Straight answers.
No waffle.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about working with ISS — from how our contracts work to what happens when something breaks.

Getting started 4 questions

What size businesses do you work with?

Our sweet spot is businesses with 5 to 50 people across Surrey, Sussex and the wider South-East. We've spent 30 years getting really good at exactly that size — not too small to matter, not so big that you're lost in a queue.

If you're outside that range, get in touch anyway. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.

What makes ISS different from other IT companies?

A few things, genuinely:

  • You always speak to a real technician — no AI bots, no non-technical first-line staff, no scripts.
  • We're proactive, not reactive — we spot and fix problems before they affect your team.
  • We tell you what you've got — clear visibility of your IT estate, what it costs, and what you might be wasting.
  • We plan ahead with you — regular reviews, roadmaps and budgets so IT supports where your business is going.

And if we're ever not doing a good job, you can leave. 90-day rolling agreement. No tricks.

How does switching IT provider actually work?

We handle the heavy lifting. Here's the typical process:

  • Initial call — a relaxed conversation to understand your business and current setup
  • IT estate review — we audit what you have, what you're paying for, and what's at risk
  • Clear proposal — fixed pricing, no surprises, no jargon
  • Smooth onboarding — we coordinate with your outgoing provider and make sure your team has support from day one

Most clients tell us switching was far less painful than they expected.

Do you only cover Surrey and Sussex?

That's our main focus and where most of our clients are based. We're proudly a local business, based in Cranleigh since 1992.

If you have staff elsewhere in the UK working remotely, we can absolutely support them. Most day-to-day support is handled remotely regardless of location. For on-site visits, we focus on the South-East.

IT Support 5 questions

What happens when something goes wrong?

You call, email or raise a ticket through your portal. Within one hour during business hours, a real technician will be looking at it. Not acknowledging it — actually looking at it.

We take ownership of the problem and don't close a ticket until the issue is genuinely resolved.

What's the difference between Core, Protect and Complete?
  • Core — reliable day-to-day helpdesk support, monitoring and patch management. The essentials, done properly.
  • Protect — everything in Core, plus advanced security monitoring, Cyber Essentials readiness and 24-hour endpoint detection.
  • Complete — everything in Protect, plus ongoing infrastructure management included. No surprise engineering costs, no separate project quotes.

Not sure which level you need? Book a quick call and we'll tell you honestly.

Do you support Macs and mixed environments?

Yes. Windows, Mac, Microsoft 365, a mix of devices and operating systems — we manage all of it under one service. You don't need to worry about what box something runs on. That's our job.

What if my team works from home or travels a lot?

No problem. The majority of our support is delivered remotely anyway. Our monitoring, security tools and helpdesk all work regardless of where your team is — in the office, at home or on the road.

What counts as an email-only user?

An email-only user is someone who needs a Microsoft 365 account — email, basic access — but doesn't have a managed computer that needs full IT support. Trustees, non-exec directors and occasional contractors are common examples.

If you're not sure how to classify someone, just ask. It's not a trick to charge you more.

Pricing & contracts 5 questions

Is pricing really fixed? No hidden extras?

Yes. Your monthly cost is based on the number of people and devices you have — that's it. We publish our pricing openly on the website. If you ever need something outside the agreed scope, we'll confirm it clearly before any work starts.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No. We work on a rolling 90-day agreement. You stay because the service is good, not because a contract makes it painful to leave.

If you'd prefer a longer-term agreement for budget certainty, we can do that too. Just ask.

What happens to pricing if we grow or shrink?

Your monthly cost adjusts as your headcount changes. If you hire people, the cost goes up proportionally. If you downsize, it comes down. We confirm any changes clearly before they take effect.

What is zero-cost hardware purchasing?

When you need hardware, we purchase it on your behalf at cost. You pay exactly what we pay — no markups, no margins. Most IT companies make money on hardware. We don't.

Do you offer charity discounts?

Yes — we offer a 10% discount for registered charities. Just let us know when you get in touch and we'll apply it to your quote.

