CMIT Solutions Company Profile

ou want the most cost-effective way to get your company's computer and IT needs met. So you might be tempted to throw some money at the cheapest option that presents itself, whether that be the neighbor's kid who's home from college for the summer, one of the many individuals calling themselves a computer consultant to make ends meet because they were laid off from their real job, or one of your own employees who while he might be the most computer experienced within your company, isn't at the level of a well-rounded IT professional.


Don't Get Stuck

Business owners who've been down that road say it's definitely the wrong approach and it wastes time and money. First, if you're lucky enough to find someone who knows computers, they probably don't know business. That's especially critical when it comes to choosing a network system or software packages, like for your accounting or CRM (customer relationship management) which tracks all marketing and customer service activities. Someone who only knows bits and bytes and doesn't have the business background can very easily get you into software that won't do what you need it to do just a year or two from now. Then all that investment in time, money and training will have been wasted.

Another is that so many of the so-called consultants in the marketplace are just moonlighting and not in it for the long term. They quickly abandon you when they find a full-time job or a bigger, higher-paying client, leaving you stranded and having to start all over again.

Kevin Baker says he's seeing exactly that situation more often these days. Kevin runs the Pleasanton CA location of CMIT Solutions, a national IT service company that since 1996 has been providing computer services like troubleshooting and repair, network configuration, backup systems, security systems, web & email hosting, and more. He shared, "I had one customer recently who had dealt with seven other IT providers in just four years before they finally came to us. They did so because we're not just one individual or a group of technicians here in Pleasanton, but part of a national system with all the people, resources and buying power that comes with it."

"For example," continued Kevin, "one of my clients has about 30 sales reps across the country and we can serve them all because we have a national help desk available anywhere in the country. That also means my clients can get help when they're traveling, like when they can't figure out how to get connected online at their hotel and other things that could otherwise prevent their business trip from being successful."

Thinking Long-Term

Kevin Baker explained that another advantage in hiring a real computer services company like CMIT Solutions versus fly-by-night moonlighters is you get a true partner who's motivated to help grow your business. As examples of this approach at his Pleasanton branch of CMIT, he points to their willingness to perform an initial security and vulnerability audit of your computer systems (a $300 value) at no cost or obligation. This includes diagnosing incorrect network configurations that cause errors and downtime, checking your backup system to make sure they're actually saving your data reliably and in a recoverable format, network security to prevent hacker attacks, spyware & viruses, and figuring out the exact problem with your slow or constantly crashing PCs.

Trust is another advantage that Kevin Baker and his branch of CMIT have, as others describe Kevin as both personally trustworthy and dependable. An IT professional and former manager at PeopleSoft with 27 years of experience, he's dedicated to serving the businesses in the Tri-Valley area he's been happy to call home since 1984. He and his wife of 20 years have raised two teenagers here and on weekends he can often be found watching his daughter play volleyball, or refereeing youth soccer.

Organized Solutions

Kevin Baker's clients also appreciate the organized solutions CMIT has ready for them. For instance, they have an economical backup and disaster recovery solution named "Guardian", key when one considers that a PriceWaterhouse survey discovered that 70% of small businesses close up within one year of experiencing a major data loss. To avoid the costs of repairs by preventing computer problems and security threats before they happen, CMIT has a comprehensive service program called "Marathon". And they provide a guaranteed solution to spam emails that only takes a few minutes to set up and which users can try out first at no cost for 7 days.

You can also call Kevin Baker's Pleasanton CMIT office to set up wireless networking for your office, remote telecommuting for your employees, and employee computer training.

When it comes to IT consultants, you want to avoid hiring an individual who might know computers, but not how use IT to grow your business and save costs through efficiency. Instead, you want a stable company with a wide range of expertise, national resources, and proven solutions, and ideally one that can still give you personal, local service like a small company.

So Kevin Baker's Pleasanton branch of CMIT would definitely be the wise choice. Craig Williams is the President of JSW Insurance and a client of Kevin's CMIT branch. Craig summed it up when he related, "They have the knowledge and sophistication of a large company, but the personal attention you get from a local company. The entire burden of computer support has been taken off my back. I would highly recommend them to anyone."

---Scott Rhodes
Managing Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report