In any business, when things go downhill, you look for support that gets you back up and running as quickly as possible. It’s similar to the support that external providers bring to your business’ IT systems.
It can be rough and stressful when your IT systems fail to run as usual. Something as small as a technical glitch has the potential to throw off your operations. Instead of working on attending to clients and growing your business, your team is left to troubleshoot, fix, and work around the problem.
Whether it’s updating a software patch or scanning for anomalies, IT challenges affect UK businesses of all sizes and types. Many businesses have their own IT teams, but may not have adequate time and resources to dedicate to these IT issues. In such circumstances, the services of IT support providers help.
But choosing an IT support provider goes beyond fixing IT issues. The right partner helps with monitoring your systems, steps in when problems arise and adds preventative measures before the situation becomes serious.
In this article, we compare Redpalm, Ashby Solutions, and 3RS IT Solutions, three UK providers offering
IT support services.
IT Support Provider Profiles
Redpalm
Based in Northampton, Redpalm is a Managed Service Provider specialising in managed IT solutions for UK organisations. They’re among the leading choices for comprehensive IT support and cybersecurity services, which are tailored to a business’ needs.
Redpalm understands the unique needs and challenges of different UK businesses and goes beyond offering a standard IT solution.
It’s also a Microsoft partner offering managed IT services, cybersecurity solutions, and technology implementation to organisations UK-wide. Redpalm proudly positions itself as a security-focused, always-on MSP capable of serving local SMEs as well as large, multi-site global environments.
Ashby Solutions
Ashby Solutions operates IT support services under its Ashby Computers / Ashby Computer Services brand. Operating from Northampton, Ashby Computers offers managed IT support and services with a primary focus on SMEs in Northamptonshire and surrounding counties.
3RS IT Solutions
Also based in Northamptonshire, 3RS IT Solutions is an IT provider focused on SME IT support, cloud and cybersecurity solutions. Launched in early 2023, they are a relatively new, family-run consultancy.
A Comparison Table
|
Redpalm |
Ashby Solutions (Ashby Computer Services) |
3RS IT Solutions |
|
|
Service Strengths |
24/7/365 ITIL-aligned service desk Managed IT services Advanced cybersecurity Cyber Essentials and CE+ certification body |
Managed IT support Cloud and infrastructure projects |
Business IT support & maintenance Cloud services Cybersecurity Hardware supply |
|
Industries Served |
SMEs to larger organisations Shipping, engineering and other corporates |
Primarily SMEs across Northamptonshire |
Logistics, accounting and recruitment services of East Midlands SMEs |
|
Pricing Approach |
Bespoke after assessment |
Per device or per-user basis |
Bespoke |
|
Core Differentiator |
Security-led, Microsoft-partner MSP 24/7 UK service desk and end-to-end lifecycle services Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus certification body |
Regional MSP |
Family-run, values-driven consultancy |
4 Key Considerations
When closely considering these or any IT providers, industry expertise, technical expertise, support process, and customer service are the four important factors to shape your decision.
1. Industry Expertise
Redpalm
Redpalm is known for working with UK organisations across multiple sectors, from engineering to logistics. They also have a strong understanding and experience of working with industries in regulated sectors where 24/7 support and cybersecurity are critical.
Redpalm is a good choice if you’re looking for an IT consultancy with more breadth and focus on security-sensitive spaces. Choose this provider if you want someone willing to understand and tailor a solution for your business.
Ashby Solutions (Ashby Computer Services)
Ashby Solutions mainly targets SMEs across Northamptonshire and often in industries like warehousing and distribution.
3RS IT Solutions
3RS IT Solutions primarily focuses on SMEs in sectors such as recruitment, logistics, accounting, and local professional services.
2. Technical Expertise
Redpalm
Redpalm is a Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certified solution provider with a team of Microsoft-certified engineers. With such credentials, businesses can expect sound expertise in handling changing business technologies and their complexity.
They’re ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 accredited and specialise in offering an ITIL-aligned service desk and handling 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line support. They’re a go-to choice if you’re looking for flexible technical capacity and support.
Ashby Solutions (Ashby Computer Services)
Ashby Solutions is a long-term IT support and infrastructure partner for SMEs. They have a strong technical background for Microsoft 365, cloud, networking and security solutions.
3RS IT Solutions
3RS IT Solutions has a strong team with experience in cloud, cybersecurity, and network security.
3. Support Process
Redpalm
Unlike regular providers, Redpalm goes beyond standard IT support. They offer 24/7/365 monitoring and support with proactive alerting, wellness reporting, and SLA-backed response times.
When you partner with them, you receive a dedicated client manager and technical engineer for your organisation. Their support commitments ensure you receive a rapid response and resolution, with average call answer times of eight seconds and 92% issues being resolved the same day.
Going beyond fixing IT issues and simple ticket resolution, Redpalm focuses on delivering proactive, preventative IT solutions.
Ashby Solutions (Ashby Computer Services)
Ashby Computer Services offers managed services with remote and on-site support with continuous monitoring.
They have a traditional helpdesk model and offer maintenance contracts.
3RS IT Solutions
The support systems at 3RS IT Solutions include support messaging, proactive maintenance strategies, and close communication.
In Conclusion
All three UK IT support providers stand out for their technical expertise, support approach, and industry expertise. As explained, Redpalm, Ashby Solutions, and 3RS IT Solutions can credibly support various UK business types and sizes across Northamptonshire and the wider East Midlands.
Which is the best choice for your business?
While each of them is a strong contender in their own way, the ideal choice depends on your business size, risk profile, and future growth plans. So before deciding to book a discovery call, ensure you map your industry compliance needs, the support hours and SLAs, and list the systems and cloud platforms you rely on.