Ad hoc help or an ongoing agreement?
Ad hoc work can suit a defined problem with a clear endpoint. Ongoing support can be scoped around recurring maintenance, user assistance and an agreed operating environment. Ask how new projects, additional devices and work outside the agreed hours are handled. An ongoing arrangement should state its responsibilities; it does not automatically include every future technology change.
Describe your environment before requesting a price
List users, computers, business applications, email platforms, network equipment and locations. Identify systems your business cannot operate without and the working hours that matter. Mention existing providers and who controls administrator accounts. This information helps distinguish a small user-support requirement from a migration, network repair or wider infrastructure project.
Separate remote support from physical site work
Remote assistance depends on suitable connectivity, authorization and access. Hardware replacements, cabling and work on physical equipment may require attendance. MBICT is Johannesburg-based and welcomes enquiries nationwide, but on-site availability is assessed for your location. Confirm travel, parts, third-party charges and any site access requirements before accepting a proposal.
Read response targets and exclusions carefully
Response time and resolution time are different. Acknowledging a request does not mean the fault is repaired, especially when a vendor, replacement part or further investigation is involved. Ask how incidents are classified, how to raise an urgent issue and when escalation applies. Support hours, response arrangements and any service-level commitments must appear in the agreement; do not infer round-the-clock support.
Budget for handover, licences and recovery
Separate onboarding and one-off migration work from recurring support. Confirm responsibility for software licences, security tools, backups, recovery tests and documentation. Request an offboarding approach that preserves your access to business accounts and records. If backups are included, specify what is backed up and how restoration is checked; a stored backup is not proof that the business can recover.
Your quotation checklist
- Number of users, devices and business locations
- Business-critical applications and current support issues
- Working hours and escalation requirements
- Remote access restrictions and on-site requirements
- Existing licences, backup arrangements and account owners
- One-off work versus recurring maintenance responsibilities
Questions before you request a quote
Does MBICT publish monthly IT support prices?
Yes. The pricing page lists indicative per-user monthly tiers with a five-user minimum and defined remote labour allowances. These are not unlimited-support or whole-company prices. Licences, on-site visits, projects and after-hours work are separate; final terms require a quote.
Are site visits included nationwide?
Do not assume they are. On-site availability, travel costs and physical work need location-specific confirmation. Remote support and site attendance should be separated in the quotation.
How can I prepare for an IT provider handover?
List accounts, assets, current providers, licences and documentation. Agree secure access, responsibilities and the transition plan. Do not send passwords or access keys through an enquiry form.
Explore Managed IT Support, compare packages and pricing, or check nationwide enquiry coverage. This guide is planning advice, not a binding quotation or a market-wide price survey.