Possible New Business Customer

Dresdenlock

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I live in a house.
We might be getting a new "big" customer...and we are getting ready to assess their computers...so what questions would you ask in this scenario?

(it's a small town system-police/fire/water dept/parks&rec etc)
 
What questions would you normally ask a client like this?

A few off the top of my head are

Backups, how do you do them, are they secure, are they local or cloud based.

Network, is it totally secure, do you have any vpn issues.

Are they running a exchange server. Do you or your company have any training / experience with servers?

Do the computers require updating, are they slow

Do they currently have any maintenance contracts, if so how are they working out for the client?

What services are currently offered, how can you amend them, extra hours, better service.

What turn around time do they require..

There's a few to start you off. :)
 
it's a town type maintenance deal...they are not going to sue me...Im not worried about that.

You took the words out of my mouth Nige...Thanks mate :D

If you are in the states, everyone is out to sue people :(. Doing a job for the police etc make sure your insurance is up to date and you are a LLC/LTD company :)
 
My initial thought is if you have to ask what questions to ask a prospect, you probably shouldn't be taking them on as a new client. However, everyone has to start somewhere. My advise...
1) Create a Client Profile interview template, print it, and take it with you.
2) Ask to have the decision maker(s) present at the meeting.
3) Have a goal at the end of the meeting. Network Assessment, project, etc.

The Client Profile should have the basics but think of what you will need to ask them in order to conduct a thorough assessment. ISP & Email service info, backup and disaster recovery plan, specialty programs to run the business, canned programs to run the business, age of hardware, do they have servers, do they have mobile users, smart phones, remote access, do they have any immediate issues, concerns, who has serviced their network previously, why are they looking for someone new, do they have county or state guidelines that have to be followed. You get the idea.

Our Client Profile template is 3 pages long and we take lots of notes, let them do all of the talking. Our main goal at the meeting is to get a paid network assessment. We provide them with a report of our findings, our recommendations as well as a recommended timeline for following through.

Good luck.
 
How many users to support, how many nodes, current disaster recovery plan, asset list, is there vendor support in place for proprietary systems, what is the current hardware refresh policy, is there a current image for desktops, laptops.
 
Ask for a current network diagram, network inventory, and any network documentation.

You will find out quickly what you are dealing with IF they have any (the most telling information will be what they do NOT have in the way of documentation. You are probably walking into a mine field in that case....be on your toes.)

If they are releasing an IT vendor if would be nice to know why and what expectations they have for a new one.
 
I think what might be a good idea is to come up with some questions YOU would ask, and post those for us to see and help you with them after.

Then we can go through it as a group.
 
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