Small businesses almost always need better IT.

Technology underpins the modern business world. That’s true across industries – from retail to professional services to healthcare to pretty much anything else. The good news is that, increasingly, the technology tools that were once available only to corporations and enterprise firms are available to small businesses, too.

The bad news is that the quality of tech support generally diminishes with the size of a business. Many small businesses don’t have access to good support, and many that supposedly do often get treated like small clients.

At Willits Technologies, we’re proud to serve businesses in the Houston area with high-end, affordable small business IT support that empowers success. We offer the following services:

• Managed IT Services (helpdesk, onsite support, proactive monitoring, and more)
• Hosted Servers
• Google Business Solutions
• Small Business Phone Systems

If you’re looking for support you can trust, we’d love to give you a free consult.

Over more than 20 years of serving the Houston area, we’ve found that the majority of local small businesses simply don’t have access to support they trust. Low-cost IT solutions impact small-to-medium-sized businesses, sidetracking crucial work, pulling key employees into time-consuming IT tasks, and incurring high costs that put companies like yours at a disadvantage.

We’ve designed our company to serve small businesses well. We don’t treat our clients like they’re small fish. We treat them like family. We offer high-end service at affordable prices because we’re passionate about helping Houston small businesses succeed with better technology.

To that end, we’ve created this small business IT support overview page. It’s designed to take some of the mystery out of IT.

We know that the IT industry is packed with jargon. It can be complex. It’s often intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. With that in mind, we’ll tackle some common IT questions that Houston small businesses often have, like:

• What is IT support, anyway?
• What makes small business IT support unique?
• What is managed IT support?
• How much does IT support cost for a small business?
• Is outsourced or internal IT support better for a small business?
• Is onsite or helpdesk IT support better for a small business?
• Do small businesses need to be worried about cybersecurity?
• What are the top IT support companies for small businesses in Houston?
• And, last: what is Willits Technologies’ service area in and around Houston?

Ready to get take the mystery out of small business IT? So are we. Let’s unpack it.

What is IT support?

The answer to this question probably seems obvious, but for full clarity in our discussion, it’s helpful to define our terms to start. So, when we say IT support, what do we mean?

Let’s begin with the first half of the phrase. “IT” is an acronym for “information technology.” It was first noted by Merriam-Webster in 1978. While it’s lost some of its specificity over the years, the term was originally intended to delineate “technology involving the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data.”

Today, though, the clarifying prefix “information” can seem redundant, since pretty much anything you can plug in (or charge wirelessly, for that matter) can be connected to the internet. Basically, if it’s collecting or sharing data, it’s IT.

The second half of our phrase is the word support, which means “to assist or help.” So, at a foundational level, IT support is help with technology.

In a small business context, it’s often an outsourced provider or a person internally who’s tasked with providing technical help and knowledge in designing, implementing, and maintaining technology systems.

So, that’s IT support. As we’ll see shortly, this can include a great variety of services and can be delivered in a wide variety of ways.

What makes small business IT support unique?

Next, let’s clarify our specific context: What are the considerations and challenges that make small business IT support unique? Is IT really any different for small businesses than it is for other organizations?

We believe that the answer is a strong “yes.” Here’s why.

Small businesses have fewer technology users.

Team size substantially impacts technology selection. Small business IT support must be able to identify the solutions that will best fit smaller teams.

Small businesses deal with limited budgets.

This is simultaneously the most obvious and critical factor in why small business IT support can be difficult: small businesses aren’t working with million-dollar IT budgets. They’re working with what they have. This means that they need technology solutions to be cost-effective, they need them to be implemented efficiently, and they need efficiently delivered support.

Small businesses face unique decisions around how to service IT.

While larger companies often have fully staffed internal IT teams, small businesses often get by without fully designated IT support for years. The owner may take care of things, or an office admin may wear the IT hat, or somebody will have an uncle who knows computers and checks in every few months. But as small businesses grow, they come to a crossroads: they must decide whether to hire internally, outsource, or stay the DIY course. This decision point is unique to small businesses.

