How to choose an IT support company: checklist

How to choose an IT support companyChoosing the right IT company is a decision that affects the day-to-day operations of the entire organization. A good partner prevents problems and keeps the business running; a bad partner costs time, money, and stress. This checklist helps you make an informed decision.

The essential checklist

Before signing, please confirm each of these points:

Written SLA with response and resolution times.
Security includedantivirus/EDR, firewall and best practices.
Tested backups and recovery plan.
Proximitydo you make call-outs when necessary?
Price transparencyknows exactly what is included.
No loyalty scheme — or, at the very least, clear exit conditions.
Documentation and inventory of your infrastructure.
References from clients similar to your sector.

Warning signs to avoid

Be wary of very cheap proposals that “forget” security and backups, suppliers who don't put anything in writing, and contracts with long, unjustified lock-in periods. Buying cheap up front usually turns out expensive at the first incident.

Right questions to ask

How quickly do you respond to a critical emergency?
Who is responsible for my account?
What happens to my data and access if I leave?
How do you communicate and report on the work done?

Frequently Asked Questions

Should price be the primary factor?

No. The main factor is value: SLA, security, backups and reliability. A cheap proposal that excludes the essentials ends up costing more at the first serious problem.

Is it important that they are local?

It helps a lot. A close partner moves quickly when something needs to be resolved on-site, within the agreed time.

Should I avoid fixed-term contracts?

It is not mandatory to avoid them, but demand clear exit terms. A supplier confident in the quality of its service does not need to trap you in a contract.

Want a partner who ticks off this checklist?

Meet DataRoad's IT support for businesses: IT support for SMEs.

Next: the extended version of this checklist, with an evaluation grid and red flags, is at best MSP in Portugal: how to choose.

DataRoad projects and success stories

Business trips and holidays: portable devices, public Wi-Fi and mobile phones securely›What the internet sees of your company: the surface of attack explained›Managed SOC and NOC: what they are and whether a SME needs them›Security in the cloud: what Microsoft protects and what remains your responsibility›SD-WAN: connecting multiple stores and offices securely and without disruptions›GDPR in practice for SME IT: 10 steps›

IT support on a retainer basis

IT Unlimited

Three tiers of managed support for businesses. Choose the one your operation needs.

remote

Essential

Remote and telephone support during working hours
Ticket support with ordering portal
Incident response with an SLA
Update and security patch management
Monthly report

View the Essential plan

Premium

Unlimited on-site support, with travel included
No time limit and no tie-in contract
24×7×365 Monitoring (Premium 365)
Complete IT infrastructure management
Cybersecurity included: managed firewall and antivirus
Priority SLA for critical incidents

View the Premium plan

full coverage

Premium 365

Everything included in Premium
24/7/365 support
Nights, weekends and bank holidays
Dedicated technical account manager
Business continuity plan
Tailored executive reports

View the 365 Premium plan

Compare the three plans and request a quote

Passion for well-made IT

We do IT right.

At DataRoad, technology is a passion. We really love what we do, and that shows in every network we install, in every problem we solve, and in every company we support.

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Business trips and holidays: portable devices, public Wi-Fi and mobile phones securely

The biggest risk of a trip is not the hotel Wi-Fi; it’s the laptop that’s lost without a password — see the checklist before leaving and the procedure in case of loss.

External attack surface: what the internet sees of your company and how to close the doors — DataRoad

What the internet sees of your company: the surface of attack explained

Exposed management panels, outdated VPNs, and forgotten subdomains are open doors — see how to measure what the internet sees of your company and close the essentials.

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Managed SOC and NOC: what they are and whether a SME needs them

The NOC monitors whether everything is working, the SOC monitors whether someone is attacking — and an SME needs both responses, not two screens.

Security in the cloud: what Microsoft protects and what remains the responsibility of your company — DataRoad

Security in the cloud: what Microsoft protects and what remains your responsibility

Microsoft owns the building, but the keys are theirs: see what the shared responsibility model leaves the company to handle and how to verify it.

SD-WAN: connecting multiple stores and offices securely, with dual internet connections and no interruptions — DataRoad

SD-WAN: connecting multiple stores and offices securely and without disruptions

With SD-WAN, each store uses two internet connections and changes itself when a failure occurs — managed from a single dashboard.

GDPR in IT: 10 technical steps that SMEs must ensure, including the 72 hours — DataRoad

GDPR in practice for SME IT: 10 steps

Article 32 of the GDPR requires specific technical measures — these are the 10 steps that an SME's IT must ensure, including the plan for the 72 hours.

Exposed passwords: how to know if your company appears in known data leaks — DataRoad

Exposed passwords: how to know if your company is involved in data leaks

Your team's emails are almost certainly leaking data from other sites — see how to check the entire domain and prevent it from opening a work account.

Computer inventory: knowing what the company actually has (and why NIS2 requires it)

Equipment, licenses, accounts, contracts and data: without inventory there is no credible budget, proven security or NIS2 compliance.

Microsoft 365 emergency accounts: what to do if the administrator gets locked out — DataRoad

Emergency accounts in Microsoft 365: what to do if the administrator gets locked out

If the only administrator of Microsoft 365 is locked out, the emergency accounts are the company's backup key.

Support for investing in IT: what is available for SMEs in 2026/2027 — DataRoad

Support and funds for investing in IT: what is available for SMEs in 2026/2027

There is currently no digital check-in available for SMEs — but those who have their IT plan ready when the notice goes out will be the first to get in.

Windows 365: for those who need a PC in the cloud — consultants, seasonal workers and teams without an office — DataRoad

PC in the cloud (Windows 365): for whom it is worth it and for whom it isn't

PC in the cloud is ideal for consultants, seasonal workers and teams without an office — and a poor choice for video, CAD or weak connections.

Backup test: the 30-minute backup test and the 3-2-1-1-0 rule explained for managers — DataRoad

Has your backup already been tested? The 30-minute test you should request

A backup is only as good as the replacement: the 30-minute test that any administration may require from the IT provider.

Security in various stores and offices: centrally managed firewall and the same rules in all locations — DataRoad

Multiple stores or offices: one safety rule for all

With multiple locations, security is worth what the most forgotten store is worth — the central management applies the same rule to all.

Microsoft 365 email security: invoice with changed IBAN, phishing, QR codes and DMARC explained — DataRoad

Email in Microsoft 365: what basic protection doesn't cover

Three email attacks that bypass Microsoft 365’s basic protection — and the simple measures that stop them.

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How much does an hour of downtime cost in a 20-station company?

The transparent cost account of a computer stop — salaries, lost invoicing and recovery — with a table for 10, 20, 30 and 60 positions.

When replacing a computer: life cycle, depreciation, wave renewal and recycling of the park — DataRoad

When replacing a computer: the life cycle of the computer park

A practical rule of thumb for each type of equipment is to consider whether to keep and replace the equipment, and what to do with the old equipment.

Find out about some of the companies that have already chosen and opted for our IT services

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How to choose an IT support company: checklist

The essential checklist

Warning signs to avoid

Right questions to ask