October 23, 2026
An Edmonton law firm choosing an IT support company should evaluate at least five areas: response and support, cybersecurity capabilities, Microsoft 365 expertise, local service availability, and the provider’s ability to build a long-term relationship with the firm.
For a 10 - 50 employee law firm, the right managed service provider (MSP) should function as an extension of the business. That means supporting employees when problems arise while also managing technology, security, backups, and ongoing IT needs.
Here are five questions to ask before choosing an IT provider.
1. What Happens When Someone Needs IT Help?
Start with something simple: ask exactly what happens when an employee has an IT problem.
Does someone answer the phone, or does the employee navigate a phone tree?
Can users speak directly with technical support?
Is remote support included?
Can the provider send someone on-site when necessary?
How are urgent problems escalated?
These details matter because this is how your lawyers and staff will experience the IT company day after day.
Ask potential providers to walk you through the support process from the perspective of an employee whose computer isn’t working on a busy morning.
At Techwel Computers, we provide both remote support and local on-site service in Edmonton, and pride ourselves on prompt and efficient service.
2. What Cybersecurity Services Are Included?
Don’t assume that “managed IT” automatically includes every cybersecurity service your firm needs.
Ask the provider to explain exactly how it approaches:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Endpoint protection
- Email and phishing security
- Security monitoring and alerts
- Patch management
- Backups
- User access
- Incident response
For Alberta law firms, cybersecurity also intersects with professional responsibilities. The Law Society of Alberta’s Code of Conduct addresses technological competence and lawyers’ obligations regarding confidential client information.
An MSP doesn’t replace a lawyer’s professional judgment or compliance responsibilities. It can, however, help the firm understand and manage the technology supporting those responsibilities.
3. How Will the Provider Manage Microsoft 365?
If your firm relies on Microsoft 365 services like Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, or other Microsoft services, ask who is responsible for managing the environment.
Creating accounts and resetting passwords is only part of the job.
Techwel Computers’ Microsoft 365 services can include:
- MFA configuration
- User onboarding and offboarding
- Advanced email security and phishing filtering
- Microsoft 365 data backups
- Security monitoring and alerts
- Employee phish recognition training and testing
Ask prospective providers which services they include, which cost extra, and who is responsible for monitoring security events.
Also ask what happens when an employee joins or leaves the firm. A repeatable onboarding and offboarding process helps prevent forgotten accounts and unnecessary access.
4. Is the IT Company Actually Local?
Remote support can solve many IT problems quickly, but some situations still benefit from someone being physically present.
If local service matters to your firm, don’t stop at asking whether the company “serves Edmonton.”
Ask:
Where is your support team located?
Do you provide on-site service?
Who comes to our office when remote support isn’t enough?
Is on-site support included or billed separately?
How do you handle hardware or network problems that require someone on location?
The goal isn’t to choose between remote and on-site IT support. A law firm will benefit from having access to both.
Techwel is locally based in Edmonton and provides remote and on-site support.
5. Will They Understand Your Firm or Just Your Computers?
Technology doesn’t operate separately from the business.
Your IT provider should understand who uses your systems, which applications matter most, how employees work, where important information resides, and what happens to the business when technology isn’t available.
For a 10 - 50 employee law firm, consider whether you want a transactional vendor or a long-term IT relationship.
Ask how often the provider discusses technology planning with clients. Find out whether you’ll know the people supporting your business and whether they will learn how your firm operates.
Techwel Computers is a family-owned business, and building strong relationships with our clients is a central part of how we work.
A Five-Question MSP Comparison
When comparing IT companies, use this framework:
- Support. What happens when we need help?
- Security. How will you protect our environment?
- Microsoft 365. Who manages our users, email, security, and backups?
- Local Service. Can you provide on-site help when we need it?
- Relationship. Will you understand our business over the long term?
Ask every provider the same five questions.
You’ll get a much more useful comparison than simply asking, “How much do you charge per user?”
How Much Should Managed IT Cost?
Techwel Computers’ typical managed IT pricing ranges from approximately $125–$200 per user per month, depending on the services required and complexity of the environment.
For a 10 - 50 employee firm, that represents a starting range of approximately $1,250–$10,000 per month.
When comparing proposals, make sure you’re comparing equivalent services. A lower monthly price may not include the same cybersecurity, Microsoft 365 management, backup, monitoring, or on-site support.
For more information, see our article on IT budgeting for Edmonton law firms.
Choosing an IT Partner for Your Edmonton Law Firm
The right IT company should make technology easier to manage, not harder to understand.
Before signing an agreement, make sure you know who answers when you need help, what’s included in your cybersecurity protection, how Microsoft 365 is managed, whether local support is available, and who will take the time to understand your firm.
Techwel Computers provides managed IT, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365 management, and remote and on-site support for Edmonton businesses.
We’re family-owned, locally based, and relationship-focused. And when you call Techwel Computers, a person answers the phone, not a phone tree.
Book a Discovery Call with us: https://www.techwelcomputers.com/discoverycall/