Cyber security 4 questions

Can you help us get Cyber Essentials certified?
Popular question

Yes. Our Protect package is specifically designed to get you Cyber Essentials ready. We handle the technical controls, security policies, Microsoft 365 configuration and monitoring needed to support certification.

Cyber Essentials is increasingly required to tender for contracts — especially with public sector organisations. It's also genuinely good security practice, not just a box-ticking exercise.

How secure are my systems right now?

Honestly? Most businesses with 5–50 people don't know the answer to that — and that's not a criticism, it's just reality. Security gaps are usually invisible until something goes wrong.

One of the first things we do for new clients is a thorough IT estate review, which gives you a clear, honest picture of where you're exposed and what needs attention. No scaremongering — just facts.

What happens if we get hacked or have a security incident?

We respond immediately. Our Protect and Complete clients have 24-hour endpoint detection and Microsoft 365 identity threat monitoring — meaning we're often aware of suspicious activity before you are.

In the event of an incident, we isolate, contain and recover as fast as possible, and communicate clearly throughout. No disappearing, no blame-shifting.

Do you provide security training for our team?

Yes — user security awareness training is included in our Protect and Complete packages. It's ongoing, not a one-off tick-box exercise. Your team is your biggest security asset and also your biggest risk.

Microsoft 365 3 questions

Do you manage Microsoft 365 licences and setup?

Yes. Microsoft 365 administration — user accounts, permissions, licence management, configuration — is all part of our service. We make sure you're on the right licences for what your team actually needs, and not paying for things you don't use.

Is my Microsoft 365 data backed up?

Contrary to what many people assume, Microsoft does not back up your data for you. They keep it available, but if you accidentally delete emails, files or SharePoint content, recovery isn't guaranteed.

Independent Microsoft 365 backup — covering Email, SharePoint and OneDrive — is included across all our support packages.

Can you help us get more from Microsoft 365 — Copilot, Teams, etc?

Absolutely. Getting more value from tools you're already paying for is a core part of what we do — whether that's Teams adoption, Copilot deployment, SharePoint organisation or Power Automate workflows.

This sits under our Automation & AI service for structured improvements, or as part of day-to-day support.

Automation & AI 3 questions

Is AI actually useful for a business our size?
Honest answer

Yes — but only if it's applied to the right things. We're not interested in AI for its own sake. We care about removing admin that wastes your team's time, reducing errors in repetitive processes, and making information flow more smoothly.

A real example: using Microsoft Copilot to read order confirmation emails, extract the data and compile it into a spreadsheet. What used to take 30–60 minutes now takes three. That's what practical AI looks like at your size.

Can we take Automation & AI without an IT support package?

In most cases it works best alongside our support, because automation changes need to be made safely and maintained properly over time. If you already have strong IT management in place elsewhere, get in touch and we'll have an honest conversation about it.

What's the difference between Assess, Implement and Optimise?
  • Assess (£300/month) — we spend time with your team each quarter to understand how you work and where improvements can be made. You get clear recommendations.
  • Implement (£550/month) — everything in Assess, plus dedicated technical time to actually make the improvements happen.
  • Optimise (£1,050/month) — ongoing monthly delivery with systems reviewed and refined continuously.

Cloud telephony 3 questions

Why switch to a cloud phone system?

Traditional phone lines — especially old ISDN lines — are being switched off across the UK. A cloud system like 3CX replaces them with something more flexible, more reliable and usually cheaper, with no dependency on physical hardware in the office.

Your team can take calls from their desk phone, mobile or laptop. Same number, same experience, wherever they are.

Why do you use 3CX specifically?

We only recommend tools we use ourselves. 3CX is well-established, cost-effective and flexible — it doesn't lock you into expensive proprietary hardware or complicated contracts. We've deployed and supported it across many clients and it's consistently reliable.

How does telephony pricing work?

Rather than charging per user, we price based on concurrent calls — how many calls your business needs to handle simultaneously — plus any external numbers or DDIs you need. This keeps it fair as your team grows.

Use our pricing calculator to get an estimate, or book a call and we'll work it out with you.

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