You can’t afford to ignore tech in business these days. Reports show that 44% of companies plan on increasing their IT budgets in 2020. If you don’t keep up, you’re going to be left behind.
If you’re thinking of investing in managed IT services to help, it pays to know all you can about the process. Keep reading to learn what managed services are and how to go about getting a reliable provider for your business.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Not every business has the resources to hire IT staff full-time. They have enough resources tied up while focusing on their primary job functions.
A managed services provider helps in these situations.
Instead of hiring an IT team for your business, you outsource that function to a third-party provider. A managed services provider can help create your IT infrastructure and provide IT support whenever your business faces problems.
Even if you do decide to hire a team yourself, there will still be times that getting a second opinion is worthwhile. An IT firm can supplement your team for the times you need additional support and don’t want to hire more employees.
How Does IT Service Management Help?
Taking work off your plate isn’t the only reason for working with an IT provider. Below are several benefits you’ll see when you outsource your IT.
1- Gain Access to New Tech
Technology is developing at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, you likely don’t have the time in the day to keep up with the newest developments as a business owner.
You can count on a managed services provider to handle this for you. They have a good grasp of what tech will make the most significant impact on business. If they find something that shows promise, they’ll let you know and integrate it into your company before you know it.
2- Protect Your Business From Cybercrime
It’s not a secret. Cybercrime is on the rise and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime in the future. If you want to keep your business safe, you have to take business security seriously.
Many IT providers have security experts on their payroll. If you need help, have one of their specialists perform an audit of your business. They will find any problems and provide recommendations that will secure your company network.
3- Manage Your File Backups
Cybercrime isn’t the only thing you need to worry about in the digital age. With much of your company data existing on digital platforms, data loss is something that you should be concerned about.
You never know when a disaster will happen that causes you to lose your critical business information. An IT support service can help you set up a backup system to safeguard this data. If you ever lose anything because of a disaster, you can recover it by clicking a few buttons.
4- Lower Costs
Even if you do want to run your own IT department, the question is, can your company afford it? Unfortunately, hiring an experienced IT team gets expensive.
You don’t only have payroll costs to consider, either. You have to pay for benefits, payroll taxes, and the cost of hiring new employees. Going with a managed services provider means you can skip the cost and headache while still get support from the experts.
5- Around the Clock Support
Do you have a business that operates at all hours of the day? If so, you need to make sure your team is supported when everyone else stops working.
Most IT providers provide you the ability to get support at all hours of the day. You won’t need to worry about a project coming to a stop during the night. Your provider will make sure your employees get the help they need.
How Do You Find a Reliable IT Provider?
If you’re convinced that a managed services provider is right for your business, it’s time to start the hiring process. Follow the tips below to find the right company for the job.
1- Find a Company With Experience in Your Industry
Not all businesses have the same technical requirements. Each industry has a unique set of requirements set out by both industry standards and government regulations. You need to do everything you can to comply with these rules.
A managed services provider with experience in your industry will be able to meet your needs better. They will have handled your requirements before, so you won’t be stuck with a company that needs to figure out what to do from scratch.
Try to learn what questions to ask about your industry so that you can verify whether or not a company can back up what they say.
2- Ask About Turnaround Time
Most of your IT needs won’t be immediate. They are projects that are completed over an extended time. Unfortunately, emergencies do come up.
The last thing you want is to be stuck with an unresponsive IT partner when an emergency occurs. Make sure your provider has a reliable turnaround time, so you aren’t left in the dark.
3- Check for References
Anybody can hype up their service to be great. Delivering on those promises is another matter.
Ask your potential IT provider for references. Speaking to past and current customers will help you figure out what it’s like working with a business. You’ll be able to learn if they can do the job and if their working style fits with what you need.
Talk to a Managed Services Provider Today
You don’t have to take on the technology needs of your business on your own. Talk to a managed IT services provider today to learn how they can help. Once you find someone to do all the hard work, you can focus on the work you’re best at doing.
