With 2018 in full swing, now is the perfect time to review your budget and make plans to spend your business dollars a more wisely in the year ahead.
To reduce costs and provide peace of mind, many businesses are turning to Managed Service Providers for their IT needs. Managed services plans give you access to a full IT support staff at a fraction of the cost so you can outsource technology tasks that would otherwise require an in-house IT manager. Here are 7 additional ways an IT managed service provider can save you money.
Reduce malware, virus, and hacks
If you get hacked it costs your company time, money, and data. It’s crucial to make sure you’re protected from viruses, hackers, spyware, and even human error that can lead to risk. Managed service plans keep a constant eye on your network, catching these cyber issues before they catch you.
Consistent monthly rate
When you know what you’re paying up front, there are no surprises and it makes budgeting easier.
Managed IT service plans are scalable so you only pay for what you need. The right managed service partner can take care of your servers, hardware, software, IT applications, networks, databases, printers, phone systems, and other business technology applications; as well as maintain your storage needs, virtualization, cloud, collaboration, and mobility.
There are even options to manage your security, system backups and disaster recovery plans. Plus, many managed service plans give you full access to a team of IT engineers and help desk staff, all for one low rate.
Stay compliant
If you’re in an industry that needs to remain compliant, like finance or healthcare, an IT managed service plan will make sure your network and infrastructure are set up correctly and always on par with the latest guidelines.
Save money
Managed service providers can monitor and maintain your information technology systems, allowing them to see and prevent network problems before they turn into downtime, equaling expensive repairs and data recovery costs.
In addition, because most managed services plans include remote monitoring and support, most issues can be accessed and repaired right from the office. That means you don’t pay for travel time and your issue is resolved quicker, meaning less downtime.
Scale up or down
A managed IT support plan can easily scale as your business changes. If you need more or less users, it’s simple to add them. You can also easily add or remove certain applications so you only pay for what you need. Managed service plans are flexible – they work when you need them.
Proactive IT service
The best way to deal with a potential IT issue is to catch it before it becomes a problem.
A managed IT services agreement will include regular updates, security patches, and performance checks. Having these measures in place will improve the efficiency and reliability of your IT infrastructure, leading to reduced costs, less downtime, and better performance.
As they get older some IT equipment can suffer from speed, performance, and reliability issues. A managed service agreement will make sure your network, hardware, software, servers, and all critical IT applications receive the maintenance they need for maximum speed, performance, and reliability.
One-stop account manager
If you’re thinking about upgrading your server or purchasing a new business phone system your account manager can make your job easier. Because they’ve got extensive experience with all things IT, they know what works best and what doesn’t.
They’ll do the appropriate research and compile a list of options, saving you more time and money than if you had tried to do this all yourself. If you do have an in-house IT manager you should still talk to your account manager before making any big decisions.
They’ll let you know if certain things are, or are not, compatible with your current system, which could save you loads of unnecessary expenses in the future.
No matter the size of your business, you can see the benefits of having a reliable managed service partner on your side. Consistent and affordable monthly costs, access to a full staff of IT experts, and the scalability to move with your business are all great reasons to look into getting a managed service partner with a solid information technology company.
Call us today at 941.556.4460 if you have any questions about the best managed service plans for your business.
We help Sarasota clients run more efficiently with less down time, reduced costs, and greater protection against cyber security threats. IT managed service agreements are ideal for networks, servers, hardware, and cloud applications!
