Discovering the Benefits of Managed IT Services
Downtime or data breaches are two catastrophies small and medium businesses simply cannot afford. Yet few have the in-house expertise and resources to properly manage IT infrastructure and security. More and more companies are turning to managed IT service providers to handle these burdens. Partnering with a managed service provider offers substantial benefits over trying to support IT alone.
But, finding managed IT services takes careful evaluation. There are key factors to research when selecting a company you can trust with your IT systems and data security. Taking the time for due diligence in choosing a managed service partner will pay off with greater efficiency, cost savings, and peace of mind.
Cost Savings
By outsourcing IT management and support to a managed services provider, businesses can save significantly on IT expenses. Rather than hiring expensive in-house IT staff, businesses pay a predictable monthly fee to the provider. Advanced remote monitoring, management, and support tools allow providers to efficiently handle IT tasks without onsite visits. This results in substantial cost savings for the business.
Improved Efficiency
A managed services provider delivers 24/7 monitoring and support. This improves efficiency by minimizing IT downtime from issues like server failures or malware attacks. Managed service providers can address problems remotely as soon as they arise, often before the business notices a disruption. The business isn’t wasting time waiting for an internal IT resource to become available.
Enhanced Security
Data breaches and cyber attacks are serious threats today. Managed service providers have the expertise and advanced software tools to handle security vulnerabilities and keep data safe. Features like intrusion detection, firewall management, antivirus, spam filtering and backup services are standard. This level of security is difficult for an in-house IT staff to match.
Access to Expertise
Technology today is complex, requiring specialized expertise across a range of systems and applications. Partnering with a managed service provider gives access to a whole team of certified IT professionals. For a small business, it allows them to benefit from enterprise-level IT skills without having to hire specialist staff and manage them.
Focus on Core Business
For many companies, IT is not part of their core competency. It distracts focus and resources away from the key business. Outsourcing IT management allows the business to focus on its strengths, while the managed provider handles infrastructure, troubleshooting, end user support and other technical burdens. This leads to better business performance.
When selecting a managed IT services provider, here are some key factors to consider:
- Experience and reputation - Look for an established company with a solid history of satisfied clients. Check online reviews and testimonials.
- Range of services - Ensure the provider offers all the IT solutions you need today, plus room to scale as your business grows.
- Security capabilities - Verify the provider uses advanced security software and hardware to protect your systems and data. Ask about certifications.
- Support model - Confirm they provide 24/7 remote monitoring and help desk services for minimal downtime.
- Technical expertise - Require proven trained and certified technicians to handle your IT needs.
- Reporting - The provider should furnish detailed reports on the health of your systems and the work performed.
- References - Reputable providers will furnish client references to attest to their capabilities.
Taking the time to find the right managed IT services partner can free up precious time and resources for your business. Leveraging the technical expertise, security tools and support infrastructure of a managed provider delivers significant benefits over the break-fix model. Your business can focus on growth and productivity rather than IT management.