What Are the Benefits of Managed IT Services?
Maintaining a full-time IT department is costly and simply not feasible for many smaller businesses. But if a company doesn't have a dedicated IT staff, how do they monitor their network?
How do they maintain it? Provide desktop support? Determine their new technology needs.
Without dedicated IT professionals, far too many small businesses don't manage their networks well (or, in some cases, at all). And when technology isn't working, neither are employees.
That's where managed IT services can be extremely useful. Managed services provide a cost-effective, reliable, and remote way for smaller businesses to manage their IT network.
The experts overseeing managed network services work with businesses to implement tools, processes, and procedures tailored to the business's unique needs and network. They also provide system updates, fixes, and recommendations to help those businesses better prepare for unexpected issues and emergencies.
So, how do businesses stand to benefit from using managed IT services? And can your business reap these benefits, too? Read on to find out.
Cost Savings
Many small businesses outsource IT management to multiple providers, which isn't necessarily a terrible choice; it's just messy and often more expensive than the alternative (managed IT).
When outsourcing is done this way, the typical IT budget often consists of expenses for the following items, among others:
● Hardware
● Software
● Cloud solutions
● Network solutions
● Labor
● Maintenance
Managed IT service providers, on the other hand, typically charge a flat monthly rate for the support they provide. That rate typically depends on a variety of the above-listed factors, which the service provider will map out for the business.
This outline allows businesses to better understand the costs associated with managing their network so that they can budget accordingly.
Since all IT services are managed by the same provider, opting for managed IT over individual outsourcing typically provides businesses with significant cost savings.
IT Experts On Call
When a business opts for managed IT services, they essentially have a team of dedicated IT experts at their fingertips. These professionals are on call to answer any technical questions that arise, as well as to handle issues, troubleshoot problems, and create solutions that help ensure more uptime for the business.
Managed service providers can also help keep businesses up to date on technology trends that may offer benefits and help them find ways to increase profitability through technology. This might include assisting with special IT projects and consulting on network-related tasks, among other services.
Decreased Technical Downtime
In today's technology-driven business landscape, every business must have a plan for responding to unexpected IT problems. But without a dedicated IT team, many smaller companies don't have the resources to react quickly and efficiently when issues crop up. That's where managed IT services come in.
With a managed service provider, businesses have IT professionals on standby to assist with any issues.
Since providers manage IT services remotely, just a quick call begets expert help for:
● Power loss
● Data loss
● IT issues that could damage accounts
● Any other tech issues that could cause a business to lose credibility
Managed service providers take the time to become deeply familiar with a business's network. This allows the provider to work quickly to minimize downtime and the resulting impact on reputation and revenue that it can have on a business.
Here's a little-known fact: A 2016 study conducted by Emerson Network Power revealed that, on average, businesses lost about $7,200 per minute of an unplanned outage.
Remember when we mentioned that managed IT services can save businesses significant money?
Enhanced Productivity
Employees are the cornerstone of any business, but they're also its most costly monthly expense. And when a business's IT isn't working properly, neither are its employees. Since technology is essential to most employee tasks, it makes sense that they should have all the resources they need to be as productive as possible.
Again, this is where managed IT services can be extremely useful.
When an employee's computer crashes suddenly or gets a virus, managed IT services can quickly correct the problem. Not only does this help encourage maximum employee productivity, but it also helps mitigate the frustration associated with IT issues.
When employees know they have the resources and support necessary to do their work properly and efficiently, they perform better overall.
Stronger Data Protection
Your data is everything, and one way to stay competitive is by investing in managed IT services.
Specialized management means your data is their priority and can result in:
● Enhanced protection with enterprise-grade solutions
● Improved cyber security in 24/7 monitoring
● Increased disaster recovery with less than time
They can also offer training for security awareness to help employees know what to look for to reduce the risk of a data breach and how to spot risks like malware attacks and security misconfigurations to avoid compromising business practices and exposure of client and employee information.
Scalability Is Simplified
Managed services also offer you another advantage of better scalability than an in-house provider would. For businesses that are outgrowing their resources but don't want to invest in hiring a new in-house support person, managed services can be a bridge for this because they can meet your business's evolving needs, resulting in smoother phases of company growth.
Enhanced Core Business Focus
Keeping your focus on your business means it runs more efficiently, and managed services bring a balance because they handle extra tasks that would otherwise be delegated to your in-house IT person.
So, instead of offloading issues to them, it frees them up to focus on higher-priority concerns that can improve your core business focus and increase productivity.
Are Managed IT Services Right for Your Business?
If you think managed IT services might be the right option for your business, get in touch with our team at Lighthouse Technology Solutions so we can help you determine your organization's unique needs.
We provide remote monitoring, maintenance, and complete IT support for businesses nationwide and pride ourselves on developing personalized solutions for each organization's needs.
To learn more or get a free quote, give us a call today at 612-345-9177 or contact us online.