Transitioning to a new IT provider can be daunting. You must learn your way around new systems, train staff on new processes, and adjust to a new environment. To help ease your nerves as you search for managed IT services in Calgary, Edmonton or across Alberta, this article will walk you through what Go-Live looks like and what to expect during the rest of your onboarding process.
In Part 1 of this series, we covered the three steps before Go-Live: the Pre-TSA Review, the initial deployment of your tools and documentation, and the testing and validation phase. This one picks up where that one left off. Together, these articles answer the question you deserve an honest answer to: what exactly are we signing up for when we enter a managed IT services partnership?
Step 3: Go-Live (Weeks 3–5)
Go-Live is the moment when your new environment becomes fully active and operational for your users. At this stage, all testing has been completed, everything has been verified, and it’s time to truly benefit in your daily work.
Working in this new setting might feel intimidating at first. You’re going to notice changes like new icons in your task tray and new tools to navigate. But by this point, the groundwork during pre-onboarding should give you a seamless transition.
To make sure that you understand how everything works, your Account Manager will visit you on site to personally deliver the second part of your Welcome Kit, which includes user guides for all the new tools installed in your environment, such as the Client Portal, Password Keeper, and Domain Name System (DNS). Your Account Manager will also train your team in-person (when possible) on how to use them.,
You’ll also meet the technical team assigned to your account. They will be the people working behind the scenes to maintain your systems and respond to requests through the Client Portal. Before the visit wraps up, we’ll label your devices, photograph your environment, and provide you with a network diagram and a floor plan for your environment.
Step 4: Finalization of Initial Onboarding (Weeks 6-8)
During the final weeks of onboarding, you’ll get your final, third installment of your Welcome Kit, which contains the last set of user guides to help you work within your newly managed environment.
We’ll confirm and initiate all backups and add the following advanced security layers:
- DNS Filtering: Protects you against malicious web traffic.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Detects threats on every device.
- End User Security Training: Empowers your staff to become your human firewall and recognize cyber threats like phishing scams or suspicious links.
- Password Keeper (Part 2): Strengthens and standardizes login credentials across your organization.
If you’re wondering why these measures are introduced now, there are two reasons. One, implementing security measures in multiple phases creates a stronger shield against cyber threats. And also, when you first go live, there’s already a lot of change to absorb: new tools, new processes, and a new team to get comfortable with. Layering in security awareness training on top of all of that right away would be overwhelming. Once the core setup has settled and your team is comfortable, the advanced security layer gets introduced: training staff to recognize cyber threats, strengthening passwords, and adding software to detect and block malicious activity across every device.
Steps 5 and 6: From Stable to Strategic (Weeks 3-12 and Beyond)
The last steps of onboarding focus on ongoing maintenance and making necessary changes to keep things running well. Even if your IT setup works well today, there may come a time when you need to make changes or upgrade to newer systems.
Managing IT can feel a lot like owning a car. You have to check in on it to keep up with routine maintenance like regularly changing the oil and brakes to prevent damage, fix or replace broken parts, and occasionally, when it’s run its course, replace your vehicle altogether.
Step 5: Process Improvements (Weeks 3–12)
Like breaking in new shoes, it’ll take some time to get used to the changes. After introducing new tools and processes, you might even notice that certain things aren’t working for you. Together, we’ll verify everything to figure out what needs to be adjusted so that your new environment is ideally suited for your business.
During this stage, we’ll check the strength of your cybersecurity and make sure that your measures can defend you if an attack happens. We’ll also complete a full backup of your files. Here is also when development projects may begin, to make improvements specific to your environment, rather than following a generic checklist.
Step 6: IT Roadmap (Year 1 and ongoing)
As your business evolves and grows, your environment is likely to evolve, too. After all, it’s a vehicle that should keep your business moving forward, not just running.
At the one-year mark, you’ll have a chance to reflect on your environment. What’s been working, and what changes would you like to see? Together, we’ll evaluate your tools and workflows to identify opportunities for improvement. This is also a good time to plan ahead for future upgrades, so costs don’t sneak up on you.
What Comes After Onboarding?
