Picture the scene: it’s 9.05 on a Monday and your network goes down. No one can do the work they’re supposed to be doing, and every moment of downtime is costing your business £££. And it’s on deadline day. Who do you call? An anonymous helpline, or a reliable partner based down the road who knows your systems inside out?

It might feel like an obvious answer, but we also know there’s a balance to be struck between the many spending priorities of a small business. Luckily, we also know that reliable IT support doesn’t have to cost the earth. If it’s tailored to your needs, the right small business IT support can also end up saving you money compared to over-spec’d, overpriced services you don’t need. (Check out some of our case studies and testimonials to see how we’ve done this for many local businesses.)

We’ve put this guide together to help the small businesses in Brighton and Sussex to get to grips with the IT services they need (and don’t) to minimise downtime and support business growth.

If you’re a small business owner, you might know you need IT support, without fully knowing what that specifically means. The right IT partner will honestly advise on the services and tech your business needs to help you meet your goals without needing a full technical brief. After all, you’re looking for an IT partner that knows all the tech stuff so you don’t have to. So, there’s no need to get too bogged down in the technical details.

A good place to start is thinking about the different types of tech problems you need your IT support to solve. Allow us to elaborate…

This is the classic “Help! My computer isn’t working”, or “the Wi-Fi is down” scenario. A good IT support provider – ahem, like us at AJT Managed IT Services – offers rapid response and a knowledgeable, experienced team that can fix things quickly.

Whether that fix is remote or in-person doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s fixed properly, quickly. Make sure you’re happy with SLAs offered before committing to your IT support partner.

Types of IT support that fall into this bucket include:

• Helpdesk and remote IT support. So you and your staff have someone reliable to contact for efficient fixes.
• Onsite and in-person support. Working with someone local means you can trust them to get boots on the ground for any issues that can’t be fixed remotely.
• Managed phone systems (VoIP). Some businesses can grind to a halt when their phones go down, so you need a partner who can get communications back up and running ASAP.
• Network and connectivity support. Troubleshooting and fixing issues with Wi-Fi, internet connectivity and network devices.

Proactive, preventative IT solutions are just as important as fixing problems for small businesses. This type of small business IT support provides stability and peace of mind by preventing a potential niggle from becoming a business-crippling disaster. It’s like a car or boiler service but for your business. Keep potential problems and unexpected outages at bay by looking for an IT partner that provides services like:

• Proactive system monitoring and maintenance. This is the core of an IT support managed service. It includes continuous monitoring and performing regular updates and security patches. In AJT’s world, this also means regular onsite visits so we know your systems inside out and can build proper relationships with your team.
• Managed cybersecurity. A comprehensive solution to protect against threats before they strike. This includes antivirus, firewalls and real-time threat detection, but also staff training and dark web monitoring.
• Cloud backup & disaster recovery. Automatic backups and systems that ensure data can be restored quickly if hardware fails, a cyber attack does get through, or someone makes a small mistake that causes big problems.
• User management. Proactive management of user accounts and permissions to ensure security and compliance.

A good IT support partner recommends the right tech to support your growth and ensures your systems are flexible enough to scale with you. At AJT, we want to be a true partner that feels like an extension of your in-house team. We’re here to give you peace of mind that your business is prepared for whatever comes next, including:

• IT strategy and consultancy. We act as a trusted advisor to help you make smart tech decisions that align with your business goals.
• Microsoft 365 licensing and management. Whatever you use Microsoft for, be it productivity software or identity management or anything else, we’ll help you get the most out of your investment through cost-effective licensing that is cheaper than going direct.
• IT audit. If you’re a new customer, we’ll review your current IT setup to find and cut any unnecessary spending.

To summarise, the right IT support for small businesses in the local area isn’t just about fixing what’s broken. It’s about building a partnership that gives your business back time, saves you money and prepares you for the future. By choosing a local partner that offers in-person, proactive support and transparent advice, you can stop worrying about tech and focus on what matters most. If you’re ready to find an IT partner who’ll truly understand your needs, we’re here to help.