Practical guidance.
Useful next steps.

BUSINESS IT / SELF-CHECK

Eight essentials.
A clearer starting point.

Use these questions to prepare for an IT conversation or review your own records. Your answers create a follow-up list; they do not test your systems or produce a security score.

No client account needed. Answers stay in this page and clear when you reload it.

BUSINESS GUIDE

Changing IT providers
without losing the details.

A good handover accounts for the systems, access, and responsibilities that keep the business operating. Use this list before setting a transition date.

1. Identify the people and the scope.

   List the decision maker, authorized contacts, current provider, and the work moving to the new arrangement. Review existing terms, renewal dates, and notice requirements.

2. Confirm account ownership.

   Identify the owners of domains, email, cloud services, subscriptions, and equipment. Arrange authorized access through a secure handover, rather than putting passwords in a spreadsheet or ticket.

3. Collect the working records.

   Gather the device inventory, network information, provider contacts, backup coverage, recovery records, and open issues. Record missing information instead of assuming it exists.

4. Agree the transition.

   Identify the order of changes, access approvals, expected disruption, and responsibilities on each side. Keep existing support and backup arrangements understood until the replacement is ready.

5. Check the handoff.

   Confirm the support channel, required access, backup responsibilities, and unresolved items. Document what has transferred and who owns the next steps.

BUYER'S GUIDE

Know what your IT quote includes.

Two quotes can cover very different work. Compare the scope and responsibilities alongside the price.

People & systems

Which users, devices, locations, and applications are included? What is outside the scope?

Support coverage

What are the service hours, request channels, response targets, and after-hours arrangements? An initial response is different from a completed repair.

Recurring costs

Which licenses, subscriptions, monitoring, and backup services are included? Are there separate setup, project, hardware, or travel charges?

Data & recovery

What is backed up, who checks it, and what recovery testing is included?

Changes & handover

How are additional work, approvals, renewals, and eventual transitions handled?

Shearer pricing is scoped to the environment and work. Your quote or service agreement establishes the coverage, cost, responsibilities, and response arrangements.

SUPPORT PREPARATION

Before a remote support session.

• Write down what you were trying to do, what happened, and any exact error message.
• Identify the affected device and whether other people or devices have the same problem.
• Have the device powered, charged, and connected if it is able to get online.
• Close personal or unrelated material you do not need for the support session.
• Use the instructions provided through your arranged Shearer support conversation. Do not put passwords or recovery codes in the ticket.
• Let the technician know about business deadlines, unsaved work, or restrictions on the device before making changes.

HOME SUPPORT GUIDE

Getting ready for computer help.

You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself. A few practical details help us understand the issue and plan the work.

Computer trouble

Note when it began and whether anything changed recently. Have the device, power adapter, and relevant accessories available.

Wi-Fi problems

Note which rooms and devices are affected. Have the internet provider and equipment details available, without sharing passwords in advance.

A new computer

Make a list of the files, applications, printer, and accounts you need. Identify where your current backups are kept.

Timing & access

Confirm the location, appointment arrangements, and the person authorized to approve work. Mention anything that may affect access to the equipment.