IT strategy & consulting in Dunedin
Most growing businesses need IT leadership long before they need a full-time IT manager. We act as your virtual IT manager: setting a budget, planning the next three years, dealing with vendors and giving you straight answers when an insurer, auditor or client asks hard questions.
Dunedin is supported remotely. Our technicians are based in Auckland and Hamilton, so onsite work here is planned project work, booked and quoted in advance.
IT strategy & consulting for Dunedin businesses
Dunedin's economy is built around the university, health, education and research, with professional firms, engineering, software companies and the port at Port Chalmers, much of it in a central city full of heritage stone buildings.
Old stone and brick buildings block Wi-Fi and complicate cabling, and many businesses here are small teams that work closely with the university and hospital sectors, where data handling expectations are high. Cloud-based files and managed laptops reduce dependence on the building. Student intakes and short contracts also mean frequent account changes for firms that hire from the university, so leavers need removing promptly.
IT decisions in a small business tend to be made one at a time. A director picks a new practice system after a demo, someone signs a phone contract that renews for three years, and a laptop gets bought because the old one died that morning. Each choice makes sense on its own, but nobody is looking at how they fit together or what they will cost over the next few years.
We support Dunedin businesses remotely for help desk, security, backups and Microsoft 365. Onsite work happens only as planned projects, arranged and quoted in writing. Equipment can be configured remotely once fitted.
What's included
Software selection
Help choosing new business systems, from requirements and demos to checking integration, data export and contract terms.
Yearly IT budget
A budget for hardware, software, services and projects, so IT spending is planned before the financial year rather than discovered during it.
Vendor management
We deal with internet, phone and software suppliers for you, chase faults and review renewals before they roll over.
Current state review
A written assessment of your systems, security, licences and contracts, with the risks ranked and explained in business terms.
Regular leadership meetings
A standing meeting with the directors to review progress, risks and upcoming decisions, with short written notes afterwards.
Three-year roadmap
What to replace, upgrade or retire over the next three years, in order, with the reasons and the expected cost of each step.
Is it right for your Dunedin office?
A virtual IT manager suits businesses that:
- Are growing and making bigger IT decisions than before
- Have IT spending that varies wildly from year to year
- Are choosing a new core business system
- Face insurance, client or tender questions about security
- Want someone to manage vendors and contracts on their behalf
- Have a director spending hours each week on IT decisions
How getting started works
- Free IT health check. We look at your devices, accounts, backups and network and tell you what we find, in plain English.
- Clear proposal. A written monthly price per user and a list of any fixes, with nothing hidden.
- Handover. We collect admin access and documentation from your current provider and keep your team working.
- Day-one fixes. Security gaps, failed backups and urgent risks are dealt with first.
IT strategy & consulting in Dunedin: questions
Can you help with Wi-Fi in a Dunedin heritage building remotely?
We can plan and specify the equipment remotely, configure it and manage it afterwards. Installation can be done by your local installer under our design, or as a planned visit by arrangement.
Do you work with research or university partners' security requirements?
We help you put the common controls in place, such as multi-factor sign-in, encryption and patching, and document them so you can answer partner security questionnaires accurately.
Can you help with a cyber insurance renewal?
Yes. We answer the technical questions accurately, explain what each one is really asking and fix the gaps that would otherwise make your premium higher or put cover at risk.
How is consulting charged?
Small pieces of advice are billed at our hourly rate of $109 plus GST. A full review and roadmap, or an ongoing virtual IT manager arrangement, is quoted in writing first with a fixed scope.
Will you push us towards particular products?
We recommend what suits your business and explain why. Where we supply hardware or software, the price is quoted separately so you can compare it with buying elsewhere.
Is this the same as managed IT?
No. Managed IT keeps things running day to day. Strategy and consulting is about planning and decisions. The Complete plan includes a yearly budget and replacement plan; deeper consulting can be added on any plan or bought on its own.
More IT services in Dunedin
- Managed IT
- IT support
- Cyber security
- Microsoft 365
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Email security & deliverability
- Co-managed IT
- Security awareness training