After-hours and weekend IT work, booked in advance
Some IT jobs are better done when nobody is trying to work: a firewall swap, a server move, a big update or rewiring a comms cabinet. We schedule that work for evenings or weekends, agree the plan with you beforehand and check everything is working before staff arrive.
After-hours & weekend IT work for small and medium businesses
Doing disruptive work during the day means people sit idle while the internet is down or the shared drive is offline, and every minute of downtime is paid for twice: once in the technician's time and again in your staff's. Moving that work outside business hours keeps the office running. It is the same work, done when the impact is smallest, with time to test properly instead of rushing to get people back online by lunchtime.
To be clear about what this is: after-hours work at Office IT is planned and booked ahead. It is not an always-on emergency line. You tell us what needs doing, or we recommend it, and we agree a date, a start time, an expected finish and what a successful result looks like. We also agree what happens if something does not go to plan, including the point at which we roll back to how things were rather than leave you with a half-finished change on Monday.
Good after-hours work is mostly preparation. Before the night, equipment is configured and tested on the bench, backups are confirmed, settings are recorded and anything that needs a vendor or carrier is booked with them. On the night, we follow the written plan, test every critical system from a staff point of view and leave notes on what changed. On the next working morning we check in early to make sure everyone is working and to deal with anything small.
What's included
Work plan
A written plan for each job covering steps, timings, who is involved, what is tested and the point at which we roll back if needed.
Firewall and network changes
Firewall replacements, switch upgrades and Wi-Fi changes done while the office is empty, so nobody loses internet during the day.
Server and system updates
Large updates, server reboots and storage changes scheduled outside hours, with services checked once the work is complete.
Migrations and cutovers
Email, file server, phone and internet cutovers timed for evenings or weekends, so Monday starts on the new system.
Office moves
Desks, network equipment and phones disconnected, moved and reconnected over a weekend, ready for staff on the next working day.
Vendor coordination
Carriers, software vendors and building managers booked in advance when their part of the job has to happen on the night.
Pre-work checks
Backups confirmed, settings exported and new equipment tested beforehand, so the night is spent on the change rather than on surprises.
Morning follow-up
A check-in at the start of the next working day to confirm everything is running and to sort out any small issues straight away.
Who is after-hours and weekend IT work for?
Booking work outside business hours makes sense if:
- Your office cannot stop trading for a firewall or server change
- You run a clinic, shop or counter that is busy all day
- You are moving offices and need to open on Monday
- A big email, phone or file migration is coming up
- Updates keep getting postponed because daytime is too busy
Not sure where to start?
Our free IT health check looks at your devices, accounts, backups, security and network. You get a short written report with what is working, what is at risk and a price to fix it. No obligation.
Book the health checkAfter-hours & weekend IT work questions
Is this an emergency after-hours service?
No. After-hours work is planned and booked in advance for changes and projects. It is not an always-on support line. Normal support requests are handled during business hours.
How far ahead do we need to book?
As early as you can. Simple jobs can often be scheduled within a week or two; larger ones that involve carriers or vendors need more notice so their part can be booked too.
Do you need someone from our office there?
Usually not. We need building access, alarm codes and a contact who can be reached if a decision is needed. For some jobs, a staff member who knows a particular system is helpful.
What if the work cannot be finished on the night?
The plan includes a rollback point. If the change is not working by then, we put things back the way they were, so staff can work normally the next day, and we reschedule.
Is after-hours work charged differently?
After-hours project work is quoted in writing first, with the date and time window included in the quote, so you know the cost before agreeing to it.
Can you do after-hours work outside Auckland and Hamilton?
Remote after-hours changes can be done anywhere in New Zealand. Onsite after-hours work outside Auckland and Hamilton is arranged as planned project work by agreement.
Will we know what was changed?
Yes. You get a short written note after each job explaining what was done, what was tested and anything staff should know when they arrive.
Other ways we help
Managed IT
One monthly price per person for support, security, updates and backups. Your outsourced IT team.
Managed IT
IT support
Remote and onsite help when you need it, billed by the hour. No plan, no contract.
IT support
Cyber security
Practical protection against scams, ransomware and account takeover, set up and kept current.
Cyber security