What Do You Get W/ Level 3 IT Support Explained

One of the biggest needs for companies today is information technology (IT) support. Whether needed to help solve in-house IT issues or provided as a service by a business to its clients, having the right IT support can make a difference in the eyes of employees and customers. When searching for a managed services provider, you’ll come across terminology about different “levels,” or tiers, of support as well as specialists that focus on specific levels of IT support. Understanding the various tiers of IT support can help you make the best decision for your business.

In this article, we’ll explore Level 3 IT support, including what it is, what skills and qualifications are needed to specialize in it, and more.

Table of Contents

What is Technical Support?

Technical support is a range of services provided to customers to help them solve any technical issues or problems they may be experiencing with a product or service. This can include providing guidance on how to use a particular piece of hardware, troubleshooting problems that customers encounter within the software, or resolving technical issues that prevent a product from functioning as intended.

Technical support, also called help desk or service desk support is provided through a variety of channels, including phone, email, chat, and even remote access to a customer’s device. It can be offered by the producer of a product, but when it comes to managed services, technical support is an all-encompassing term that refers to IT support provided by a team of experienced techs to help resolve any technology-related issues that may arise within a company’s daily operations.

The goal of technical support is to help organizations use their tech products or services effectively and ensure that they have a positive experience with them. Good technical support can lead to increased employee and customer satisfaction and can also help prevent employee turnover and negative customer reviews.

What are IT Support Tiers?

IT support tiers help organizations and managed service providers structure their IT support services based on the level of expertise needed to solve specific problems and the complexity of certain issues.

By having specific IT support levels, MSPs and IT support professionals can offer a systematic and structured approach to their IT support services, ensuring that each level of support is adequately equipped to handle the issues that are escalated to them.

Typically, there are three tiers of IT support:

Level 1 IT Support

The first level of support involves basic troubleshooting and issue resolution. Tier 1 support technicians typically handle routine issues common with users, such as password resets, software installations, and other simple tasks.

Level 2 IT Support

This level of support involves more complex issues that require a higher level of expertise. Tier 2 support technicians investigate and resolve more complex technical problems that cannot be resolved by Tier 1 support. This can include things like network connectivity issues, server or database problems, and software bugs.

Level 3 IT Support

This is the highest level of support and involves the most complex technical issues. Tier 3 technicians are experts in their field and are responsible for resolving the most difficult and critical issues, such as system failures, data breaches, and advanced security threats.

Different MSPs offer different offerings depending on the level of support your business needs. Some providers combine Tier 1 and Tier 2 functions, while other companies may combine Tier 2 and Tier 3 functions and leave Tier 1 roles to the client’s in-house IT support team. It often depends on what kind of support the customer needs.

Overview of Level 3 IT Support

Level 3 IT support involves experts who are highly qualified in their field. This group of experienced professionals can include IT specialists, engineers, architects, and the like. Think of Level 3 IT support experts as those who have had the most training and have the most access to product and system expertise, giving them the ability to provide solutions for nearly any technical problem.

Level 3 IT support issues are typically escalated from lower tiers of support either because those lower tiers cannot solve the issue or aren’t able to diagnose the problem. If the Level 3 support team can identify the issue and it’s solvable by lower-level professionals, then the issue can be de-escalated. If the solution requires Level 3 expertise, then the issue will stay with the Tier 3 support team, and they will take the next step toward solving the problem.

Qualifications for Level 3 IT Support

The qualifications for level 3 IT support can vary depending on the specific organization and its requirements. However, in general, level 3 IT support technicians are expected to have advanced technical knowledge and expertise, as well as strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Some common qualifications for level 3 IT support may include:

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or IT – Many organizations prefer their level 3 IT support technicians to have a bachelor’s degree in a technical field.
Advanced IT Certifications – Level 3 IT support technicians may be required to hold advanced technical certifications such as Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), or other industry-specific certifications.
In-depth Knowledge of Operating Systems and Software – Level 3 IT support technicians should have a deep understanding of various operating systems and software, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Experience in Networking and Security – Level 3 IT support technicians should have a solid understanding of backend networking and security concepts, including firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills – Level 3 IT support technicians should be able to analyze complex technical problems and develop creative solutions to resolve them.
Excellent Communication and Customer Support Skills – Level 3 IT support technicians must be able to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical users and provide excellent customer experience and service.

As you can see, Level 3 IT support requires a combination of a large number of skills that add up to create an all-encompassing solution for the most complicated of IT issues.

Common Issues Addressed by Level 3 IT Support

Level 3 IT support technicians are responsible for addressing the most complex technical issues that cannot be resolved by lower tiers of support.

Some of the most common issues addressed by level 3 IT support may include:

System Failures – Level 3 IT support technicians are often responsible for addressing system-wide failures that can impact an organization’s operations, such as server crashes, network outages, and hardware failures.
Security Breaches – Level 3 IT support technicians must be able to identify and mitigate advanced security threats, including online data breaches, malware, and phishing attacks.
Advanced Software and Application Issues – Level 3 IT support technicians are responsible for resolving complex software and application issues that require advanced technical knowledge and troubleshooting skills.
Infrastructure and Network Issues – Level 3 IT support technicians must be able to diagnose and resolve complex network and infrastructure issues, including issues with firewalls, routers, and other networking components.
Data Management and Storage Issues – Level 3 IT support technicians must be able to identify and resolve issues with data storage, backup, and retrieval systems, as well as ensure data security and privacy for web-based applications.
Virtualization and Cloud Issues – Level 3 IT support technicians must have a deep understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies, including issues related to virtual machines, storage, and networking.

Level 3 IT support personnel have the tools, resources, and experience necessary to solve the most complex and critical problems. The requests or IT tickets that cannot be resolved through help desk support or Level 1 and 2 support are escalated to a Level 3 technician, who has the ability to handle nearly everything IT related.

For any business, it’s important to have a specialist or the right subject matter experts on hand to help with specific issues, and that is just as true for IT as it is for any other aspect of the business. The right support teams can make all the difference, both in terms of business operations as well as customer service for your clients.

What is Level 3 IT Support?