Topics Tools Books & Guides Talk to Securafy

Knowledge Hub / Business Continuity

Business Continuity

Are You On A Bad Date And Don’t Even Know It?

Are You On A Bad Date And Don’t Even Know It?

Randy Hall By Randy Hall Updated Jul 2024 2 min read Share

They don’t call you back, they don’t text back, and when you get time with them, they are disheveled, rude and uninterested, doing barely enough to keep things going.

This sounds like a bad date…and it’s one that many businesses are on with their current IT guy.

You have a problem, need a password, the Internet is down, you have site problems, need a new computer, can’t print, and you “submit a ticket” only to wait hours, days or even weeks to hear back, much less get the problem resolved.

The #1 complaint businesses have that causes them to “break up” with their current IT guy is that he simply wasn’t responsive.

Just like you wouldn’t stand for this in your personal life, you shouldn’t stand for it in your professional life…especially when you’re paying them!!!

If your current company doesn’t have a response-time guarantee, you’re probably on a bad date.

Most IT firms offer a 60-minute or 30-minute response time to your call during normal business hours. Be very wary of someone who doesn’t have a guaranteed response time IN WRITING – that’s a sign they are too disorganized, understaffed or overwhelmed to handle your request.

A good IT firm should be able to show you statistics from their PSA (professional services automation) software, where all client problems (tickets) get responded to and tracked. Ask to see a report on average ticket response and resolution times.

Also, any good IT company will answer their phones LIVE (not voice mail or phone trees) and respond from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every weekday. But many CEOs and executives work outside normal “9 to 5” hours and need IT support both nights and weekends, so ask about their guarantees for after-hours issues as well.

Not having a guaranteed response time is just one way you know you’re on a bad date… To get the full checklist and see if you’re on a “bad date,” download our free report here: https://www.securafy.com/files/2022/09/7SurefireWays.pdf

Tagged Under Business Continuity

Join The Conversation

Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below.

Randy Hall

About The Author

Randy Hall · CEO & Founder

Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology.

A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience.

Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft.

Writes about: Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership

More From This Author →

Get Practical Cybersecurity Field Notes

Monthly cybersecurity, compliance, and IT strategy updates from Securafy, written for business owners who need clear next steps.

  • Practical security tips from our Cyber Security Drip series
  • The Securafy Times, our monthly roundup on compliance and IT strategy
  • Occasional updates on new tools, guides, and research
  • No spam — unsubscribe anytime