented Guest Wi-Fi

Guest Wi-Fi should always be isolated from your primary network. Without this, visitors could unintentionally (or intentionally) access your sensitive systems. Proper segmentation ensures your internal data stays secure.

7. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA is essential for securing Microsoft 365 accounts and other critical systems. If your provider has not set this up, your business is at greater risk of credential theft and unauthorized access.

8. Onboarding and Offboarding Processes

A clear checklist for onboarding and offboarding employees ensures proper access control. Without this process, ex-employees could retain access to your systems, posing a serious security risk.

9. Anti-Virus on All Devices

All managed devices should have up-to-date antivirus software installed. If your provider is not ensuring this basic protection, your systems are vulnerable to malware and other cyber threats.

10. Effective Spam Filtering

Email is a common entry point for cyberattacks. Your provider should have strong spam filtering in place to detect phishing attempts, spoofing, and other malicious email activity.

Is Your IT Provider Meeting These Standards?

Evaluating your IT provider against these criteria is essential to ensure your business’s cybersecurity and operational integrity. If you find areas where your provider falls short, it might be time to raise your concerns—or seek a new partner.

Do not leave your business exposed to unnecessary risks. Contact us today for a free IT assessment and let us discuss how we can help safeguard your organization with tailored, proactive solutions. 877-686-6642

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