Like every other business, you most likely utilise technology tools, such as customer relationship management software and social media schedulers. These tools have their unique uses and purposes, such as tracking leads, building brand visibility, and improving cash flow.
The current business climate shows a significant shift to cloud-based applications to lessen the burden of many business functions. This statement applies to most, if not all, industries. As a result, there is a rapidly growing need for a robust and reliable network and IT systems.
Seasoned IT professionals and business executives will agree that managed services greatly help make their jobs easier to handle. They can focus on the things that matter the most to them, thanks to the many benefits of having an expert IT department for IT management.
But What Exactly are Managed IT Services?
Many businesses assume that delegating tasks and responsibilities to the in-house IT team is the best way to manage their network and IT systems. However, it doesn’t always work. This is where managed information technology services come in. You get IT support and assistance from an outside firm using cloud-based software with solutions. A top-notch managed IT service provider (MSP) can perform multiple functions to benefit your business, such as:
- Round-the-clock system monitoring
- Proactive support
- Repair services
- Timely troubleshooting
The services are so beneficial that they can help detect issues usually before your in-house team notices them. Other examples of managed IT services include support for the following:
- Remote monitoring
- Network management and security
- Server maintenance
- Virtual machine management
- Data backup and cloud-based storage
- Cybersecurity measures
- Computer system and asset management
- Video conferencing and other communication tools
- Collaboration tools
- End-user support
Outsourcing the tasks above takes the pressure off your IT team. That means you have more people to assist other employees and enjoy a boost in efficiency and competitiveness.
10 Advantages of Managed IT Services for Your Business
The benefits of managed IT services prove that partnering with ICT Group will simplify your IT management without the high costs. That’s not all. Let us explore 10 reasons for having your IT services managed remotely by a trusted firm:
- Streamlined Operations
Managed IT services involve a holistic approach to monitoring, data storage, and security, making everything so simple. All these services are under one roof, saving the time for finger-pointing when something goes wrong. Your MSP will immediately proceed to fix the problem. - Improved Security and Stability
Managed IT services can give you centralised applications and servers. Your data and apps are all in one place, hosted remotely in a virtual server environment (more often than not). These facilities keep up with the ever-changing security and control standards to help you maintain business continuity. Even if a fire, flood, or any natural disaster strikes your office, a remote facility houses your data, keeping everything safe no matter what. - Lower Costs
A common question that businesses ask is whether managed IT services can cut down costs. The short answer is yes, and it’s easy to see why. Costs are packaged neatly into an annual or monthly payment. On the other hand, using an internal IT team can come with frequent, unexpected expenses, which can drain your budget quicker than you can imagine. - Peace of Mind
One thing that money cannot buy is your peace of mind. But thanks to a round-the-clock managed IT service, you don’t have to worry about problems arising in the middle of the night. Your MSP is ready to do the job, whether it is to fix a server or network error. - Scalability
The truth that many people don’t talk about, even in the business world, is that maintaining an in-house IT team is a hefty expense. As a result, businesses try to save money by reducing the number of team members. As a business owner, you probably already know the horrors of understaffing. Your IT team will easily be overworked and unable to do their job because of insufficient resources and time. This issue is not helpful, especially if you plan to expand.
A managed IT service provider can help your business be flexible with resources. This benefit lets you accommodate changes that an in-house IT team may not have the ability to respond to quickly and efficiently. - Less Downtime
Equipment problems typically cause downtime. Electrical disruptions, along with your servers and computers failing, can occur, usually during crucial times. Human error can lead to a significant amount of downtime. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it. Reducing downtime risks, however, is a multifaceted duty that your in-house team may not be able to tackle. That’s why you require managed services to help you cut down costs by preventing any downtime from happening in the first place. -
Disaster Prevention
When something is broken, you fix it immediately. However, it’s quite an expensive assignment, especially when dealing with network and data issues. The cost of repairs can quickly put a huge dent in your budget.
But there’s a way to save cash. Rather than calling in experts to fix a problem, a preventative approach is so much easier and more affordable. Partnering with an MSP means that your systems are monitored day in and day out. Small issues can be quickly detected and resolved before they become full-fledged catastrophes. Compared to hiring IT experts for repairs, the cost savings with this method can convince you to use managed IT services. -
Data Compliance
Your data, as you may well know, is subject to a litany of rules and regulations to ensure the information will stay secure. An effective in-house team will sift through hundreds of standards and protocols and apply those that fit your business. Not only that, but they also have to certify all those rules are followed to the letter – of course, whilst they perform their daily work. These duties come with requirements that call for you to shell out a significant amount of dollars.Thankfully, you can turn to your MSP to handle compliance and auditing complexities. It becomes much easier when everything is taken care of, all whilst knowing you’re not violating data security directives.
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Business Focus
A narrowed business focus is what most firms strive for. You want your IT team to have enough time for more critical pursuits. Instead of your IT pros performing menial fixes, you can use your IT resources for other vital areas. -
Trusted Experts
IT teams are expensive. But perhaps the worst part is that you may not know how good they are until a serious issue arises. If a problem is not fixed promptly (or at all), it will cost you even more money on top of the team’s compensation.
Meanwhile, an MSP offers specialised services which fill in gaps in your team’s capabilities. It doesn’t make sense that you train employees to learn new skill sets for a single project. Instead of going that route, you can hire a managed IT service provider so you can gain access to a team of experienced experts with the skills required for a particular project or task.
ICT Group is the managed IT provider you’re searching for. We offer managed security services, so you can focus more on running your business efficiently and other strategic tasks. Let our IT professionals handle your complex IT operations by contacting our team today!
