Business cultures and trends evolve rapidly, and the last three years have taught most organizations to work well in reactive mode. As many companies consider innovative ways to approach business, the managed services model is emerging as a more viable option. Many are wondering if their business model would profit from adding outsourced IT services. For those business leaders, we have assembled managed services FAQs to address common questions. If you have evaluated these services in years past but decided not to proceed, 2023 might be a great year to take another look.
Top FAQs
Q. We have an IT professional on call already. How will managed services provide additional benefits?
A. This question brings up three potential scenarios. First, if you call an IT professional only when a problem arises ( “break/fix” methodology) you are probably paying more than necessary. Reimbursing someone via an hourly rate and only when needed seems like an affordable solution, but research has proven that companies can save significantly by paying a monthly retainer fee instead. Secondly, many smaller companies employ someone who “understands techie stuff” but may not actually have an IT department. These employees are often overwhelmed and frustrated when their everyday workflow is constantly interrupted by users with questions. While these employees are usually loyal people who want to help, their experience is minimal – and expecting them to keep up with the rapidly evolving IT landscape, especially in regard to security, is unfair. Finally, if you employ a full-time IT expert, you are ahead of the game, but they are still only one person. For the same cost or even less, managed services provide access to a team of people with IT expertise.
Q. Can managed services really fit into my budget?
A. If you never have any IT problems that you cannot handle, managed services may be overkill for your needs. But unless you have an entire IT team at your disposal, downtime is likely to become an issue. Managed services offer round-the-clock monitoring capability, up-to-date cyber protection, and the necessary redundancy to guarantee uptime. Downtime causes a significant loss of revenue, business, and goodwill, which can be catastrophic to your revenue. Remember, if you outsource your IT services, you remove all overhead associated with onsite employees – while gaining a deep bench of experts for the same basic price.
Q. Does my company lose control of IT operations by hiring a managed services company?
A. One of the most strategic aspects of working with a local Sarasota managed service provider is that you can collaborate and strategize with the team in person and contact real people (who you have met) on the phone. Managed services experts consider themselves a part of your team, not an outside group. We meet and eliminate your company’s skills gap, allowing your employees to concentrate on what they do best. This increases productivity company-wide. The internal staff has the time to complete their daily tasks while allowing the managed services team to handle crises, projects, and necessary upgrades.
Q. Is managed services right for my business?
A. Every company has unique requirements, but they also share common challenges. If your company operates on a computer network, qualified IT professionals are needed to streamline operations, manage growth, and stay ahead of cybercriminals. Every organization needs its data and information protected, and the experts at a managed services firm are highly trained for this job.
Do you have questions you would add to our FAQs? Call Alliance IT today for a consultation to learn more about this robust alternative for your IT needs.
