Choosing an IT provider in Northland? Ask these 5 questions.
Every IT company says they’re proactive, reliable & local. The five questions below take ten minutes on the phone — and they sort the field fast.
Book a free security assessment
The 5 questions
1. Can they prove their own security?
Ask what certification they hold — not what they sell, what they hold. SMB1001 Gold means 27 security controls certified against the standard. If a provider can’t certify their own business, they can’t certify yours. (We hold SMB1001 Gold & we’re a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security. Ask us to show you the evidence.)
2. Who actually turns up?
Ask where the team sits & when they were last on a client site. Remote support covers most days — ask what happens on the other ones. Our team is at Level 1, 9 Reyburn Street, Whangārei. When your network’s down on a Tuesday, we’re ten minutes away, not “arranging a visit.”
3. Will you get evidence or adjectives?
Ask what reporting you’ll see. “We’re proactive” is an adjective. A quarterly report showing your security score, backup results & response times is evidence. You should get numbers, every quarter, without asking.
4. What happens when someone gets past MFA?
MFA (multi-factor authentication — the code on your phone) stops most attacks. Not all. One of our clients had MFA & still got hacked when attackers stole his login token — no alarms, no idea anything was wrong, until we called. Sorted in 10 minutes, because something was watching. Ask what’s watching after MFA. Ours watches over 1,100 devices across the IT Live Group right now — 300+ of them here in Northland.
5. Can they name happy clients you can call?
Logos & phone numbers, not testimonial soup. We look after Northland organisations from kindergartens to construction & drilling crews — and we’ll happily connect you with them.
[BUILD NOTE: client logo strip here — approved logos from the client-logos library: NKA, Fireco, North Drill, CleanScape, Skin Cancer Doctors]
Mark us against our own list
We wrote these questions because we’re happy to be marked against them — that’s the point of publishing them. If you’re comparing providers, take this list to every meeting, including ours.
Start with the assessment. It costs you nothing.
A free security assessment shows exactly where you stand — your score & your gaps. Take the report to every provider on your shortlist, including us.
Book my free assessment
Or call Andrew direct — 09 222 7770
[BUILD NOTE: mark the 5 questions up as FAQPage schema for rich results + AI citation. Internal links: /local-vs-remote-it-support, LiveSecure page, assessment booking.]
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a local or an Auckland-based IT provider?
Both can fix most things remotely. The difference shows up on the day something needs hands on it — a dead server, a new office fit-out, a staff member who needs sitting with. A local Northland provider turns up; a remote-only one books you in. Ask any provider how they handle on-site work in your town before you sign.
What certifications should an IT provider actually hold?
Ask what they hold, not what they sell. SMB1001 Gold certifies 27 security controls against the standard. A provider that can’t certify their own business is a poor bet to secure yours.
How is managed IT support usually priced?
Most managed IT is billed per user per month, so the cost scales with your team. The right question isn’t the rate — it’s what’s included (security, backup, monitoring, response times). Book a free assessment and we’ll scope it against your setup.
Related: IT Live Northland · Managed IT Support · Free 2-minute cyber readiness check