I too am in the same position as the rest. I am the IT Manager and
handle everything that has a plug. From electric pencil sharpeners
to desktops/servers/firewalls/etc for 2 offices seperated by 1600
miles. I cant remember the last time I actually worked 8:00 - 5:00
or had a vacation without at least one phone call, but that is life.
I also have been on the consulting side of IT as well. The issue is
that even if they repsonded on time, they still may have had to call
you to figure out what is going on and how to get everything back on-
line. If you are going to use an outside consulting firm, then they
need to come in AT LEAST once a month and get to know your system.
Each one of us runs things differently and there are subtle nuances
to each network. You may have known that the servers needed to be
turned on in a specific order or that the button needs to be held for
5 seconds before it powers up. Sure you know that becuase you have
been doing it for years; however, just because a "consultant" comes
in doesnt mean that they will know that. It is experience that
allows us to do our jobs easily in the eyes of our management. Also
you need to remember that consulting firms are in business to make
money too just like the companies that we work for. So they have
many clients to make up a full week of work for the consultants that
work for them. So they may not be able to get to you within 30
minutes.
With all that said, I would agree with Jonathon. You must TRAIN
someone within the office. I have found 2 people, one at each
office, that is willing to do IT tasks when it is needed. They are
not real strong with IT, but the can follow directions very well.
These people have other positions within our company and I only use
them in an emergency.
Just another point of view.
Jeff
handle everything that has a plug. From electric pencil sharpeners
to desktops/servers/firewalls/etc for 2 offices seperated by 1600
miles. I cant remember the last time I actually worked 8:00 - 5:00
or had a vacation without at least one phone call, but that is life.
I also have been on the consulting side of IT as well. The issue is
that even if they repsonded on time, they still may have had to call
you to figure out what is going on and how to get everything back on-
line. If you are going to use an outside consulting firm, then they
need to come in AT LEAST once a month and get to know your system.
Each one of us runs things differently and there are subtle nuances
to each network. You may have known that the servers needed to be
turned on in a specific order or that the button needs to be held for
5 seconds before it powers up. Sure you know that becuase you have
been doing it for years; however, just because a "consultant" comes
in doesnt mean that they will know that. It is experience that
allows us to do our jobs easily in the eyes of our management. Also
you need to remember that consulting firms are in business to make
money too just like the companies that we work for. So they have
many clients to make up a full week of work for the consultants that
work for them. So they may not be able to get to you within 30
minutes.
With all that said, I would agree with Jonathon. You must TRAIN
someone within the office. I have found 2 people, one at each
office, that is willing to do IT tasks when it is needed. They are
not real strong with IT, but the can follow directions very well.
These people have other positions within our company and I only use
them in an emergency.
Just another point of view.
Jeff
--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "dhieber" <dhieber@...> wrote:
>
> Michael,
>
>
>
> We tend to have the same problem here not just with IT but with my
position
> in general. We did hire an IT company to handle our computer
system,
> they come in once a month check the network and do "maintenance" to
it. BUT
> this summer we put it to the test and myself and the VP of
Engineering took
> the same week off. I went to Disney and he went away some where as
well.
> Off course we had a bad storm in our area, the power went off and
the
> network would not boot up when power was back on. Our office
contacted the
> IT company, they held for 25 minutes and had to leave a message.
It was
> another 25 minutes before they even called them back. They were
on the
> phone with me while I standing in line for a ride, and we had it up
and
> running even before they called us back! Needless to say I was
not a
> happy camper!
>
>
>
> I can not tell you the last time I had a vacation day that I was
not called
> from work on how to do something (not just Networking/Computer).
I chalk
> it up to job security.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dina Hieber
>
> Vamco International, Inc.
>
> 555 Epsilon Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
>
> Tel: (412) 963-7100
>
> Fax: (412) 963-9511
>
>
>
> email: dhieber@...
>
>
>
> Website; www.vamcointernational.com
>
>
>
> **********
>
> This e-mail message and any files transmitted with it are
confidential and
> are intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any
unauthorized
> use or disclosure is prohibited. Any opinions expressed in the
email are
> those of the individual and not necessarily the company. If you are
not the
> intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and
destroy all
> copies of the original message.
>
> _____
>
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of
> Michael McWilliams
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 4:59 PM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: {Disarmed} [Vantage] IT backup person
>
>
>
> Not sure how others are handling a backup for there position. I am
> the only person here with the knowledge of all the different
systems.
> I am a one man IT department. If I am on vacation or out sick I
still
> get calls or need to run in. Just wondering what level of access
and
> how others have a backup set up just in case.
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>