Managed IT Services are becoming more and more popular as small businesses work to save time, money, and resources.
When you have a managed IT provider on speed dial, you will never need to spend your valuable time and resources learning about the latest technology trends or managing in-house tech experts.
Instead, you’ll benefit from having an experienced third party who is dedicated and has the ability to manage the technology needs of your small business.
What are Managed IT Services?
Managed services allow organizations to reduce in-house teams’ workload, or fill vacant positions left by existing skills.
IT management companies are available for services such as on-premise technical support and private cloud storage. Managed IT services can eliminate overhead, increase IT efficiency and increase uptime management.
What is a Managed Service Provider?
Managed service providers (MSPs) typically assess clients’ needs, install hardware, maintain data integrity, evaluate data matters, manage procurement activities, and ensure procurement procedures are fulfilled throughout the IT procurement process.
Some managed service providers also offer additional services such as desktop support or IT outsourcing. According to some experts, MSPs can be more cost-effective than running in-house teams/infrastructure for small businesses.
Why should I consider Managed IT Services for my small business?
Whether you’re looking for managed IT that supports your software, PCs, peripherals, servers, networking devices, or cloud computing, MSPs can help streamline your company’s decision-making process by providing you with industry best practices and up-to-date knowledge on business technology.
This way you won’t ever have to worry about the need to make time overseeing IT tasks. When you hire the right MSP, they will do all the hard work for you.
9 Ways Managed IT Services can help your small business grow:
1. Your business will gain a competitive edge
The vast majority of SMEs currently use a managed IT provider. 73% of Small and Mid-Cap business executives believe emerging technologies pose the best chance for innovative thinking, profitability, and competitive advantage.
Managed services help businesses stand up to their biggest rivals by improving business functions, managing IT tasks, and even assisting with complex projects that can often be time-consuming for internal staff.
The new digital era leveled out the playing field and allowed small corporations to compete between the giants of their industries.
2. Less stress, less risk
MSPs will provide a technology roadmap aimed to assist you in finding solutions to your IT support requirements. Your mind is probably already overwhelmed with the sheer amount of technical work to scale up your business day-in and day-out.
IT providers can easily adapt and manage a complex backlog to help minimize lost revenue and minimize downtime while creating security policies. Outsourced IT teams can also inspect your current IT systems for any vulnerabilities and identify risks.
3. Save on the most important resource out there – Your time
Outsourcing your IT department to a specialized group can save you time so your team can focus on core targets. IT providers offer solutions without waiting periods, whenever you want.
A service level agreement will often include a set time period in which an issue should be resolved in order to make sure the needs of your business are met.
In addition, an IT team will generally offer remote support to help you spend less time waiting for IT support and more time focusing on your day-to-day tasks and business goals!
4. Decreased operational costs
Managed services will manage your company’s IT infrastructure as part of your service agreement, meaning that you only pay for what you need as opposed to paying salary for in-house IT employees.
Providers will usually know the best pricing for software and hardware. Some may even have vendor contracts with popular technology companies so that they can offer the best technology at an affordable price.
5. Reduced risk to data integrity, loss, and theft
Managed services providers also help to reduce the risk of data integrity, loss, and theft. One managed IT service is managed backup and data recovery.
This managed IT service provides a complete backup and quick recovery of data in the event that your system needs to be restored or if your computer needs to be replaced.
IT services like disaster recovery can also help minimize the risk of loss and theft with disaster recovery as a managed IT service.
An IT MSP can also assist with cyber security by providing managed anti-virus protection. The anti-virus service can be managed on a per device basis, on an enterprise-wide basis, or on a schedule.
6. Increased uptime (and less downtime)
Having an MSP increases your uptime because IT professionals will monitor your computer and fix any errors or virus issues so that your computer is up and running.
Another beneficial aspect of having an MSP is that when you sign an agreement, they will often set a length of time that a ticket should be responded to or resolved.
This provides businesses with prompt and reliable IT support so that end users spend less time waiting for a resolution to your issue.
7. Improved Network Scalability
MSPs will improve the scalability of your network. They can help with things like storage upgrades, cloud storage, and upgrading network equipment to grow with your company.
Some will even monitor your equipment and licenses and inform you of when you are reaching your limit. This allows you to take a proactive approach and find a scalability solution that best benefits your business.
8. Better Hardware for your company
Having an MSP can also mean having new hardware available for your business. They may have a contract with manufacturers to get better prices on equipment or they could even provide you with their own resources so that you don’t need to purchase anything extra.
Whether it is computers, printers, servers, etc., this additional resource will allow you to save money because your MSP is taking care of the cost.
9. Compliance
Compliance with industry standards and regulations is one of the many benefits an MSP can provide for your company. Providers can help companies to stay in compliance with industry standards by monitoring and adjusting the settings on their equipment.
MSPs can also teach you about what you should be compliant with for your type of business and industry so that you are knowledgeable and educated. This also ensures that you don’t need an outside consultant to maintain compliance because your managed IT provider is there to make sure all of your needs are met.
What to consider before signing up with a Managed IT Services Provider
There are many managed IT service providers to choose from. Make sure you can trust the managed IT provider with your company’s data and security. Ask yourself the following questions before signing up with managed IT services:
- What kind of services does the provider offer?
- How big is the provider?
- What is their background?
Managed IT service providers come in all shapes and sizes. Bigger managed IT providers operated globally but smaller managed IT providers may be better for your company. You should also know if they provide 24-hour support for end users.
Which managed IT service provider fits best for your company depends on what it needs. For example, if your company’s data security is of the utmost importance then the managed IT provider should have a background in cyber security.
IT services can be an integral part of business growth by providing excellent support to help you run better and more efficiently so that you are able to spend time on the things that matter most for your company.
If you are interested in Managed IT Services, please contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions
What managed services can offer my small business?
An MSP will take over the day-to-day management of your information technology. This can include anything from taking care of daily backups to monitoring security systems and having someone on call for very specialized issues.
How does managed IT service work with your company’s infrastructure?
MSPs are an adaptable option that works alongside any existing infrastructure. Whether this means making sure your systems are ready for the cloud or keeping software up to date. Most MSPs offer remote monitoring to a business’s current infrastructure and can ensure you’re always running at peak performance without needing a full-time team of in-house technicians on hand.
Can MSPs provide cloud technologies to keep up with technology requirements?
Yes. A managed services provider can provide you with all of the cloud technologies your company needs to be ready for the future, including mobile device management and business applications so your team is always productive no matter where they are or what devices they have in hand.
Final Thoughts on Managed IT Services
Managed IT services can provide a variety of benefits to your company, from improved security, scalability, and compliance. This growing field gives the option to small business owners to gain a competitive edge with up-to-date business technology and support so that you and your employees can focus on what really matters.
Author: Amber Briggs