Updated: November 8, 2026
Short answer: The clearest signs are the same problems coming back, no straight answers about your own systems, and nobody able to show a backup restore that worked. Any two together are worth acting on.
Quick check: tick each one that applies. Two or more means it is time to act.
- The same problem has come back after being "fixed"
- Real waits are longer than the response terms in your contract
- You have had more than one main contact this year
- Nobody can say when a full restore was last tested
- Only the provider has admin access to your systems
- No phishing test or security training in the past year
- Work you thought was included is billed as extra
- Contacts, processes or terms changed after a sale or merger
- Your staff spot problems before the provider does
1. Are the same problems coming back?
A fix that lasts a week is not a fix. When the same printer, laptop or connection fails again and again, nobody has found the cause. Ask for the root cause in writing the next time it happens.
2. Are you waiting longer for help than your contract says?
Your contract should state response times by priority. Compare them with how long your staff actually wait. If the real waits are longer, keep a simple log with dates and times before you raise it.
3. Does your main contact keep changing?
Every new contact means explaining your setup again. A provider that keeps one person on your account learns how your business works and fixes things faster.
4. Can anyone show you a tested backup?
A backup only counts if it restores. Ask when a full restore was last tested and what the result was. If nobody can answer, you may not be able to recover from ransomware or a failed server.
5. Do you hold your own admin passwords?
You should hold the admin passwords to everything you own: email, firewall, servers, domain and backups. If only the provider can get in, every change, and any move to another provider, depends on them.
6. When did your staff last get security training?
Most attacks start with an email. If your staff have not seen a phishing test or a training session in the past year, they are the easiest way into your systems.
7. Do your bills surprise you?
Surprise charges usually mean the scope was never written down. Ask for a list of what the monthly price covers and what costs extra, so there is nothing to argue about later.
8. Did things change after your IT company was sold?
When an IT company is sold, contacts, processes and terms often change. If your service changed after a sale or merger, compare what you get now with what you signed up for.
9. Do you hear about problems from your staff first?
A provider that monitors your systems should spot issues before your team does. If your staff are always the first to notice, the monitoring is not doing its job.
Should you talk to your current provider first?
Often, yes. Write down the signs that apply, with examples and dates, and ask for a meeting. A good provider will take it seriously and come back with a plan. If nothing changes after that conversation, you have your answer, and you have a written record of what you asked for.
What should you do if you decide to switch?
Start by collecting your admin passwords and documentation, then read your contract for the notice period. Run the new provider next to the old one for a few weeks, test a backup restore, then cut over. Our free IT security checklist is a good list of what to check during the move.
How does Networx handle these problems?
Networx IT Solutions is a local team that has served Cincinnati SMBs for 20 years. Every client has one dedicated account manager, so you are not explaining your setup to someone new. We are independently owned and have never been acquired, and we provide 24/7 monitoring and support. Clients who switched to Networx save an average of 36% on their IT contracts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my IT company is doing a good job?
Problems stay fixed, you get answers in writing, your backups are tested, you hold your own admin passwords, and the provider spots issues before your staff do.
Is it hard to change IT companies?
Not if you plan it. Collect passwords and documents first, run the new provider next to the old one for a few weeks, test backups, then cut over.
What if our IT company was acquired?
Watch whether your contact, response times or terms change. If they do, raise it in writing, and compare other providers before your renewal date.
Two or more apply? Schedule a Free IT Assessment or call (513) 393-9679.