Who do you think provides a better service?
Proactive support or reactive IT support?
Proactive support goes the extra mile and provides amazing services for prospecting clients. Reactive support performs only necessary tasks to keep your old clients happy.
Does one scenario work better than another?
In this article, we’ll discuss the differences and similarities between proactive vs reactive IT support, so you can figure out which option suits you best.
What is Proactive IT Support?
Proactive support refers to the strategy of preventing problems before they occur. The key to this is to identify and fix potential issues and vulnerabilities in advance of causing outages.
Proactive IT support will often involve the use of a monitoring solution. A monitoring solution allows you to monitor all aspects of your network, including servers and workstations and external factors such as the Internet connection.
By doing this, you can spot any potential issues that may arise, allowing you to stop them from escalating into full-blown problems. IT consulting firms also guide how to avoid situations where these problems may arise or implement fixes for security vulnerabilities before hackers exploit them.
What is Reactive IT Support?
Rather than taking steps to prevent problems from taking place, reactive support refers to the strategy of responding to problems once they occur.
Many businesses will only call an IT support specialist when something has gone wrong and needs fixing.
In the traditional sense, reactive IT support is the model of help desk support. A customer runs into a problem, and to fix it, they submit a ticket to the IT department. The IT department then looks over the ticket and determines what action to take, if any. Technicians then address Tickets by phone or on-site visits, depending on what kind of access is required for resolution.
This approach can involve a lot more downtime and frustration for employees, who will have to wait until a technician is available rather than receiving help at the first sign of a problem.
Proactive vs Reactive IT Support Services: Which Do You Need?
Proactive IT support is a more modern approach to fixing problems before they occur. Reactive IT support refers to a traditional approach that relies on fixing problems as they occur. While both are IT support services, there’s a lot of difference it can make to an organization.
Duration of Support
When comparing proactive vs reactive IT support, it’s also important to think about how much time you want to spend managing your computer systems. Proactive service providers will spend more time than reactive IT services helping you manage your network than reactive ones. While this might sound like a hassle in the short term, it will save you time and money in the long run by preventing more serious problems from occurring.
Structure of Support
Proactive support continually monitors your organization’s network to prevent problems before they occur. The provider makes sure you have the right technology in place, applies updates and patches, and keeps a close eye on your network, servers and devices.
Cost
You might be surprised to learn that proactive support is less expensive than reactive support over time, despite the higher up-front cost of implementing proactive strategies. This is because a proactive approach helps you avoid all the small issues that add up over time and cause expensive damage down the road.
If Continuous Operation is Your Priority
Then proactive IT support is what you need.
Proactive IT support is the best way to avoid IT issues and prevent downtime. By taking the time to research products, perform network monitoring, and provide ongoing maintenance, you can minimize downtime. You can also reduce your need for reactive support, saving you money in the long run.
If affordable IT support is your priority
Then reactive IT support is the best option.
Reactive support means the IT team waits for users to report problems and then fixes them, usually as quickly as possible. This type of support is typically more affordable than proactive support; however, it does not address issues until after they have occurred, potentially causing downtime and loss of productivity.
Wrapping Up
There are many options when it comes to IT outsourcing services, each one offering something different. It’s only after you start using these services that you understand the features that matter when choosing between these firms and what exactly you should be looking for in a decent, affordable and reliable IT support provider.
If you’re looking for a reliable IT support specialist to work on proactive or reactive IT support, reach out to us. We have expert technicians who can offer assistance to support your IT infrastructure and ensure its smooth operations. Book a consultation call to see how we can help you.