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Looking for an Alternative to Your Current IT Provider? What to Compare Before You Switch
By Hunter Thevis · Last updated November 13, 2026
The short answer
When you're switching IT providers, compare response times, what's included in the monthly price, the security plan, the contract terms, and who owns your accounts and admin access. A planned switch shouldn't disrupt your business, and S1 Technology helps companies make that move from offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Anchorage, Alaska.
6 Signs It's Time to Switch IT Providers
Most businesses don't leave over one bad day. They leave after the same problems keep coming back.
- 1
Slow response times
You put in a request and wait. Then you follow up and wait some more. If your team has started fixing things themselves because it's faster, that's a sign.
- 2
Surprise invoices
The monthly bill should be the bill. If you keep getting charges you didn't expect for work you thought was covered, you're paying for a model that makes money when things break.
- 3
No security roadmap
Ask your provider what they're doing about security next quarter. If the answer is "we've got antivirus," you don't have a plan. You have a tool.
- 4
No dedicated account manager
You shouldn't have to explain your business from scratch every time you call. A good provider assigns someone who knows your systems and checks in before there's a problem.
- 5
Nobody gives you straight answers
You ask what happened and get jargon or silence. If you can't get a plain explanation of your own systems, something's off.
- 6
Failed audits
If an insurance, compliance, or client audit turned up gaps your provider should have caught, that's on them. Your IT partner should help you pass, not leave you scrambling.
Want the longer story? Read why businesses in Lafayette and Baton Rouge switch IT service providers.
Lafayette: why businesses switch →Baton Rouge: why businesses switch →
What to Compare Between Managed IT Providers
Take this table into every conversation. The answers tell you more than the sales pitch. For a deeper look, see what separates a bad, good, and great MSP.
Response time and SLA
Questions to ask
How fast do you respond? Is that in the contract?
What a good answer looks like
A specific response time, written into the agreement
After-hours coverage
Questions to ask
Who answers at 10 p.m. or on a weekend?
What a good answer looks like
A named process for after-hours issues, not a voicemail box
What's included
Questions to ask
What does the monthly price cover? What costs extra?
What a good answer looks like
A clear written list, with extra charges spelled out up front
Pricing model
Questions to ask
Do you price per user, per device, or another way?
What a good answer looks like
A model you can predict month to month
Security plan
Questions to ask
What's your security plan for my business this year?
What a good answer looks like
A written roadmap that changes as threats change
Backup and restore
Questions to ask
How often do you test restoring from backup?
What a good answer looks like
Scheduled restore tests, with results you can see
Account manager and reviews
Questions to ask
Who's my point of contact? How often do we review my IT?
What a good answer looks like
A named person and regular business reviews
Contract terms
Questions to ask
How long is the term? Does it auto-renew? How do I leave?
What a good answer looks like
Plain terms, a clear notice period, and an exit you understand
Ownership
Questions to ask
Who owns my licenses, domains, and admin accounts?
What a good answer looks like
You do, in your company's name
Onboarding plan
Questions to ask
What happens in the first weeks after I sign?
What a good answer looks like
A step-by-step plan with dates and owners
Compliance support
Questions to ask
Can you help us meet HIPAA, CMMC, or our insurer's requirements?
What a good answer looks like
Specific experience with your rules
Local support
Questions to ask
Can someone come onsite if we need it?
What a good answer looks like
A local team that can show up in person
How Switching to S1 Works
Our onboarding process has four steps. You'll know what's happening at each one.
- 1
Review.
We talk through what's working, what isn't, and what your current contract says.
- 2
Assessment.
We look at your network, devices, accounts, backups, and security.
- 3
Proposal.
You get a written plan covering scope, cost, and timeline.
- 4
Onboarding with no downtime.
We work alongside your current provider and move systems over without interrupting your work.
For the step-by-step handover, see how to switch IT providers with minimal disruption.
See what's included in our managed IT services and managed cybersecurity.
“We made the right decision moving to S1 Technology for our IT services. We only wish we'd done this sooner! We love the ticket portal, the rapid response time, and the efficiency with which everything is handled. Additionally, we really like the S1 team. Everyone is kind and understands that IT is a foreign language to some, if not most, of OUR team! They've been proactive in recommending upgrades to our security, our equipment and our processes. We couldn't be growing without S1 as part of our team!”
Switching IT Providers: FAQ
Often, yes, but your contract sets the terms. Look for the term length, the notice period, any auto-renewal date, and any early termination fee. Before you give notice, make sure your domains, licenses, and admin accounts are in your company's name, not your provider's. For legal questions about the contract itself, talk to your attorney.
It depends on your headcount, locations, and systems. We'll give you a timeline for your business during the assessment, before you commit to anything. For a typical schedule, see a 90-day switching timeline.
It shouldn't, as long as the switch is planned rather than rushed. When you switch to S1, we onboard you with no downtime. For what a planned handover looks like, see how to switch IT support providers.
There are three costs to look at: any early termination fee in your old contract, any onboarding fee from the new provider, and the new monthly price. Ask every provider to put all three in writing. We'll walk you through ours in the proposal, with no surprises later.
Ask how fast they respond and whether that's in writing. Ask what's included in the monthly price and what costs extra. Ask what their security plan for your business looks like, who your account manager will be, who will own your admin access, how onboarding works, and how you'd leave if it didn't work out. Ask for references, too.
For the full list, use the comparison table above.
Get a second opinion on your current IT setup.
Not sure whether it's time to switch? We'll take a look and tell you straight. Don't Worry, We've Got IT.
Or call sales at (337) 362-1910.
Local teams in Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
About the author
Hunter Thevis
Hunter Thevis is a co-founder and the President of S1 Technology, which he leads with fellow founders Jeremy Roth and Damian Hollier from the company's Lafayette headquarters.