Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? Chances are someone else has asked it too. Browse our most frequently asked questions below — and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us a message.

Break-fix IT is exactly what it sounds like: something breaks, you call someone, they fix it, and you pay for the visit. It’s reactive, unpredictable, and often more expensive in the long run.

Managed IT services flip that model. For a flat monthly rate, we proactively monitor your systems, catch problems before they become crises, and provide unlimited help desk support. You get predictable costs, faster response times, and a team that’s invested in keeping your technology running — not waiting for something to go wrong.

Yes. Our support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including weekends and holidays. If you have a problem at 2 AM on Christmas morning, we’re here. Simply call our support line and you’ll reach a knowledgeable team member who can help.

Response times depend on the severity of the issue. Critical outages affecting your entire business are treated as our highest priority and addressed immediately. Routine issues and requests are typically responded to within [insert your SLA — e.g., 1 business hour]. As a managed services client, your systems are monitored around the clock, which means many issues are identified and resolved before you even notice them.

Absolutely. Cloud services are a core part of modern business technology, and we help clients plan, migrate to, and manage cloud platforms including Microsoft 365, cloud storage, cloud backup solutions, and more. If you’re considering a move to the cloud or need help managing your existing cloud environment, we’re here to guide you.

Yes, and we consider this one of the most critical services we offer. We design and implement backup solutions that protect your data locally and in the cloud, and we build disaster recovery plans that minimize downtime in the event of a hardware failure, ransomware attack, or natural disaster. In Houston, we know better than most how important it is to be prepared for the unexpected.

No. Our in house services are provided on a month-to-month basis. We believe you should stay with us because you love our service and we want to earn your business month to month. If you ever need to end your service, we ask for 30 days’ notice so we can remove our management tools from your network and assist you in a smooth transition to another provider. We want your business back if you ever need us again.

Some outside or third-party vendors either require long term contracts or offer steep discounts to get you to sign up for a longer term so they can keep you locked in while advances in technology pass you by. We don’t like this kind of sales tactic and encourage you to commit to service contracts for the shortest time possible. If that vendor wants to keep your business, then they’ll work with you when it comes time to renew. We can help you negotiate with them on terms and pricing.

Pricing varies based on the size of your environment, the services you need, and the level of support that makes sense for your business. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all pricing any more than we believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. After your free assessment, we’ll provide a transparent, customized proposal with no hidden fees. Call us or request an assessment to get started.

Yes, completely. There is no charge and no obligation. You’ll be visited by one of our experienced network engineers — not a salesperson — who will assess your current technology environment and give you honest feedback. Even if you decide not to move forward with us, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of where your technology stands.

We take a layered approach to security, which means no single point of failure. Our security services include firewall configuration and management, endpoint protection (antivirus and anti-malware), web content filtering, network segmentation, dark web monitoring for compromised credentials, and employee security awareness training. We also conduct security audits to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do.

Every business has something worth protecting — customer records, financial data, employee information, operational systems, and your reputation. In fact, small businesses are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals precisely because they’re perceived as having fewer defenses. The cost of recovering from a ransomware attack or data breach far exceeds the cost of proactive protection. We’ll help you right-size your security for your risk level and budget.

Absolutely! More and more often clients and vendors are asking people they do business with to provide written explanations about what kinds of security protocols they have in place. Typically this is for ITGC compliance [Information Technology General Controls] but may also include added security features for industry specific compliance such as HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] or SOX [Sarbanes-Oxley], or it may be for insurance purposes, other times it’s simply because they themselves have been burned in the past by a cyber attack that started with a vendor or client and they just want a little reassurance that you take network security seriously.

These questions and forms often include confusing acronyms and ambiguous jargon intended to see if you at least have some knowledge of basic security practices. The questions themselves can be highly technical and may even seem invasive. We can run security sweeps to determine your overall network security health. Then help you to resolve any shortfalls and answer these questions to the satisfaction of your stakeholders without giving away any more detail than you would like or is necessary about your back office. 

Absolutely. Many of our clients have an in-house IT staff member who benefits from having Spectrum Tech as a backup and resource. We can fill gaps in expertise, cover during vacations and illness, handle after-hours escalations, or assist with specialized projects outside your employee’s skill set. We support your team — we never try to undermine or replace a valued employee without your direction.

We can help with that transition as well. We’ll work with you to document your environment, transition your systems to our management, and ensure continuity of service throughout the changeover. We approach these situations professionally and with your business continuity as the top priority.

Yes — this is one of our most valued services. We’ll attend meetings with your technology vendors, help you understand what you’re being proposed, identify any security concerns or compatibility issues, and let you know whether alternatives exist. You’ll never have to sit through a confusing sales pitch alone again.

We’re always happy to talk. Whether you have a quick question or want to dive deep into your technology needs, our team is available anytime.