What does an IT consultant actually do?

November 7th, 2019 / Blogs

You’ve probably heard the term IT consultant before. And you may have many ideas as to what they can actually do and what services and value they provide to organizations. The growth of IT consulting has been prominent over the last few years and is expected to hit $53 billion by 2020. But how will they help shape your company?

IT consultants often have specialized skills

IT consultants may have specialized skills relating to a variety of IT topics from cybersecurity to cloud services. They may be engaged to help companies with a specific project or to guide them in developing a comprehensive IT strategy.

Launching new technology

Not only can IT consultants provide assistance in launching new technology within your business, but they can consult with you to help you select the best technology for your needs. After deciding on a particular platform, the IT consultant would then provide you with the installation of the products, ensuring that the technology works harmoniously with other systems and training employees on how to use it.

By utilizing the expertise of an IT consultant, you’ll likely save time and money. If you want to launch new technology quickly and seamlessly, hiring an IT consultant is a great approach to take.

IT consultants can be a liaison

If your staff has difficulty communicating their IT problems and needs to your technical support team, IT consultants can be the necessary liaison between the two groups. They can listen to employees who actually use technology to do their jobs and determine their biggest pain points and challenges, and present their findings to your technical support team.

Additionally, if you have challenges contacting and communicating with your IT vendors, like your phone or printer providers, an IT consultant can act as your one-stop-shop, managing the communication between you and your vendors.

Risk assessments

An IT consultant can also conduct risk assessments. Every organization is vulnerable to the threat of a cyber attack. You have valuable data that someone else might want. Currently, a data breach could cost a company up to $6.9 million. That’s a hit most SMBs could not stand, so it’s important to understand the threats your business faces and devise ways to prevent them.

IT consultants can be experts in Cybersecurity and can offer you key advice on what protocols you need to put in place to ensure you aren’t the victim of a cyber attack.

Developing an IT strategy

Does your company have an IT strategy? If not, an IT consultant can help. To ensure your business’s future looks bright, you are going to need a plan on how your technology can scale as you grow and offer new products or services.

Technology is often the lifeblood of any organization. This could include moving to the Cloud so you have more flexibility and storage, or developing a scalability plan to ensure your infrastructure is agile. Investing in an IT strategy is a smart move that can save you money in the long run because you’ll have a plan in place to continue to strengthen your IT resources.

An IT consultant can play many roles in your business. It all depends on your focus and needs. They bring with them years of experience working with companies to ensure they can continue to operate efficiently and expand sustainably.

If you have questions about IT consulting, feel free to contact us to learn more.

Written by Chris Wiegman