We’re all aware that COVID-19 upended nearly every aspect of life in 2020. We’re also all operating under the assumption that this is our new reality, though we’re hopeful that things will return to “normal” in the future.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the demand for professional IT services. Indeed, as remote work has become more common, IT requirements have grown more important and complex.
If you’re a corporate executive or an IT professional, managed services can help free you up to concentrate on what is most important to you.
The dedication, industry knowledge, and expertise of an entire IT department focused on the delivery of your core business are some of the benefits of managed IT partnerships.
What Are Managed IT Services?
A managed IT service is information technology (IT) tasks performed for a customer by a third-party contractor.
In a managed service arrangement, the provider is responsible for the IT service and equipment’s performance. The customer usually pays a monthly charge to receive the services.
There are numerous managed IT service solutions. All have the goal of passing the responsibility of IT maintenance from the consumer to a service provider. The customers benefit from predictable pricing. This gives the customer focus on essential business concerns rather than IT management tasks.
What Are the Most Common Managed IT Services?
The range of services offered is vast. Some are generalist in nature and others more specialist as in Cyber Security.
A few of the more common managed IT services are:
- Remote hardware and infrastructure monitoring and management
- Watching out for potential problems, performing security tests, hunting down potential threats, and dealing with incidents
- The process of setting up, monitoring, and managing cloud-based services
- VOIP telephony services
But, in today’s competitive corporate environment, these may not be enough. Newer services have come to the fore as a result of the pandemic and massive increase in remote work.
Covid has triggered a large-scale digital transformation. When considering the move to Managed IT Services, evaluate if the MSP can help you transform your business.
How Do I Go About Finding an IT Partner?
There are several steps you can take when selecting an IT MSP to ensure that the one you choose meets your needs. Although these steps necessitate some extra effort, a careful assessment of your company’s needs, assets, and goals ensures that you get the most out of any provider you choose.
Assess Your IT Landscape
Finding an MSP begins with a thorough assessment of your current IT needs and expenditures. You must know what infrastructure and procedures you need to be managed, what resources you have, and your management budget. During this evaluation, keep in mind your business objectives.
For example, additional support for an existing IT team differs from a self-contained team. Also, assess whether managed services are viable long-term. While initially outsourcing IT administration and maintenance may be cheaper, as your company grows, it may make more sense to hire and educate an in-house team.
Look Into the MSP Track Record
Not all Managed Information Technology Service Providers are equal. They vary in terms of experience in areas such as security, cloud solutions, customer support, technological depth, management, and corporate culture.
Ascertain that the managed service provider you choose has a demonstrated track record of customer retention and skilled specialists to keep your organization functioning smoothly.
Of course, knowledge of your market sector would be a great advantage.
Ask For an Audit of Your Systems
Once you have shortlisted a few MSPs, ask them to carry out an audit on your IT systems. This will help to confirm your own assessment and expose anything you may have missed.
Hold a review session with each shortlisted MSP. Use the outcome of their audit to help you select your new IT partner. Specifically, look at remediation recommendations. A good MSP will provide ideas and approaches to bring your IT environment to a point where they are comfortable taking over services.
Let’s Talk About the Benefits Of a Great IT Partner
There are many benefits to partnering with an IT service provider. Not all the benefits are equally important to a business owner.
Improved Security
Security is by far the most important concern for businesses today. Almost a third (29%) of MSPs state that “meeting security risks” is their clients’ top priority.
Businesses are concerned about safeguarding their data in today’s cybersecurity environment, and an in-house IT department is frequently unable to handle the workload of such a task.
An MSP who can offer SIEM (Security Incident Event Management) as a service should be at the top of the shortlist. It is not a case of “if it happens” it is more a case of “when it happens.” Having a prepared Response Plan is critical.
Contain the IT Spend
Investing in information technology systems and infrastructure is expensive. When you invest in IT requirements upfront, forecasting running expenses as your firm grows can be challenging. Outsourced IT services combine these charges into a single, defined set of OPEX costs.
Due to the fact that managed service providers often charge fixed monthly charges, problems such as hardware breakdowns, maintenance, and repairs are factored into your operational budget and will not break the bank if they occur unexpectedly.
Get Help Faster
Time is money; every minute and hour your IT systems are not available hits the bottom line.
Employees cannot be hampered by downtime or technical issues in today’s corporate world. Having 24/7/365 support is essential, especially during peak traffic times.
With a support services provider, your users can get help anytime.
Access To the Correct Expertise
One of the most significant advantages of managed IT services is that you can hire a team with industry-specific qualifications, training, certifications, and experience. A managed services provider provides you with access to top-tier IT administrators with specific skill sets, eliminating the need for you to find and hire them yourself.
When you work with an IT support company, your company has access to the most recent technology on the market, and the technology can be implemented quickly and smoothly.
Start To Enjoy the Benefits Now!
Running an in-house IT workforce costs. Outsourcing your IT operations saves you money; end of the story.
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