Switching internet service providers in your business can seem like no big deal. That $100 per month plan for internet can save you a lot of money and internet is internet, right? There isn’t a reason your IT company needs to be involved, right? Not so fast.
There are actually three pretty big reasons you should involve your IT company before switching internet service providers (ISPs): your IT company can help you make sure you are actually getting what you need and that you’re getting it for the best price—and they can keep your network running while you make the switch.
1. We know what you need.
That $100/month internet deal from the ISP calling you may sound great, but in reality, it may slow down your business. Businesses are not created equally, and neither are internet plans.
The key number in most plans is the “Mbps” number (megabytes per second), which refers to your upload and download speed. If your company deals with a lot of data, lowering your upload and download speed can significantly slow down processes, leading to a loss of productivity and unhappy employees.
Since your IT company knows your network and your business, we know what you realistically need and can make recommendations for what type of plan you should get.
2. We can save you money.
Many IT companies have relationships with vendors like ISPs and can often get you better pricing than you can get on your own. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shop around for pricing. But your IT company should be on your list after you’ve consulted with them to find out what you need.
3. We need to make changes to your network—and likely need to be there when the switch is made.
Switching internet service providers in a corporate setting is a little more complicated than it is at your house. It’s not as simple as just switching out a modem.
Your ISP affects your Public IP address, which identifies your connection to the Internet. It’s used in a lot of places throughout your network, including your firewall, VoIP phone systems, and potentially your line of business applications.
This isn’t typically something you need to worry about on a day-to-day basis. But when your ISP changes, so does your Public IP address—meaning changes need to be made for these systems to continue to function correctly.
Most ISPs will even require you to have an IT person on site because their employees aren’t allowed to touch some of your systems. Unfortunately, many ISPs forget to actually tell you this up front (though it’s usually buried in their paperwork somewhere). And scheduling this last minute with your IT company could lead to delays or extra charges if they need to send someone outside of their regular hours.
Remember: your IT company is here to help you. Even if it doesn’t seem like something they need to be involved in, if it’s related to your computers or your network, give them a call. They can help you make sure you’re getting what you need and not overpaying for it.
