The use of managed IT services has been expanding in recent years. In 2022, companies of all sizes across America and beyond rely on third-party providers for many of their hardware, software, and network maintenance needs. Even companies that have in-house IT teams can benefit from outsourcing some of their work. Read on to find out why companies of all sizes should consider working with managed IT services.
What Is Managed IT?
Managed IT refers to a range of technological services and support provided by third-party companies, usually through cloud-based software. Some providers offer limited assistance, while others provide everything from real-time network monitoring and 24/7 help desk access to cybersecurity and compliance help. When in doubt as to what services will be most worthwhile, contact a Managed IT Consulting Company.
The Benefits of Managed IT
There’s a misconception among some business owners that keeping as much of a company’s daily operation as possible in-house is always the best way to go. In fact, working with third-party providers often offers a greater value proposition. Here’s why that’s certainly the case with managed IT services:
1. Stay Focused on the Company’s Core Objectives
As businesses grow, their IT needs will also expand. A startup may be able to get away with relying on one IT tech or, even worse, its other employees to keep up with software, hardware, and network updates, repairs, and upgrades. Unfortunately, because IT needs tend to scale up with companies, this situation will quickly become untenable.
Working with a third-party managed IT company can reduce the burden on the company’s employees, freeing up time to focus on their core objectives. Most managed IT providers also offer flexible service packages that allow companies to fill in gaps as needed if they already have in-house IT teams.
The same rationale applies to them, though. Outsourcing some of the busy work to a managed IT provider will free up the company’s in-house IT employees’ time to focus on more important work, as well.
2. Take Advantage of Predictable Costs
The go-to IT support system of the past was often referred to as a break/fix model, and some companies still rely on this inefficient way of handling IT issues today. With this system in place, companies wait until something breaks, then call in outside IT teams to fix the problem. Fees vary substantially, and there’s no way for businesses that still utilize this outdated model to predict how much of the budget should be reserved for addressing IT concerns.
Of course, in-house IT teams are generally more predictable. Unfortunately, keeping a full IT team on staff and readily available at all times is an expensive proposition that won’t cut it for small to mid-sized businesses.
Managed IT services provide a much more cost-effective solution by allowing businesses to pay a fixed amount each month for all of the IT services they need. The costs of IT support will remain stable no matter what. Whether an entire network goes down or a routine software update needs to be pushed through, business owners won’t have to worry about unexpected bills.
3. Improve Network and Data Security
With the exception of enterprise-level companies that have it in the budget to hire cybersecurity officers and entire teams of IT techs, most companies don’t have it in the budget to tackle cybersecurity risks in-house. The problem is that today’s cybercriminals know that. Many hackers intentionally target smaller businesses, knowing that they are less likely to have robust data security protocols in place.
The good news here is that managed IT service providers always have excellent security protocols in place. They know how important it is to protect clients’ networks and data and generally offer a more holistic approach to cybersecurity.
Instead of waiting until something goes wrong, managed IT companies fortify networks, set up devices for maximum malware protection, and offer training for workers in advance. This more holistic and preventative approach can save businesses money and protect their reputations.
4. Reduce Costly Downtime
There’s a second upside to having an IT partner that takes a proactive, preventative approach to providing support, and it’s reduced downtime. Managed IT service providers use remote monitoring and management technologies to identify and troubleshoot problems before they have a chance to cause problems.
Given that network downtime can cost businesses thousands of dollars per minute in revenue, this benefit, alone, makes having access to managed IT services worth the monthly cost.
When issues do occur despite the preventative maintenance processes implemented by the managed IT provider, businesses are still better off having help. Because there’s no way to prevent 100% of the technical issues that could come up, managed IT providers also offer expert disaster recovery services that will make it easier to get all of the systems back online as fast as possible.
5. Scale-Up Services As-Needed
When small companies rely on in-house IT teams, they must hire new staff members as they grow. The problem isn’t just that hiring new full-time employees means adding another person to the payroll and offering another benefits package.
Given how expensive it can be to find, hire, and train new IT techs, that’s almost never a cost-effective solution. Managed IT services make it much easier for companies to scale up by offering a wide range of packages to meet different needs. When businesses hire new teams, all they have to do is request support for more devices.
The cost associated with scaling up to a more expensive monthly plan is nothing in comparison to that of hiring enough IT techs to manage everything in-house.
Find a Reliable Provider
It’s easy for business owners to reap all of the benefits described above, and more, but only if they take the time to find a reputable, reliable managed IT service provider. Do some research and vet companies carefully before deciding who to trust with this essential service.
Choosing a local company with an established reputation for providing not just professional network maintenance but also excellent customer service is always the best way to go.
