For the past two weeks, I’ve been meeting with IT Managers and Directors for medium to large companies in different industries. I enjoy the opportunity to present our managed services solution to these technical folks whenever I can. They are the men and women in the trenches that deal with the daily IT issues, who understand how IT Vizion’s processes and people could have a positive impact on their overworked and under budgeted department.

In this blog, I briefly want to answer a question that seems to always come up which is “How does IT Vizion do IT?”. Our approach is Agent based. Basically a small client install has to happen on every desktop, laptop or server that we will help manage. These installs do not require reboots. Once installed, the Agent communicates via TCP/IP to our remote Datacenter server. The server sends down command primitives to the Agent to perform rudimentary tasks such as writing a file, getting a file, executing a file, auditing the hardware and software on the PC, prompting a user with question and waiting for a response, rebooting, monitoring resources, and more. These rudimentary commands are combined to perform management tasks, such as remote controlling the PC, deploying patches, monitoring the resource utilization of the PC, installing programs, enforcing policies, and more.

That’s a high level overview of how our process works. Because of the secure communication that happens between your systems and datacenter our server, we are able to have an up-to-date inventory of your IT assets (hardware, software). We eliminate the need to have 3rd party tools deployed and managed within your environment. Some typical systems that we can replace as part of our integrated system include:

1. Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
2. System Center Configuration Manager (SMS Server replacement)
3. 3rd party Ticketing systems
4. 3rd party Monitoring systems (such as System Center Operations Manager)

The concept of managed services does appeal to most IT Managers. Because it effectively enables them to offload a portion of their IT operations without relinquishing full control as they would in traditional outsourcing arrangements that lead to the transfer of the assets to an outside vendor. It boils down to the fact that the Executive Management is no longer satisfied with their current IT suppliers reacting to problems. They “expect” a proactive approach.

By partnering with IT Vizion, the overworked and overstretched IT Manager gains an upper hand in managing their heterogeneous environment, while increasing both customer satisfaction and greater visibility of their IT department. After all, shouldn’t your role as IT Manager be enjoyable and satisfying? I mean most IT Executives become IT Managers because they do what they love. Work with technology and see the superior results when applied to their organization’s business processes. Allow us to make it more enjoyable…

If you’re an IT Manager or Director, what concerns do you have about managed services? I’d be happy to respond.

I’m Pat, Sales Executive for IT Vizion. Those who know me personally will refer to me a blunt, straightforward, and “bottom-line” kind of person. I usually say what I feel and provide various points of view. I try to be as precise as possible. I tend to say things as they are and of what people are thinking of.

I’ve experienced the good and bad in our facility and with some of our current and potential customers. The strangest thing I’ve encountered so far is that the staff at IT Vizion has a different level of confidence in the service provided to current and potential customers. I was working on bringing on a new account with a non-profit organization in Ontario, CA. and provided this prospect with useful, helpful, and one of the best information they can possibly get if they were a customer. Most people would call something like this “being hustled or taken advantage of.” Our staff provides those insights to current customers and prospects.

Does companies have a business code of ethics when it comes to certain information that one company has that another does not? Of course, but IT Vizion has a totally different approach. IT Vizion encourages prospects to have the latest information regarding their IT investment (computers/servers/network) and even if we do not gain a client, we gained the reputation for a company with many resources. The non-profit agency received some technical help and information relating to programs available for their type of business and criteria. IT Vizion provided this prospect with tools and information that saved them $1000’s of dollars, without asking for anything in return. How can a company do this and operate? A company’s reputation speaks for itself. We did not acquire this non-profit as a client; however, this company may refer us to some of their clients and so on. This approach is slow, but certain.

Another encounter experienced was from customers that felt they needed to become a part of every function IT Vizion provides. If this were the case their wasting money with our services. Customers need to understand and trust that we are the professionals when it comes to IT. If customers have a feeling that they can perform better at our business then its simple, don’t utilize us. I’ve experienced unnecessary problems from customers. Leave the IT work to us, we are not here to deceive. Customers who don’t have confidence in our work to change things within a process cause more work and series of frustration. I feel for IT Vizion’s staff and CEO. I don’t mind someone yelling at me for their own mistakes, particularly if it involves a voluntary mistake.

If this next part is true about you or someone you know you WILL agree: (A parent tells their child not to touch the hot iron and the child touches anyways), this is me, I’m one of those guys who does not listen to the warnings and… gets in trouble or hurt.

I wouldn’t tell my parents that they should have told me to touch the hot iron, it does not make sense!

There is nothing wrong with a company that chooses to educate for the right cause, this is how we do business and retain relationships. Our services are not free or cheap; however, we provide the best and more cost-effective solutions for prospects and our clients. Many of our clients including those we had meetings with will confirm the above statement. Our position in this market is to provide support. We have staff members that change their shifts to meet our customers needs and then stay later to meet the needs of others.

While I continue on my path for greatness, I wish the best for the company that acquired me, all staff members, and the CEO for helping me really understand the environment that was given. Throughout the experience and challenges this company may bring, I hope I leave a true legacy with the company as I grow within.