IT infrastructures are continuously becoming advanced, sophisticated, and vulnerable to security breaches. To ensure the best IT infrastructure management, businesses are opting for managed IT services. In fact, around 90% of SMBs are already using or considering using managed service providers to handle their IT needs.
Managed IT services not only maintain and troubleshoot IT infrastructure but also provide proactive IT management to avoid issues, promote productivity, and enhance security. In this guide, we will closely look at how managed IT services enhance productivity and improve business operations.
Managed IT Services – A Brief Overview
Managed IT services refer to the strategic outsourcing of a company’s IT functions to a third-party provider called a Managed Service Provider (MSP). The MSP manages, monitors, and optimizes IT systems and infrastructure.
Managed IT services provider has skilled IT professionals, technological resources, and dedicated support to ensure the company’s IT operations run smoothly without needing an in-house IT workforce.
The key elements of managed IT services include:
- Network and IT infrastructure management
- Managed security
- Data backup and recovery
- Manage cloud-based resources/services
- Help desk IT support
Simply put, managed IT services act as your 24/7 assistant that maintains a secure IT environment and lets you keep your focus on primary business activities.
How Managed IT Services Enhance Productivity: Top 6 Ways
IT outsourcing benefits are tremendous. Below are six key ways managed IT services enhance the productivity and efficiency of businesses:
1. Operational Efficiency Boost
Managed IT services enhance business workflows and automate routine tasks. Advanced technologies and proactive management minimize downtime and ensure that systems run smoothly. In addition, they let internal teams focus on strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day IT issues. Nearly half (49%) of businesses adopt outsourced services specifically to allow key personnel to focus on core activities.
2. Access to Expertise and Latest Technology
Partnering with outsourced service providers offers businesses access to a team of skilled IT professionals and the latest technology. This access allows organizations to leverage advanced knowledge in areas such as cybersecurity and cloud computing without the overhead of hiring full-time specialists. This means more efficient operations with best practices to stay competitive with technological advancements and new emerging industry trends.
3. Cost Efficiency
Did you know outsourcing IT services reduces IT costs by up to 40%? It eliminates the need for a full in-house IT infrastructure and a skilled IT team. Companies can save significantly on salaries, benefits, and infrastructure costs. This cost-saving is utilized in employees’ well-being, purchasing productivity tools, and investing in strategic initiatives that drive growth and innovation.
4. Enhanced Security
With cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, businesses face an average cost of $3.86 million per data breach. Managed IT services implement robust security measures to protect against emerging cyber threats. Organizations are better positioned to proactively mitigate risks and reduce the likelihood of costly incidents.
5. Scalability
As the business grows, you need a larger infrastructure and a bigger IT team. With outsource services, scalability becomes hassle-free. You can increase/decrease your IT resources in response to market demands. Simply put, you only pay for what you use.
6. Comprehensive Support
Most managed IT services provide 24/7 support and monitoring. They ensure that any issues are addressed promptly to reduce downtime. This level of support is crucial for maintaining business operations and enhancing customer satisfaction, as it allows companies to respond quickly to any technical challenges that may arise.
Tips for Choosing the Right Managed IT Services
The benefits of managed IT services are only possible if you use the right service provider. So, we have below shortlisted some useful tips and tricks to choose the right one:
- Define your IT requirements and objectives you need to fulfill.
- Ensure the provider offers a comprehensive range of services, such as IT management, cybersecurity, proactive monitoring, cloud solutions, etc.
- Evaluate MSP industry expertise and reputation (reviews).
- Choose an MSP that can adapt and scale its services as your business grows.
- Ensure the pricing structure is clear and free of hidden fees.
- Evaluate the MSP’s communication channels and responsiveness to ensure timely support during critical situations.
In short, take your time shortlisting a few of the best-managed IT service providers and then choose the best one.
Wrapping Up
The managed services market is projected for tremendous growth in the next few years, as every business is somehow engaging with these platforms. These services help businesses solve their operational challenges by streamlining IT processes, reducing costs, enhancing security, and improving overall efficiency. Therefore, get managed IT services for your business and keep your focus on business growth.
Sun IT Solutions, based in Toronto, is a premier IT consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of services. Our expertise includes Managed IT Services, Network Management, Help Desk Support, Remote IT Support, Unified Communications, Tech Support, Cloud Solutions, Managed Security, IT Outsourcing, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR), Cyber Security Training, and Dark Web Monitoring. These services are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients, ensuring their operations are efficient and secure. Take advantage of our complimentary data breach scan to check if your credentials have been compromised by hackers.
