If it ever seems like your company has to juggle too many tasks at once, especially regarding handling technology, you aren’t alone. That’s why Managed IT Services have become the unsung heroes of the modern workplace. They’re the tech-savvy experts everyone wishes by their side to take care of the IT intricacies so people like you can instead focus on their actual jobs. This article takes a look at Managed IT Services and why they matter.
What Are Managed IT Services, Anyway?
Managed IT Services are specialist outsourcing services companies can use to handle their IT operations. The scope of these services is broad, ranging from cybersecurity to managing data backups and much more.
These experts take on the technological responsibilities that could otherwise bog you down. Managed IT systems can be created to be unified and fully integrated with a company’s existing infrastructure, so you don’t have to worry about heavily changing existing processes.
The Financial Aspect
One of the most appealing reasons to hire MSPs (managed service providers) is the financial predictability. You pay a fixed monthly fee, which makes it easier to plan a monthly and yearly budget. That also means less surprise expenses when something goes wrong with your IT systems.
Around-the-Clock Monitoring
Another advantage is the continuous monitoring of the IT infrastructure. The service providers remotely monitor the client’s devices, network, and data streams. This way, they identify and resolve problems before they escalate and cause downtime.
A Pool of Expertise
When you opt for Managed IT Services, you gain access to a team of IT experts without having to manage them. They likely have years of experience and bring various skills to the table, like network management or cybersecurity. If your company cannot afford specialized IT staff, this alternative has nearly all the benefits of an IT team at a fraction of the cost.
Who Benefits From Managed IT Services?
Virtually any organization can benefit, but they’re precious for those without the in-house expertise to manage complex IT systems.
Healthcare Sector
Healthcare organizations, for instance, deal with sensitive patient data that must be secure and often preserved for a lifetime. Smaller clinics, in particular, stand to gain most from Managed IT Services due to a compelling cost-to-result ratio. But, even medium-sized and larger establishments can save considerably in money and space by cutting on in-house IT departments.
Educational Institutions
Schools and universities also benefit, as they often lack the resources to manage large, complex networks on their own. But just as with the healthcare sector, they must collect and preserve considerable volumes of student data.
Retail and E-commerce
For retail businesses, downtime can mean a significant loss of revenue, making the reliability that Managed IT Services provide a lifesaver. That’s especially true during high customer demand, such as during holidays.
How Do These Services Work?
When you sign up for Managed IT Services, you typically agree to a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This document outlines the scope of services, performance metrics, and how to resolve issues.
Data Backup and Recovery
One of the most vital services you get is data backup and recovery. Companies and organizations work with considerable volumes of data, most of which could spell disaster if lost or corrupt.
For example, customer databases, financial records, and project files are often irreplaceable assets that, if lost, could severely impact a company or even put it in legal hot water. Backing up and recovering lost data means these files will stay safe and can quickly be restored in case of data loss.
Cybersecurity Measures
Cybersecurity is another primary focus. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), federal agencies are mandated to implement NIST’s cybersecurity standards, showcasing the importance of robust cybersecurity for an organization.
And while the significance of keeping data and IT infrastructure safe in a governmental setting is obvious, every enterprise is vulnerable to cyberattacks. Data breaches, denial of service, increasingly sophisticated malware, and more are growing concerns as technology becomes more omnipresent and complex. Managed IT Services can handle cyber threats on a scale that an organization couldn’t match on its own.
Software Management
Software updates and patch management are also part of the Managed IT Services package. Keeping software up-to-date and testing its integrity reduces the risk of security vulnerabilities and keeps up with new features. It also means keeping up with structural changes, which, if ignored, could mean incompatibilities between different software versions.
This proactive approach also closes loopholes that hackers could exploit. Furthermore, updated software sometimes comes with optimizations that make your systems run more smoothly, thereby reducing lag and downtime.
The Growing Usefulness of Externally Managing IT
The market for outsourcing IT services is on the rise, and it’s not hard to see why. External services are a cost-effective, efficient, and secure way to manage a company’s IT operations.
Financial Benefits
The financial benefits are clear. Fixed monthly costs make budgeting easier, and you can often write these off as a business expense. Hence, a business saves a noteworthy portion of the money that would have gone into IT team salaries and can allocate it to other activities.
If your company doesn’t understand its IT management needs clearly, it can overshoot (or undershoot) the IT team size requirement, which can be draining through payroll. With a managed service provider, you receive an offer that can scale with your business demands. This means that you pay as much as you feasibly need.
Technological Advancements
Technology is always advancing. Managed IT Services let you keep pace and easily adapt to new technologies without the hassle of upgrading all the IT systems yourself. This adaptability matters the most in a competitive market where staying updated could mean the difference between leading the pack or falling behind.
Reduced Downtime
With experts continuously monitoring your company’s systems, the likelihood of experiencing downtime is significantly lower, allowing you to continue with your tasks quickly, even in times of trouble.
It’s Time to Take Action
Information technology systems are increasingly complex, especially in the realm of business. It isn’t always easy to keep up with all the demands and changes within this sector. Managed IT Services step in to take the burden of IT management off your shoulders and make doing business a more focused and enjoyable endeavor.
If you’re in Burnsville, Twin Cities, Fargo, Duluth, or St. Cloud, and you’re considering Managed IT Services, make Metro Sales your prime destination, and you won’t be disappointed. Check out the Metro Sales blog for more insights, or contact us to discuss how a service like this can assist you.