In a competitive, always-one market, the organizations that maintain their competitive advantage have discovered how to optimize efficiency by using the right technologies. Often, companies turn to managed IT services to receive a full-service experience for everything from hardware to software and cyber security.
In fact, managed IT services can be used in addition to an in-house IT department or as a replacement. Invariably, IT services can be tailored to unique needs and business objectives. If you are wondering what services are included in managed IT services, keep reading to learn more.
What is the best way to describe managed IT services? These types of IT service providers can take the role of an entire IT department or service specialized IT needs. In a supportive role, managed IT services may offer supplemental assistance to the in-house IT team, such as remote monitoring to ward off malware, virtual desktop troubleshooting, disaster and recovery services, business continuity, offsite data storage, and more.
Some MSPs also offer VoIP, data security, mobility services, virtual CIO, and employee cyber security training to take this a bit further. For instance, a managed IT services provider can analyze your current infrastructure to ensure that they are optimized, minimizing disruptions, and then facilitate the purchase and implementation of equipment and technologies aligning with your business objectives. As a result, your company can stay ahead of the curve with the latest tech solutions that make the most sense for your organization.
An MSP can also strengthen your data center by increasing security and efficiency through the cloud. To keep employees connected in a remote working environment, a managed IT services provider may offer secure and reliable VoIP services. As remote work becomes normalized, it’s critical for any company to have the means to work seamlessly from anywhere.
Another crucial function offered by a managed IT services company is data security and protection against ransomware, malware, or other cyber threats. You may also receive alerts and follow-up reports on data breaches.
In a rapidly-evolving marketplace and ever-changing consumer expectations, agility is the key to future-proofing your business. So then, it’s vital to partner with a managed IT services provider who can offer different tiers of services and pricing structure. To find out what would work best for your company, consider asking these types of questions:
Once you have determined the current state of your IT infrastructure and needs, you are then better equipped to start discussing your environment with a managed IT services provider.
According to the World Economic Forum, 75% of business losses in 2018 were associated with cyber crime. In fact, over 60% of small businesses shuttered permanently after an unforeseen cyber attack. So, partnering with a managed IT services provider to deploy cyber security protocols will not only help save on costs and help with compliance, but it may also keep your business from going under.
In other aspects, a managed IT services vendor can help modernize your business to improve profitability and productivity. Cloud-based technologies can save both time and money. Moreover, remote employees can collaborate on documents and more from anywhere, at any time.
There are also specialized managed IT services tailored for specific industries that are highly regulated such as federal, healthcare, insurance, finance, and legal. Furthermore, data security is paramount for organizations that manage sensitive customer data and patient records.
The right managed IT services vendor has the experience, background, and expertise to ensure your organization is compliant. The result is savings versus non-compliance fines. And, it helps to find a partner with experience in sector-specific data protection requirements.
Naturally, it’s imperative to take the right approach towards budgeting for managed IT services. The point is to reduce waste and induce more cost-effective IT investments. For starters, you can find immediate savings in personnel costs from hiring to annual salaries and benefits. To illustrate, the average salary for an IT director is around $120,000 annually before benefits and PTO. In addition, since more employees are working remotely, it’s no longer necessary to have dedicated IT staff working in an office environment.
Managed IT services vendors usually have strategic business partnerships to save clients money on purchasing cloud-based services and ongoing maintenance. Predictable monthly billing structures also help with budget planning.
It makes sense to research your options, and scrutinize managed IT services carefully. All concerns should be addressed, and the budget should be managed wisely. However, for growth-oriented companies, having the right technology – which can quickly scale with the business – can make or break a business in the digital age. If you’re ready to learn more about managed IT services, SSI is happy to help.