IT strategy & consulting in Frankton
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.
Onsite technicians cover Frankton. Most problems are fixed remotely first; when a job needs hands, a technician comes to you.
IT strategy & consulting for Frankton businesses
Frankton, just west of Hamilton's centre, grew around the railway junction and still mixes light industry, trade suppliers, workshops and transport businesses with a local shopping strip, health providers near the hospital and small professional offices.
Older industrial buildings here often have cabling added piecemeal over the decades, and offices attached to workshops cope with dust, vibration and equipment in unsuitable spots. Health-related businesses close to the hospital also need tight control over patient information on laptops and shared computers. Rail and road noise aside, the bigger daily risk is an unmanaged router shared by office and workshop alike.
A virtual IT manager fills that gap without adding a salary. We meet with you regularly, learn how the business works and where it is heading, and turn that into a practical plan: what to replace and when, which systems to keep, where security needs strengthening and what all of it will cost. The plan is written in plain English, not a slide deck full of jargon, and it is revisited as things change.
Our Hamilton technicians come to Frankton offices and workshops for cabling, computers and networks, and support staff remotely for everyday issues. Any installation is priced in writing beforehand.
What's included
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.
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.
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.
Software selection
Help choosing new business systems, from requirements and demos to checking integration, data export and contract terms.
Vendor management
We deal with internet, phone and software suppliers for you, chase faults and review renewals before they roll over.
Is it right for your Frankton 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 Frankton: questions
Can computers survive in a dusty workshop office?
With the right choices, yes. Sealed or compact computers, a closed comms cabinet and regular cleaning during maintenance visits extend their life. We recommend suitable gear and placement after looking at the space.
Do you support small offices near Waikato Hospital?
Yes. We support health and professional offices around the hospital precinct with onsite visits from Hamilton and remote help, including securing devices that hold patient information.
Do we need a managed IT plan to use this?
No. Some businesses have their own IT person or another arrangement for daily support and use us only for strategy. We are happy to work that way.
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.
What do we get at the end of a review?
A written report covering where you stand, the risks in order of priority, a three-year roadmap and an estimated budget. It is yours to keep, whoever does the work.
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.
More IT services in Frankton
- Managed IT
- IT support
- Cyber security
- Microsoft 365
- Networks & Wi-Fi
- Internet & phones
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Cloud & servers
- Email security & deliverability
- CCTV & access control
- Printers, copiers & scanning
- Laptops, PCs & devices
- Office moves & fit-outs
- Co-managed IT
- Security awareness training