IT Support for Recruitment Agencies UK: ATS, GDPR & Costs

Last updated: March 2026  |  Reviewed by: Connection Technologies team

Recruitment IT Essentials

The essential features to look for when evaluating any business technology solution are:

Reliability and uptime — look for a guaranteed uptime SLA of 99.9% or higher. Ask what happens financially if the provider fails to meet this target. Meaningful SLA credits show the provider is confident in their infrastructure.

Scalability — the solution should grow with your business without requiring a complete overhaul. Adding users, sites or services should be straightforward and quick.

Security — in 2026, security should be built into every technology solution, not bolted on as an afterthought. Look for encryption, multi-factor authentication, regular patching and compliance certifications.

Integration — the solution should work with your existing tools and workflows. Key integrations include Microsoft 365, CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot), accounting software and industry-specific applications.

Support quality — UK-based support with named account management delivers significantly better outcomes than anonymous offshore call centres. Ask about average response times and resolution rates.

Reporting and analytics — you should have visibility into how the service is performing, what it is costing and where improvements can be made. Look for real-time dashboards and regular service reports.

Connection Technologies includes all of these features as standard in every managed service package.

ATS & CRM Integration

Integration with your existing tools and workflows is critical for any technology solution. The best system in the world is useless if it does not work with the software your team uses every day.

Microsoft 365 integration is essential for most UK businesses. Your phone system should integrate with Teams (presence, click-to-call), Outlook (calendar-based routing, voicemail) and SharePoint (call recording storage). Your IT provider should manage your Microsoft 365 environment as part of the service.

CRM integration connects your phone system and IT tools with your customer database. Look for click-to-call from CRM records, automatic call logging, screen pops showing customer details when they call, and call recording linked to CRM contacts. Popular CRM integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365 and Zoho.

Accounting software integration is valuable for businesses using Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or FreeAgent. Some managed IT providers can automate data flows between your accounting software and other business systems.

Industry-specific software integration is critical for sectors like legal (case management systems like Clio, PracticeEvolve), healthcare (clinical systems), construction (project management) and recruitment (ATS platforms). Your provider should have experience integrating with the tools your industry uses.

Connection Technologies has pre-built integrations with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, HubSpot and many industry-specific platforms. Our Hypercloud VoIP system supports over 200 CRM integrations out of the box.

GDPR for Recruiters

Security and compliance are non-negotiable for UK businesses in 2026. Here is what you need to know:

GDPR compliance remains the baseline for all UK businesses handling personal data. Your technology provider should be able to demonstrate how they help you meet GDPR requirements, including data encryption, access controls, breach notification procedures and data processing agreements.

Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed certification that covers five key security controls: firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection and patch management. It is increasingly required for government contracts and is a good baseline for any business.

ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management. It is more comprehensive than Cyber Essentials and demonstrates a systematic approach to managing sensitive information. If your provider holds ISO 27001, it means they take security seriously across their entire operation.

Industry-specific requirements vary by sector. Law firms must meet SRA standards, financial services firms must comply with FCA regulations, healthcare organisations must meet NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit requirements, and any business handling payment card data must comply with PCI DSS.

Your technology provider should help you understand which standards apply to your business and provide the tools and processes to meet them. This should be part of the managed service, not an expensive add-on.

Connection Technologies holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification and helps clients achieve and maintain compliance with GDPR, Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and sector-specific standards as part of managed IT packages.

Cloud & Remote Setup

Remote and hybrid working is now the norm for UK businesses, and your technology must support it seamlessly:

Cloud-based phone systems are essential for remote teams. Staff should be able to make and receive business calls from anywhere using a mobile app or softphone, with the same features (call recording, transfer, voicemail) as they would have in the office.

Business mobiles with MDM (Mobile Device Management) ensure company data is protected on employee devices, whether company-owned or BYOD. MDM allows remote wiping, app management, security policy enforcement and separation of personal and business data.

Secure remote access through VPN or zero-trust network access (ZTNA) ensures employees can safely access company resources from any location. In 2026, ZTNA is increasingly preferred over traditional VPN for its granular access controls.

Collaboration tools including Microsoft Teams, video conferencing and shared document platforms keep remote teams connected and productive. Your IT provider should manage and optimise these tools as part of the service.

Endpoint security is even more critical for remote workers, who may be connecting from home networks, coffee shops or co-working spaces. Every device needs endpoint protection, encryption and regular patching regardless of location.

Connection Technologies provides a complete remote working solution: Hypercloud VoIP with mobile app, business mobiles with MDM, secure connectivity and managed endpoint security — all from a single provider.

Costs Breakdown

IT support pricing in the UK follows three main models in 2026:

Per-user pricing is the most common model for managed IT services. You pay a fixed monthly fee per employee, typically £40–£100/user/month. This is predictable and scales naturally as your team grows. It usually includes helpdesk, monitoring, security and backups for all devices that user has.

Per-device pricing charges a fee for each managed device (laptop, desktop, server, phone), typically £15–£40/device/month. This can be cheaper for businesses where employees use only one device, but more expensive for those with multiple devices per person.

Fixed monthly fee is a flat rate for the entire business, typically £500–£5,000+/month depending on size and complexity. This works well for businesses with stable headcounts but can be inflexible if you grow quickly.

The most important thing is not the pricing model but what is included. A £40/user/month quote that excludes security, backups and out-of-hours support will quickly become £80+ when you add the essentials. Always compare like-for-like.

Connection Technologies uses per-user pricing from £45/user/month with everything included — no hidden extras for security, backups or strategic planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does IT support cost for a small business in the UK?

IT support for a small UK business typically costs £40–£80 per user per month for a managed service, or £75–£150 per hour for break-fix support. A 20-person business should budget £800–£1,600/month for comprehensive managed IT. Connection Technologies offers managed IT from £45/user/month with everything included.

What is the difference between break-fix and managed IT support?

Break-fix means you call an IT company when something goes wrong and pay by the hour. Managed IT means you pay a fixed monthly fee for proactive monitoring, maintenance, security and helpdesk support. Managed IT prevents problems before they happen and provides predictable costs.

Do I need a named account manager for IT support?

For businesses with 10+ staff, a named account manager makes a significant difference. They know your business, your systems and your team — which means faster issue resolution and better strategic advice. Connection Technologies provides a named UK-based account manager for every client.

How quickly should my IT provider respond to issues?

A good IT provider should respond to critical issues within 15 minutes and standard requests within 4 hours. Ask for the provider’s actual average response times over the past 12 months, not just the SLA target.

Can I bundle IT support with telecoms?

Yes. Providers like Connection Technologies offer IT support, business mobiles, VoIP phone systems, broadband and cyber security under one roof. This typically saves 15–30% compared to using separate providers and eliminates finger-pointing between vendors.

What should be included in a managed IT package?

At minimum: helpdesk support, proactive monitoring, endpoint security, email security, data backup, patch management and regular service reviews. Premium packages add 24/7 support, vCIO services and compliance support. Connection Technologies includes all essentials from £45/user/month.