Frequent questions

Many organisations rely on 1-2 person “break/fix” vendors who don’t have all the skills or bandwidth to do much more than fix problems and fight fires as they occur. “Break/fix” simply means that your IT vendor only responds when you have an issue. Something breaks. They fix it.

With a break/fix model, the more IT problems you have, the more money the IT company charges you. It’s not in their best interest to get to the root cause of your problems. In fact, they might not have the expertise or the time to accurately diagnose and present solutions for recurring issues.

OPENSHOP instead proactively manages your IT by performing ongoing system and application maintenance, providing 24/7 helpdesk support, and billing monthly so that your IT costs are controlled.

Some of the benefits associated with managed IT services include:

• Predictable monthly IT costs and flat-fee billing
• Operational efficiencies
• Minimal downtime
• 24-hour support services
• Advanced cybersecurity protections
• Proactive network monitoring
• Preventative network maintenance
• Regular software updates
• Regulatory compliance assistance

The hardest part about evaluating different managed IT service providers is that they all define “managed IT” a little bit differently. Here are some guidelines for your conversation:

• Does the provider talk about business results? A managed IT services provider should be ultimately focused on helping you use IT to meet your business goals.
• Does the provider have a proven process? Anyone can provide services, but it’s how services are delivered that affects results.
• Is the provider open about what’s included - and what’s NOT included? No one likes surprise charges.
• Do they provide a comprehensive IT department, or are they just handling pieces? Either situation can be fine, but you'll want to be clear about the arrangement ahead of time.
• Do they look at IT as a whole, whether you outsource all of IT to them or not? A holistic approach to IT ensures you get the business results you need.

• Cloud Services: From migration to management and ongoing optimisation.
• Software Licensing: We handle the procurement and management of licenses for essential software like Microsoft 365, Adobe, IBM, and more.
• Cybersecurity: Comprehensive protections to secure your data and ensure compliance.
• IT Infrastructure & Equipment Procurement: We source, install, and support IT systems. Our partnerships with top brands like HP, Dell, APC, and D-Link ensure you have the right technology, fully integrated and supported.

• Servers & Networking: Core hardware to strengthen your infrastructure.
• Workstations & Laptops: High-performance devices designed for business.
• Peripherals & Accessories: Everything from printers to monitors and more.
• Cloud-Optimised Devices: For increased mobility and productivity.