Small businesses that do work with general providers often find that their IT don’t get prioritized.

As a consequence of having smaller budgets, small businesses can find themselves relegated to life as second-tier service priorities. Their providers won’t say this, of course, but it’ll become obvious over time as issues and projects get delayed or go unattended to.

What is managed IT support?

Managed IT support (or managed IT service) is a model of delivering IT support that packages a variety of services into a fixed monthly price. For instance, at Willits Technologies, our managed service offerings can include:

• Onsite and Remote Service
• Network Design & Installation
• Network Management & Monitoring
• Cloud File Sharing and Sync
• Hosted Servers
• Data Backup & Disaster Recovery

• Exchange Server – Hosted and In-House
• Internet Security
• Remote Access & VPNs
• Spam & Virus Filtering
• Desktop Support
• Hardware & Software Sales

And more, with solutions tailored to the needs of the business. Again, these are delivered on a fixed monthly basis. So, each month, our engineers administer strategic IT services to small business.

Finally, a quick note on a common acronym (the IT industry loves acronyms): Companies who offer service under this model are called managed service providers, or MSPs.

How much does IT support cost for a small business?

Small businesses are cost-conscious, so, unsurprisingly, this is one of the major questions that they often have when considering IT support.

How much does it cost?

The answer, equally unsurprisingly, is that it depends.

There are many factors at play on both sides of IT service (concerning client and vendor). The business needs will shape what services are required, and the provider may have discounts – or, on the other hand, fees – for different service packages or solutions.

But here are some of the factors that’ll be in play:

• How many servers are being supported?
• How many workstations?
• How many users?
• Are there remote users?
• What technology is the business using?
• What degree of onsite help is needed?
• Is a helpdesk needed?
• What level of network monitoring is needed?
• Are there compliance standards?
• Will the support include hardware or software setup?
• Will support include strategic planning or simply maintenance?

That’s only a start. So, again, the cost of small business IT support can vary greatly.

But with all of that said, it’s still helpful to have some hard numbers to work with. So, here are a few:

Desktop support: We’ve seen companies offer support at $20 per desktop (honestly, it wasn’t very good support at this price) and $100+ per desktop.

Server support: We’ve seen server support at $100 per month (again, low-end) and up.

Network support: We’ve seen network support at $300 and into the thousands per month.

Now, these don’t reflect our prices. And, as we’ve mentioned a few times now, these numbers are impacted by a huge range of factors. At the end of the day, asking how much IT support costs is like asking “How much does a car cost?” The answer depends on the car.

If you want a more meaningful idea of what IT support might cost your small business, we’ve written a more detailed article about it here – you’ll do best to start with a conversation around your needs.

Is outsourced or internal IT support better for a small business?

Is it better to hire internally for IT support? Or is it better to outsource support to a provider?

In general, here’s our take: Outsourced IT tends to make more sense for most small businesses. Here’s why:

Internal IT resources offer two main benefits.

• First, they’re likely able to be onsite more frequently than an outsourced solution (although outsourced providers may have comparable capabilities).
• Second, they’ll be able to be immersed in a single business environment at the deepest level possible (although the best IT support companies are perceived as being part of the businesses they serve).

However, hiring for small business IT also comes with three main drawbacks.

• First, it’s typically less cost-effective; when salary, benefits, and onboarding processes are taken into account, hiring an IT technician nearly always costs far more than outsourcing IT support. For small businesses, this is a huge issue.
• Second, hires typically bring less expertise into the role than outsourced partners; no one hire can be an expert in every area of IT, while outsourced partners have the knowledge of an entire team at the ready. So small businesses are also facing the reality of lower-quality support.
• Third, hires are less available outside of normal hours, whereas outsourced providers can respond to needs 24/7. This may not impact every small business, but it’s certainly a consideration.

Really, hiring an internal IT employee only makes sense if there are specialized systems that require very-high-frequency onsite support. For most small businesses, this isn’t the case.

