Managed services providers (MSPs) offer valuable services which allow companies to streamline their operations, manage costs, and increase productivity. However, many small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) think that the model is too expensive or complex for their organization.
To the contrary, MSPs offer a lot of benefit and flexibility to SMBs. Here are just a few ways that this business model may be perfect for your small business.
Benefits of MSPs for Smaller Business
The managed services model offers many key benefits to those looking for the most cost effective way to run a business. While you may initially think that the cost is prohibitive for your budget, consider these facts:
- Reduce Overhead Costs: Having an onsite IT professional will likely cost you not only a salary, but may also mean other costs such as benefits and training. Outsourcing the IT portion of your operation may be possible without additional capital needed, depending on your level of support.
- Eliminate Employee Stress: The “IT department” of a small business is often the person in the office with the most computer experience. The problem is, they often also have other responsibilities in the company. For instance, your marketing person may be your “go-to” for computer and network issues. If this is the case, one person is trying to do the job of two – and productivity on one side or the other is likely to suffer.
- Save Money on Hardware and Software: While many organizations think a monthly retainers to MSPs might be cost prohibitive, they may not be looking at the other side of the coin. As hardware breaks and needs to be upgraded, or software versions must be updated, the costs for a small operation can begin to mount. The economies of scale an MSP can achieve, whether in the purchase of a server or adding licenses, can save you a lot of money over the years.
- Server Virtualization: This fancy term refers to the innovative capability of sharing servers among several clients. Because most organizations have several servers, none of which are being fully utilized, there is a waste of resource. MSPs will often offer partitioned servers which permit multiple organizations to share the cost of a single server, reducing your operating costs. When your company grows, you simply take more space on the server.
- Minimize or Eliminate Downtime: Very few SMBs can afford to keep the lights on 24×7, let alone have their network monitored all day and all night. However, the nature of consumer expectations in our culture dictate that you can’t afford a broken critical weblink or downed website. An MSP can offer round-the-clock monitoring and a quick, timely fix – getting your operation back online even while you sleep.
- Provide Redundancy and Disaster Recovery: Business continuity is a critical aspect of any SMB’s overall strategy, and MSPs offer an easy way to create redundancy and a fast recovery. By processing and backing up your data offsite, a disaster which hits your building – such as a flood or a power outage – will not affect your data nor ability to operate. This means the MSP will keep your company running, even if the lights go out. Even if your production is affected ,you can still communicate with clients and customers via a functional website or order system.
If you are a small to medium sized business, don’t try to navigate the world of networking on your own. At Alliance IT, we specialize in making your life easier, your business more productive, and your clients more satisfied. Call us today for a free consultation. Let’s discover how we can best help your business.
