Whether you’re running an eCommerce business or provide B2B services in your community, you know that an IT problem can throw a serious wrench in your day.
Not only can it cost you in terms of potential sales, but it also lowers morale in the workplace.
You know that you need to find reliable, on-call IT services that can help you to get proactive when it comes to data management, security, and general software issues. However, with your budget the size that it is right now, you’re just not sure if it’s financially possible.
The good news?
With managed IT services, it is.
Read on to learn about a few of the many managed IT services benefits that your company can enjoy.
Related | 5 Reasons Why Outsourced IT Pays Off for Small Business
#1. Increased Office Productivity
Recent studies have shown that employees waste nearly 70% of their time at work.
And while things like online shopping, personal emails, and endless meetings are certainly to blame?
So are IT problems, Internet connectivity issues, and slow loading times. This is especially true if you don’t have managed services providers on hand, who have been specifically trained to help your team to deal with IT issues.
Without a dedicated IT team, your employees are left to figure out these problems on their own (which takes much longer than it would if a professional were handling things.) Or, productivity is at a standstill because the office is forced to wait for an IT professional to arrive, and must work around their schedule.
Managed IT services will increase your office productivity, ensure issues are resolved quickly, and help your website’s overall uptime remain high (so you can continue to make online sales.)
Plus, we’re more than willing to bet that having an IT staff on hand will certainly cut down on workplace stress and aggravation.
#2. Better Security
You know that having a strong cybersecurity and data protection plan in place is essential to protecting your business’s reputation.
What you might not understand fully is just how severe the consequences of a lax security strategy can be. In fact, about 60% of small businesses that suffer from a hack or data breach go out of business in just six months.
A managed IT service ensures that you don’t only have the best security strategies in place, but also works to run updates and identify new security threats you might not even be aware of.
They can also help you to create a strong password policy, and ensure that you’re up-to-date with compliance and industry regulations when it comes to data security.
Most of all, a managed IT team will help you to come up with an excellent office security policy. Working to be sure that your team members are on the same page when it comes to data security is the best way to prevent a serious attack.
#3. Lower Operating Costs
It’s no secret that, as a newer or small business, one of your main priorities is finding ways to control your costs.
You want to have the same IT resources and benefits of your larger competitors, but you know that your budget is a bit more restricted than theirs.
One of the best managed services benefits is that you’ll be able to use the same software, strategies, and other expertise as your competitors, without paying the same costs as they do.
Plus, you’ll know exactly what your IT budget will be every month. This helps you to keep costs down and take a proactive approach to protecting your data.
Working with a managed IT service prevents you from having to deal with software vendors directly. However, it also allows you to benefit from the relationships with vendors that your IT service provider has.
As your business continues to grow, your service provider can scale their IT offerings to your latest needs.
What to Look for in a Managed IT Provider
Before we wrap things up, let’s quickly go over the most important things to look for in a managed IT services provider.
First of all, ensure that the provider has direct experience within your industry. This is especially key if you work in the healthcare or financial industries, as they have seriously strict regulations and compliance rules surrounding data protection.
You should also consider whether or not this service has experience with user management, data storage solutions, and data recovery. Ask about things like the average site uptime they can guarantee, how long it takes them to recover your data after a disaster, and which operating systems they’re familiar with.
Also, be certain that you’ve taken a hard look at their service contracts. Are you locked into a long-term contract, or are you able to leave at any time? What is included in their fees, and what will you need to pay extra for?
When in doubt, always take the time to read customer reviews and speak with past clients directly. That’s the best way to get an accurate read on the level of service your company can expect.
Is Your Company Ready to Benefit from Managed IT Services?
We hope that this post has helped you to understand just a few of the many benefits of managed IT service providers.
Not only will they help you to keep costs down, but they’ll also allow you to take a proactive approach to data protection. Above all, a managed provider will help to increase productivity and decrease stress levels in your office.
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