In the last few years, there has been a significant shift towards IT in business. Where once it was desirable, adding extra value and making running a business much more simple, it is now a necessity. There are very few businesses that do not use any form of IT, whether it is simply using a cell phone to advertise on social media or a fully functioning network that keeps the business afloat. Most organizations would find themselves in serious trouble if their IT network went down for any great length of time.
The problem is that IT is an area that involves a great deal of skill and expertise. While Bob on the third floor might be able to sort out that printer jam or install that basic internet safety software, if something goes wrong – very wrong – it could be very expensive and very time consuming for you to sort out. Not only do you have to pay an IT expert to come along and fix it, but every minute your network is down is costing you in terms of money and your reputation.
If you want to avoid calling out an expert every time there is an issue, you have two choices: you either hire an in-house person or a team whose sole job is to oversee your IT requirements or you outsource it.
There are, of course, some advantages to having an in-house team, but if you are trying to keep costs down, using managed IT services is pretty much always going to be the best option.
When you choose to use managed IT services you have around the clock access to not just one IT expert, but a whole team of them. It guarantees that whatever your issue is, there will be someone who is able to sort it before it becomes unmanageable. That is if it gets to the point of having an issue in the first place – by using IT services you have someone monitoring your system and network so that any potential issues are flagged up immediately and preventative action can be taken. Often, you will not even know that there has been an issue because your IT services provider will have dealt with it before it becomes something to know about.
Another thing to bear in mind is that cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to break into systems and access data. Keeping on top of this can be a full-time job in itself, but your managed IT services provider will be up to date with the latest technology and preventative measures.
Finally, using an IT services provider is a cost-effective measure for most businesses. If you choose to deal with your own IT, you have to budget for equipment, security, upgrades, repairs, software, and so on – and this can be a significant chunk out of a limited budget. Using IT services mitigates many of these costs – it is one monthly or annual cost that covers everything.
While it may feel unnatural to hand over such an important part of your business operations to a third-party, the benefits it can bring are undeniable. Find out more about the services that are offered.
