The technology world has changed so rapidly in the last two decades that it has been difficult for small-to-midsize companies to keep up. Most organizations have experienced an IT department which has grown piece by piece, and is often more of a patchwork than a cohesive, functioning system.
These environments also tend to work in a “break-fix” mentality. They hope every day that everything runs smoothly, and call for help if something breaks. Sadly, that model simply no longer works for most organizations – customers do not wait, websites cannot process orders when they are down, and the invoice must be sent today. Understanding managed services is the key to reorganizing and streamlining IT processes, while saving time, money and frustration.
What are Managed Services?
A managed service provider (MSP) allows organizations to transfer their daily IT operational responsibilities to the provider’s facility and team, as a strategic way to maximize efficiency. The MSP manages hosted servers and applications, as well as the network equipment and applications on the customer premises utilizing remote, online tools and capabilities.
Managed services provide enterprise-class capabilities on a monthly fee-based basis, allowing small and medium sized companies to budget and plan for the support. Managed services are seen as a profitable answer to those looking to escape large investments in hardware, to leverage network availability, to implement state-of-the-art cyber security, and to free up their on-site IT staff to work on strategic projects (instead of putting out fires all day.)
Some of the most common elements involved in managed services include overall system planning and budgeting, technology forecasts and implementation, project management, online backup and storage, cyber security monitoring and risk management, firewall support, cloud and application management, and 24 x 7 system monitoring. This list is not comprehensive. In fact, a professional managed services team will be happy to do an assessment of your organization and recommend ways that they can help you to utilize your current technology systems, and maximize your future investments.
How Can Understanding Managed Services Benefit Your Company?
- You will enjoy lower costs: You will achieve the ability to access the latest technology while minimizing your own up-front investment; meaning that you will have a competitive edge while reducing costs.
- You can sleep better at night: Whether a power failure, cyber attack, or a website outage, your MSP will handle the problem no matter when it occurs, lowering your risk of downtime.
- You can trust the level of expertise: Professional support and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) guarantee not only top performance but consistent availability. Everyone on your team is a specialist in what they do.
- You will be on the cutting edge: Managed services providers give you access to the latest technology innovations, while staying ahead of hardware and software updates and developing threats. We can quickly adapt and react, and expand or reduce needed services on the spot.
- You will achieve economies of scale: Your MSP can provide economical solutions because the cost, infrastructure and staff are shared and optimized; for example through server virtualization, cloud computing and software licensing.
- You will control your budget: The break-fix model may seem more cost effective, especially if you experience long stretches with no issues or cash outlay. However, the costs of trying to recover from a a major disruption due to technology failure, cyber attack, or facility damage will add up quickly; affecting not only your bottom line but your reputation and future business. The key to understanding managed services is understanding that a steady budget item is far better than a catastrophic financial hit.
If you are new to the concept, the prospect of considering managed services may raise many objections. We invite you to speak with a member of our team regarding how understanding managed services can actually save you money, improve your capabilities, allow you to plan for future growth, and protect you from cyber crime. Call us today, and let’s discuss how the team at Alliance IT can help you.
