5 Benefits of Managed IT Services
With technology pervading every aspect of most industries, it’s more critical than ever to keep everything working the way it should. But sometimes the staff, resources, knowledge, and time you have just isn’t enough to keep up with the IT demands of a tech-driven workplace. IT solutions by managed service providers (MSPs) are an increasingly popular option for businesses of all sizes. Here are some reasons why:
1. Cost
One of the most visible benefits of a managed IT service is the cost. Most managed service providers operate on a monthly subscription, giving businesses a reliable expenditure and an easily measurable return on investment. This regular cost comes with many benefits that would be prohibitively expensive with an in-house IT specialist or department, such as 24-hour monitoring and fast response times, and because MSPs provide IT solutions to a number of different clients, they have the resources to hire more technicians and specialists than a single company does. Because of this, businesses that utilize managed IT services get more for their spend.
2. Knowledge
In addition to more people responding to work orders and doing installations, having access to more technicians means that businesses have a gigantic body of knowledge about the world of information technology. IT departments can get bogged down by the day-to-day, such as fixing broken devices, troubleshooting software issues, and doing basic maintenance, causing strategic technology goals and learning to fall by the wayside. Technicians at MSPs are out in the field, working with different technologies in different industries, and may have more insight into the best tech for a company than an in-house specialist.
3. Accessibility
Businesses may be wary of not having their IT department down the hall, but MSPs are fully aware that distance from the technology that they are managing is their main problem and do their best to eliminate problems that may arise. For example, with 24-hour monitoring of cloud systems, MSPs often find out there is an issue before it even begins to affect the business, allowing for a fast response and seamless use of cloud-based applications and utilities.
4. Business Resources
Having a cost-effective team of IT technicians taking care of repairs and maintenance frees up the business’s employees to work on strategic goals. In small and mid-sized businesses, sometimes IT support may be the employee who happens to have the best grasp on technology, and with a managed IT service, that person regains time to work on goals relevant to their position. In large and enterprise businesses, who may have an IT department in place, lifting the burden of break-fix IT allows them to work on things like streamlining tech practices and researching and purchasing new tech solutions.
5. Security
With industry knowledge and greater manpower, MSPs are in a unique position to provide best security practices, and with the current state of cybercrime, security is a huge part of every IT strategy. For businesses of every size, having a team of IT technicians that are experts in cloud- and cyber-security can help protect against hugely damaging attacks.
Managed IT services are trending in a big way in the business world, and it’s not hard to see why. With reasonable and reliable costs for a monumental benefit, every company has access to top-of-the-line IT solutions, no matter the size. With this huge shift in how the information technology sector operates, businesses everywhere are able to leverage technology to grow and stay competitive in today’s landscape.