Outsourcing IT support tends to be more cost-effective, offers a far greater breadth of capabilities at comparable strategic depth, and removes availability concerns.

Is onsite or helpdesk support better for small businesses?

As small businesses work through selecting an IT provider, they’ll also need to consider how support will be provided. Should small businesses opt for onsite support or remote support via a helpdesk?

Both methods of support are helpful, and there are drawbacks and benefits to each.

Helpdesk support is highly efficient.

With a helpdesk, a small business’s employees can call in from any location (typically at any time) to receive support for a wide variety of issues – from lost passwords to system errors. It’s cost-effective and quick.

But there are two main drawbacks to helpdesk support: First, it can be less relational than onsite support. As a consequence, some needs that might have been discovered by an onsite technician could go unaddressed if a helpdesk is the only support option.

Second, some support needs still require a technician onsite (on-premise hardware fixes, for example).

Onsite support is more relational and strategic.

An onsite technician can develop relationships with small business employees that often lead to technology improvements and a higher level of service. Onsite visits can uncover issues that wouldn’t have been reported, and, in solving them, can go a long way toward optimizing systems. Onsite support is also well-suited to address any higher-level tickets that may arise.

The drawbacks to onsite support are that it’s slower (since the tech has to take time to travel to the site) and that it tends to be more costly.

The bottom line: it’s usually best to have both modes of support.

In reality, choosing between helpdesk and onsite tech support shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. The two modes of support are complementary to each other, and accordingly the best IT solutions offer both. Managed service providers often offer small business service packages that include helpdesk for employees to call into and regular onsite support where appropriate (either on-demand or via scheduled check-ins).

Rarely is onsite support delivered as a standalone service without access to a helpdesk; however, for some small businesses, choosing a helpdesk-only or helpdesk-first model can be an efficient and effective solution.

Do small businesses need to be concerned about cybersecurity?

Unfortunately, the short answer to this question is “yes.”

The stats around cybercrime are frightening. Attacks are estimated to have increased by 67% in the last five years and are predicted to continue increasing, potentially incurring costs of $6 trillion globally by 2021.

And small businesses are certainly at risk – a recent Verizon study found that 58% of all cybercrime victims are small businesses

In light of all of this, the best approach to small business cybersecurity is a proactive one.

The possibility of an attack can’t be eliminated. But it can be drastically reduced. And, just as importantly, proactive security can greatly limit the amount of damage that a cyberattack can create. Here are a few approaches we recommend:

Hardened systems.

This is a bit of a catch-all, but hardened systems typically include firewalls and antivirus software.

Proactive monitoring.

Many managed services offer 24/7 network monitoring for small businesses. Raising an alert early can go a long way toward minimizing the damage of an attack.

Managed backups.

Regularly backing up data can ensure redundancy. In the case of a ransomware attack, for example, having backups can help organizations to avoid paying the ransom fee; if the small business can access recent data (and potentially revert back to noncorrupted systems), it can avoid major losses.

Documented and enforced security policies.

Small businesses should also have security policies (i.e. enforce secure passwords and data management practices) and a response plan in place, so that if an attack does occur there is a clear path of action to minimize damage.

Of course, most small businesses are wary of the costs associated with a proactive cybersecurity stance – budgetary constraints are probably the biggest reason that small businesses tend to be unsecured and vulnerable.

This is certainly understandable, but the reality is that ineffective cybersecurity can be more costly in the long run. At the very least, consider what a proactive cybersecurity strategy would look like for your business and work toward what’s possible – because there are cost-efficient solutions available.

Talking with experts can help.

What are the top IT support companies for small businesses in Houston?

Finally, as you consider how to move forward with your small business’s IT strategy, here are a few companies that have established a solid reputation for service in the Houston area.

Before we jump in, here’s a quick framework for evaluating IT companies: we believe that communication, expertise, and a small business focus are the three crucial components in providing quality IT to small businesses. We think of them as three boxes to check. Each of the companies below is presented with that framework in mind.

