FAQ
Questions we get asked
Plain answers about what we do, what it costs to find out, how to get started, and how existing clients get help. If your question is not here, call (803) 518-5506 and ask.
01 / WHAT WE DO
What we do
Managed IT covers your network, protection against attacks, virus protection, data backup and recovery, and monitoring of your hardware for early signs of trouble. Day to day that means remote monitoring and management, patch management, server and workstation management, and a help desk you can call. Instead of waiting for something to break, we watch your systems proactively. We find problems before you do.
Instead of calling for help after something breaks, managed IT means we look after your technology continuously. We monitor your systems, apply updates, keep protections current, and fix small issues before they turn into downtime. It works as a monthly arrangement, so you are not bracing for a surprise invoice every time something needs attention. It is how we have worked since 2004.
Every business is a target, no matter its size. We build protection into everything we manage: firewall management, virus protection that stays current, multi-factor authentication, zero trust principles, and secure backups that give you a way back if something ever gets through. We also offer employee security awareness training, so your staff know what to look for. We explain all of it without the jargon, so you always know where you stand.
Your critical data is backed up and recoverable, so a failed drive or a bad day does not become a lost week. We set up backup and disaster recovery as part of managed support, and we plan for business continuity, which means deciding in advance how you keep working while the problem is being fixed. How long a recovery takes depends on what failed and how much data is involved, so we walk through that with you when we design the backup.
Yes. Microsoft 365 administration and Google Workspace administration are both part of what we manage, along with cloud services and migrations if you are moving from one to the other. Email and internet problems are on our on-demand list too, so we can help with those even if you have no managed plan with us.
02 / COST AND FIT
Cost and fit
It depends on the size of your network, how many devices and users you have, and whether you want ongoing managed services or on-demand help. Managed support works as a monthly arrangement, so the cost is predictable rather than arriving with each problem. We do not publish a figure, because quoting one before we have seen your setup would be a guess. That is why we start with a free consultation: we look at your setup first, then give you a clear recommendation.
You can start with one problem. Many of the services our managed clients get are also available on demand, so with no contract in place we will still fix what is in front of you, from email issues to device repair. Managed support is the ongoing version of the same work, and you can move to it later if it turns out to suit you better.
We have supported small businesses since 2004, including salons, franchises, and private clubs. The common thread is a business that runs on its computers and has no IT department of its own. We work with single offices and with businesses that have several locations. If you do not have in-house IT, we act as yours.
No. Small businesses with no IT person on staff are exactly who ATS was set up to serve, and they have been our clients since 2004. Whether you run a handful of computers in one office or several locations, we support both.
We provide managed IT services to clients throughout the Columbia, South Carolina area, with support available nationwide. If your business has a location elsewhere in the country, that is not a problem. Not sure whether you are in range? Call (803) 518-5506 and we will tell you straight.
Yes. We provide additional support for internal staff as well as fully managed IT, so the arrangement can be as large or as small as it needs to be. That can mean covering the parts your person does not have time for, such as monitoring, patching, or backup. We agree the split at the consultation, so nobody is guessing about who owns what.
03 / GETTING STARTED
Getting started
We get in touch to arrange a time. Then we look and listen: we learn how you work today and where technology is holding you back or putting you at risk. After that you get a clear recommendation in plain English, covering what we would handle and how, so you can decide with confidence. The consultation is free, it is short, and there is no pressure to sign anything.
Start with the free consultation. We look at what you have now, what your current provider covers, and what your business actually needs, then tell you plainly whether moving is worth it for you. Nothing is committed by asking. If the answer is that your current arrangement is working fine, we will say so.
Call (803) 518-5506, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern. A real person answers, not a ticket queue. You can send a consultation request through the form on our contact page at any time.
04 / ALREADY WITH US
Existing clients and home users
Call (803) 518-5506, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern. Phone is the direct route for anything urgent, and a real person answers. If you are on a managed plan our monitoring may have picked it up already, but call anyway rather than wait for us to notice.
Yes. Alongside our business work we help home users with virus removal, data recovery and transfer, network troubleshooting, email and internet issues, home networking, backup, tutoring sessions, and repair of laptops, desktops, iPhones and Android devices. Tutoring runs on-site or remotely, and the teaching part is something we genuinely enjoy.
Still deciding?
Tell us what is going on and we will tell you what we would do about it. The consultation is free, it is short, and there is no pressure to sign anything.
Or call (803) 518-5506 ยท Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Eastern