While some companies have been enjoying the benefits of managed services for years, others still rely on their own in-house IT teams. Of course, this structure works for many organizations, but for many SMBs, it might be time to consider alternative solutions. For those looking for a more productive, streamlined, or affordable solution to the ever-changing technology landscape, here is our annual review of managed service options and benefits.
Break/fix IT solutions are far behind us, and the truth is that most internal IT departments aren’t adequately equipped to keep up with the rapidly changing technologies. Because of this, IT departments are often reactive rather than proactive – constantly trying to keep up rather than using new technologies to gain an advantage. What are managed services? Let’s take a look.
“Managed services” involve outsourcing administration and management responsibilities to a third party. While these types of services are not limited to the IT realm, our focus is on IT systems and services; and the managed service options available to your company.
Top Benefits of Managed Services
- Take Care of Core Objectives: As a company grows and thrives, IT needs increase as well. While IT personnel can typically absorb a portion of this increased workload, there is often too much to do. Your IT team may struggle to keep up with new innovations while neglecting their day-to-day tasks. Managed services outsource this workload to allow people to go back to performing their jobs. Your managed services partner should offer a flex model that allows their client to determine what level of service is required and scaling (up or down) when situations change is easy.
- Fill the Skills Gap: New tech means new issues that your IT team might not have the expertise to solve. Companies could hire new team members, but the cost of recruiting, onboarding, and training new employees can be prohibitive. Also, there’s an ongoing IT expert shortage making things difficult as companies vie (and pay more) for the expertise they need. One key managed service option is the capability to “hire” an entire department of IT professionals for a set monthly fee.
- Manage Costs: One of the most significant benefits of managed services is reduced labor and recruitment costs. The opportunity to have needed technical skills available on a scalable basis is compelling. Client companies sign a service-level agreement (SLA) structured to address your organization’s unique requirements without unexpected fees.
- Scale up or Down as Required: As your IT needs evolve, the technology systems will need to be scaled either up or down to appropriately meet what is needed. MSPs can respond to demand changes in real time, eliminating downtime concerns.
- Downtime Mitigated and Avoided: Speaking of downtime, MSPs take a proactive approach to maintenance to prevent problems – not react to them. Remote monitoring and management identifies, diagnoses, and troubleshoots potential issues before they are a problem, saving you thousands of dollars per minute. (on average) If something goes wrong, MSPs also have robust backup and disaster recovery services.
- Regulatory Security and Compliance: Although managed services companies can’t handle your compliance issues for you, an MSP can work with your legal team to ensure that your systems meet the regulations and compliance rules that affect IT.
What are your Favorite Managed Service Options?
The benefits listed above only scratch the surface of the tremendous potential MSPs offer to SMBs. Do you want to hear more?
- Most MSPs provide 24/7 or on-call options and weekend support.
- When you partner with a local MSP, you’ll acquire a dedicated team that is familiar with your business.
- You’ll be given a single point of contact to work through any questions or concerns.
To learn more about managed services or to find out if this solution is right for you, call Alliance IT today.