Technology never stands still, and neither does the threats that come with it. New tools emerge, old software becomes a liability, and what worked well for your business two years ago may not be the right fit today. Outdated software leaves you vulnerable to data breaches and ransomware attacks,, while newer hardware, smarter systems, and scalable cloud storage can save time and help you operate efficiently.
Throughout your managed relationship, your device inventory, network configuration, and software information stay current, with upgrades suggested as your environment and your business evolve.
Throughout your managed IT services relationship with PC Corp, your device inventory, network configuration, and software information will reflect these shifts and remain up to date. We’ll continue to monitor and maintain your environment, and suggest upgrades as needed.
While we physically leave your site, you’ll never completely be alone. Managed IT services come with 24/7 continuous monitoring, so someone is always keeping an eye out for you. Plus, we’ll have regular status meetings to connect about critical topics, and you’ll receive quarterly Pulse Reports keeping you in the loop about your environment’s health.
Should you run into an issue, your Account Manager is just one message or phone call away. The rest of the time, our team will be working to resolve issues before you spot them.
Your Go-Live and Ongoing Support Questions, Answered
What if something goes wrong on Go-Live day?
Don’t worry! Your Account Manager will be onsite to fix the issue as quickly as possible. They will know what to do or who to call to get additional assistance.
How disruptive will Go-Live be to our workday?
The goal is to keep disruptions to a minimum and having your Account Manager on site on Go-Live day helps with that. The biggest adjustment for most teams is simply adapting to your new environment, tools and processes. It’s a learning curve, but one you won’t navigate alone and made much easier with the right support.
How long until our security is fully up to speed?
Security gets built up in layers, so the timeline varies depending on what’s being put in place. Some measures, like multi-factor authentication, take effect immediately. Others, like security awareness training, get introduced more gradually. This is deliberate. There’s already a lot of change to absorb when you first go live, and adding too much too soon can be counterproductive. Once the core setup has settled and your team is comfortable, the advanced security layer gets introduced and built out from there.
What does a status meeting cover?
Each status meeting works through five areas: organization strategy, technology planning, security, service delivery, and any active or upcoming projects. You’ll receive an agenda beforehand so you have time to add anything you want to discuss, and post-meeting notes afterward with clear action items and who’s responsible for each one. It’s a consistent touchpoint that keeps your IT and your business goals moving in the same direction.
What is a Pulse Report and what will it tell us?
A Pulse Report provides you with a big picture update on your environment’s health. Think of it like a check-up with your doctor, meant to confirm if all your systems are updated and working as they should or if there’s a problem that needs to be addressed. It covers things like how well your devices are being patched, warranty statuses, and performance metrics. You’ll also receive a separate service desk report, a 90-day audit of how well service level agreement targets are being met, including response times and ticket resolution. Relevant metrics get flagged proactively so that trends or potential issues get addressed before they become bigger problems.
How do you identify and prioritize our development projects?
Development projects are identified through a joint effort between us and yourself. As we test and validate the new environment and you experience working in it, we can identify areas that should be improved to give you a better workflow.
What happens if our needs change after onboarding?
Your needs will change, and that’s expected. If your team comes across a new tool they want to explore, that’s a conversation worth having. Part of the ongoing relationship involves consulting on new software and technology. We’re here to help you figure out whether a tool is the right fit, whether it’s secure, and how it works within your environment. That initial consulting doesn’t always come at a cost. If implementation is needed, that gets scoped as a project and handled from there.
Well-Managed IT, From the Very First Step
Given everything involved, it’s clear that onboarding isn’t a one-time event. It involves executing a detailed plan that builds a strong IT foundation.
Whether you’re a small business ready to scale, a school board managing thousands of accounts, or a government body handling sensitive data, there’s nothing more frustrating than losing your work because a backup failed or a security breach locked your team out of their accounts. You deserve fewer IT problems and more time to focus on the work that matters.
When you partner with PC Corp for managed IT services in Calgary, Edmonton or across Alberta, you’ll have support to help you tackle all of your critical technology needs. From backing up your data to monitoring your systems 24/7, we help you rely on efficient, secure devices and infrastructure so your business can thrive.
Don’t delay getting the IT solutions your business deserves. Contact us to optimize your environment with PC Corp today.
