Top Accreditations and Certifications of an IT Partner

Are you looking for a new IT service provider? Struggling to differentiate between the best companies out there?
Sure, the majority of IT companies would claim to be the most reliable, secure and quickest option but if all of them are stating the same thing, how do you decide which one to believe?
This is where IT partner accreditations and certifications come into play. Not only are they an exceptional indicator of a company’s reliability but also showcase their trustworthiness as your new IT support provider. This is primarily because they’re verified by various independent third parties.
Having said that, what you need to understand is that not every company accreditation holds the same value. Similarly, having more certifications isn’t necessarily better especially if they aren’t well respected and valuable.
So, how do you figure out which certifications are beneficial to your organisation and which ones aren’t?
Keep reading this article to find out more…

How to Differentiate Between Company Accreditations? 

When it comes to professional IT companies, although a long list of certifications are great, some are difficult to gain than others. Simply put, they hold more value to your company as a potential client.
However, when looking at awards and accreditations of an IT solution provider, you need to be very careful. This is because, in certain cases, the badges on the IT partner’s website may represent the products they offer. In simple words, they’re legalised to sell these products but it doesn’t necessarily mean they hold any expertise or professional training in the technology.
On the other hand, IT companies with Microsoft and similar accreditations need to train their employees to pass specific exams. Moreover, to show these certifications, the business needs to prove that they’re supporting a certain number of clients leveraging these solutions.
If you don’t have the required knowledge, you won’t be able to determine which IT partner accreditations are valuable to your company.
Our team of IT experts have therefore compiled a list of the best company accreditations you should check when choosing the right IT support provider for your business.
Let’s dive in!

Top Security Accreditations and Certifications You Must Consider

If your company suffers a cyber attack, the implications it causes could be severe. This is why it’s important to partner with an IT provider like Redpalm who not only protects their data but also yours.
That said, security accreditations are the best way to find an IT partner who is ready to go the extra mile to safeguard both their’s and your company.
Here are the three vital certifications to lookout for:

1. ISO 27001

The ISO 27001 certification is an international standard for data security management, which approves the stern protocols an organisation has in place to safeguard its customers confidential data.
Additionally, IT companies that are ISO 27001 certified are audited independently and once a year to make sure they not only leverage robust processes and systems but also have strong control over who gets access to their systems, servers, data, workstations and networks.
At Redpalm, we have achieved this internationally recognised ISO 27001 certification and pride ourselves on our commitment to protecting our customers confidential information.
Get in touch with our team to find out more about our certification.

2. Cyber Essentials

A government backed certification that’s run by the National Cyber Security Centre, Cyber Essentials is one of the best IT partner accreditations as it ensures the said IT provider can protect your data against common cyber attacks.
Moreover, when an organisation is Cyber Essentials certified, it can offer you the following benefits:

• Protects your internet connection
• Controls who gets access to your services and data
• Protects your software and devices
• Secures your systems and networks from malware and viruses
• Keeps your software and systems up to date

These IT companies also have the option to get Cyber Essentials Plus certified, which basically means they’ve attained all the necessary requirements of Cyber Essentials and have undergone hands-on technical verification.
Give this blog a read to find out more about the Cyber Essentials Certification. 
You could also head to this page to learn about Redpalm’s Cyber Essentials certification or simply give our IT team a call!

3. Microsoft Gold Partner

If your business leverages Microsoft applications and systems, then you need to ensure that you’re choosing an IT service provider who is a Microsoft gold partner.
However, while looking for an IT company that’s Microsoft certified, ensure that they’re GOLD and not just “registered partner”, “silver partner” or “certified partner”. This is because these IT partner accreditations are easier to achieve and don’t need a higher level of experience or expertise with Microsoft systems. 
Additionally, when selecting a Microsoft Gold partner, make sure that they are offering the following:

• Gold certified IT companies must have MCPs (Microsoft Certified Professionals).
• Gold certified IT companies must have achieved Microsoft Competencies such as “Windows and Devices, “Cloud Productivity”, “Application Development” and more.
• Gold certified IT companies must ensure their employees have also obtained competencies by passing specific exams.
• Gold certified IT companies must offer the relevant services to a certain number of clients.
• Gold certified IT companies must have achieved at least two competencies.

Only after confirming all these Microsoft Gold requirements and understanding how it benefits your company, go ahead with partnering with the said IT firm.

Get In Touch With Redpalm for Experienced IT Support Solutions

Now that you’ve got a fair understanding of the various IT partner accreditations you need to lookout for, ensure that you’re choosing an IT company with at least one (if not all) of these certifications.
At Redpalm, our business is not only ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials certified, but we’re also a trusted partner of the Cyber Resilience Centre. This means, our experienced IT team will make sure that your organisation is safeguarded from all the potential cyber threats.
To find out more about our IT solutions and how we can help you, give us a call on 0333 006 3366 or drop us a line at info@redpalm.co.uk