1. Willits Technologies

We’re probably slightly biased, but we firmly believe in our small business IT services.

At Willits, our team is built on quality communication. Our techs average over a decade of IT experience and are on top of the latest technology trends. Our support team is there when you need us – fast.

And since we’re right down the road in Houston, we’re also able to come onsite quickly to troubleshoot complex issues and keep your IT running smoothly.

Plus, of course, we’re built to serve small businesses. Our team is small enough to offer the personalized service small businesses need – but big enough to take care of any issue or strategic consideration.

If you’re ready for better small business IT, get in touch.

2. eNet Systems, Inc.

NetSystems is a good option for small business IT support in Houston thanks to their small business focus.

Here’s how they describe it: “As a small or medium size business owner, we realize that your company runs on technology. When your technology is down, so is your company. That’s why eNet Systems focuses on providing business owners like you peace of mind with our Managed IT Services.”

They serve larger clients, too, but it’s clear that they’re well-versed in the needs of small businesses.

3. Truewater

Truewater is one of the larger IT service providers in the Houston area, but they do offer service geared toward small businesses.

From their homepage: “When it comes to IT Services, Truewater is the Small Business expert. For close to 20 years, we’ve been helping small and medium-sized businesses in Houston, Texas with reliable, affordable IT support.”

Small business is a focus. But they do require that their clients have at least 15 workstations and they also service a variety of larger (100+ workstation) sites.

Still on the search? See a list of seven of the best IT support companies for small businesses in Houston here. (Again, we believe that in terms of checking all three boxes – communication, expertise, and small business focus – we’re hard to beat.)

Ready to Get Started with Small Business IT Support in Houston?

As you consider IT support for your Houston small business, our hope is that this guide has been helpful. If you’re ready to take the next step toward better tech support, we’d love to hear from you.

Set up a free consultation today.

What is Willits Technologies’ service area for IT support?

We serve  small to mid-sized businesses in the Greater Houston Area, including in:

• Sugar Land
• Spring
• Katy
• Kingwood
• Stafford
• Conroe
• Texas City
• Cypress
• The Woodlands
• Webster
• League City
• Bellaire
• Missouri City
• Friendswood
• Humble
• Richmond
• Pasadena
• Baytown
• Tomball
• Galveston
• Bacliff
• San Felipe
• Winnie
• Kendleton
• Guy
• Galena Park
• Danciger
• Pinehurst
• Liberty
• Stowell
• Daisetta
• Industry
• Mont Belvieu
• Bleiblerville
• Old Ocean
• Clear Lake Shores
• Santa Fe
• Bunker Hill Village
• Porter

• Angleton
• Pearland
• Seabrook
• Lake Jackson
• Channelview
• New Caney
• Manvel
• South Houston
• Magnolia
• Kemah
• Rosenberg
• Alvin
• Hempstead
• Dickinson
• Fulshear
• New Ulm
• Wallisville
• Hunters Creek Village
• Brookshire
• Liverpool
• La Porte
• Brazoria
• Prairie View
• Willis
• Cleveland
• Clute
• Port Bolivar
• Rosharon
• Dayton
• Crosby
• Montgomery
• Deer Park
• Freeport
• Sealy
• Fresno
• Alief
• Hitchcock
• West Columbia

• Sweeny
• Hardin
• Hankamer
• Danbury
• Needville
• Simonton
• Gilchrist
• High Island
• Raywood
• Piney Point Village
• Orchard
• North Houston
• Anahuac
• Romayor
• Huffman
• Cat Spring
• Bellville
• Dobbin
• Damon
• Highlands
• La Marque
• Beasley
• Wallis
• Splendora
• Devers
• Hull
• Hufsmith
• Pattison
• Thompsons
• Oak Ridge North
• Rye
• West University Place
• Kenney
• Hockley
• Barker
• Waller

If you have questions about whether or not your business lies in our service area, please reach out and our team will get back to you quickly.