July 30, 2019

Every business runs on an effective IT network. As the business grows so does it’s IT infrastructure. Managing such a large scale computer network along with the servers and all electronics can become a tough to impossible task. Also, well established businesses are now implementing advanced technology computer machines to grow even more. Operational efficiency is number one priority of any business no matter what the size of that business is.

Small businesses can face some issues regarding the operational efficiency as their setup is limited and can easily miss out on important updates and network management. Be it big or small company, if the IT department is not well maintained then it puts the whole company’s system at risk of data breach. This can set your business years behind and can cause you a huge loss.

But, thankfully, there’s a perfect solution available now. The use of Managed IT services is on rise due to its numerous benefits to maintain and take care of the IT infrastructure. Today, more than 2/3rds of businesses have hired a managed service provider to handle their IT department. Hiring a Managed Service Provider (MSP) benefits your business in several ways which we will discuss later in this article. But, before that let us get to know what a managed IT service really is, how it works, how you can get it for your business, and the advantages.

 

What are Managed IT Services?

 

In Managed IT services a Managed Service Provider (MSP) takes the responsibilities for functionality and taking care of your IT equipment. The MSP is usually a third-party operator. Customers have to pay a monthly fee for the managed IT services. MSPs offer different types of services like security, alerts, patch management, and data backup. The services are provided as agreed upon Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Traditionally, a business having an IT department if ran into some problem or technical error they had to call a service who will then send down a person who will then look into the problem, and if possible, will fix it. This process naturally took so long that it would test your patience. Also, business operations would get affected.

Today, with the introduction of MSPs, large number of businesses are relying upon third-party IT services providers as it takes away the burden of managing it by themselves. This helps the businesses to focus on their main task, that is, to provide better service to their customers. Therefore, the dependence on break fix services has decreased and demand for managed IT services has increased in the past few years

 

What are Different Types of Outsourced IT Services?

 

Managed IT services come in different forms and packages. Some MSPs even provide option of customizing your IT service. We have mentioned below four different types of services you should consider including in your IT support package.

 

1. Network Security

 

One of the most important aspect of running a smooth business is the network security. The rise of cyber security in the past couple of years has resulted in data stealing and loss of important information of a company. Therefore, make sure that your service provider gives you additional layer of security. One of the main advantage of getting a third party service provider is you can be at ease as your system is being constantly monitored for any external threats.

The service provider keeps eye on your system and generates reports from time to time which tells you the status and health of your system. The added layer of security also makes sure that no external threat harms your system and stops it, if any, way before it’s even close to it. The network security allows only the people who have permission to access it by giving them passwords.

The more experienced a service provider the more you can rely upon him as they know the ins and outs of the industry. And every penny you invest will be worth it.

 

2. Quick Response Services

 

While the service provider will constantly monitor your system and make sure it doesn’t run into any problems but it might happen sometime that you need assistance for troubleshooting a problem. In such cases, you just need to give a call or contact your service provider and they will put you up with their best professional technicians to diagnose and help you fix those problems in no time.

The service provider always has a team dedicated for customer support and are familiar with the issues so they can help in solving them quickly. The aim is to make sure that your business doesn’t halt and comes on track in within few minutes. This allows you to constantly keep your customers happy. A good and experienced service provider will have efficient team, quick response time, and best solutions for any issues you might run into.

 

3. Data Backup and Network Administration

 

Gone are the days when you had to backup all your huge data weekly. Now with advanced technology and dedicated peers to look after your system, it is possible to back up your data every day. Data back-up and maintenance are important yet secondary tasks that take precedence over your primary tasks. They can consume a lot of time and distract you from your primary task. Therefore, you might find it very resourceful to outsource such jobs to a third party.

The service provider takes responsibility of setting up your system to arranging the connectivity and looking after daily backup as well as maintenance too. If in case you are witnessing network slowdown you can quickly report the problem and your provider will look for the issue and solve it. In no time your systems will be up and running.

 

4.Cloud-Based Computing

 

Cloud computing was not a relevant thing until a few years ago. But, due to its numerous benefits, ease of use, and reliability Cloud Computing has increased it’s important as well as the demand has also increased. Choosing cloud based computing gives you lot of benefits like you don’t have to manage the infrastructure, you don’t have to dedicate a special place from your office for the servers, and you can store the data as well as access it anytime from the cloud.

Managed Service Providers do all these jobs for you. Having a third party reliable operator look after your system will allow you IT team to look after more important tasks at hand. It will take care of backing up your data and prevent from data loss. The MSP will also make sure that your system is up-to-date.

What are the Benefits of Managed IT Services?

 

Managed services are on the rise and the way businesses will operate their IT operations in the future. The services tackle any issues before it causes any serious damage to your system. The MSPs are always on their toes and constantly monitor your system to make sure it runs smoothly and does not hinder your business growth. Here are some of the most important benefits of Managed IT services.

a. Saves Money: Investing in a MSP will help you manage your IT budget. If you take a long-term plan then it will cost you even less as the long-term plans usually have discounted prices. Also, it reduces your hardware cost of buying additional IT infrastructure like servers and also saves you a lot of ground space. You get system updates for free, data backup, free troubleshooting, and so much more without worrying about any costs.

b. Centralization: If you own multiple businesses then centralization of your network applications and servers will help you a lot. As you will have to keep track of your data and store it where you can access it all at once the single data center makes this possible. So you won’t have to run here and there to get access to your data. This makes things so much easier for you and your employees as you can improve your business and save time as well.

c. Minimum Downtime: Even an hour of network outage can affect your business. To avoid such instances the MSP will take care of your system so as it never abruptly shuts down or system failures. The technical aspects of your business will be well covered and avoid any frustrations that might affect your business progress.

d. Peace of Mind: Still there are people who believe that handing your IT system to a third party poses a potential risk to your data. However, this is not true. You can actually have peace of mind as your MSPs have advanced technologies and data management systems than your in-house IT team has. This makes them much more capable of handling your system, keeping it up-to-date, and keeping it safe.

Conclusion

 

Managed IT services are now rapidly increasing as they are benefitting the businesses a lot. It is also considered to be the future of business growth. Choose a right managed service provider and hand over your IT department for better, fast, and efficient growth of your business. Choosing a right Managed IT service might seem to be a daunting task but with enough research, meeting with the MSP you will find it in no time.