Business IT Support: What Do You Need?

Technology is an integral part of every business, and while technology brings effectiveness and efficiency, managing your company’s tech needs can be a challenge. Experts estimate there are significant technological advances as little as every 28 days.

Although these advancements are beneficial to your company’s growth, staying on top of these developments can be overwhelming and often impossible unless you employ a full-time IT specialist. However, bringing on a full-time professional is a huge financial investment and that is not always necessary. Many companies are turning to managed IT services to outsource their technology needs.  

So what is the best solution for your company’s technological needs? Here are few things to consider regarding business IT support.

Growth and Future Plans

Before making any decisions, it is important to assess your company’s current and projected size.

  • Are you currently growing?
  • How many employees do you have?
  • Do you have a complex technology needs?

The size and technological bandwidth of your company is a determining factor in IT support. Smaller companies most likely don’t have the financial capital to invest in a full-time IT professional. However, if you are outsourcing, it is important to find a managed services group you trust to grow with your company and help avoid unforeseen technological challenges.

On the contrary, larger companies are more likely to have the funds to invest in an in-house IT professional. As companies grow, so do their servers, data, and need for security. With more people depending on services, larger companies can’t afford large technological glitches. By bringing on an in-house expert, technology issues can be resolved much more efficiently, and your employees are more productive when time isn’t spent troubleshooting technology issues.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

As remote work becomes increasingly more popular, companies are investing in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to allow employees to securely access company email, files and databases from anywhere in the world. Companies can either purchase and manage VPN networks internally, or outsource the work to a managed service provider.

With more and more employees working outside the traditional office setting, it is critical you take precautions from others in public networks having access to sensitive information. If your company chooses to utilize a VPN, it is best to outsource management to a third party to ensure utmost security.

Internal Servers

Setting up and maintaining an internal server can be a larger undertaking. If your company decides to invest in an internal server, it is important to understand everything that goes into the securing and maintaining the server.

Security mechanisms, such as firewall and proxy servers, need to be in place to protect your network from external threats. System availability, backups, data and service redundancy, hardware architecture and disaster recovery procedures all need to included and managed when you have an internal service. For this reason, companies with internal server will benefit from utilizing a managed service provider to oversee technological needs.

Budget

As with most aspects of business, the budget is often a major deciding factor when determining the business IT support you need. Knowing your bottom line will help guide you towards the best fit business IT support options. As you are setting your company’s technology budget, consider some of these following questions:

  • How much are you currently spending on IT support?
  • How often do you require IT support? – Will calling a technician every time you have a problem end up to be more costly than investing in a managed IT service?
  • Are you successful with the amount of support you have now?
  • How time sensitive are your technology needs?

Determining the Business IT Support You Need

So what’s the answer? In the end, managed business IT support can save your company time and money by freeing up your employee’s time and foreseeing problems before they arise. If you’re ready to look at options, check out our services, then get in touch!

How SMBs Benefit From Managed IT Services

Every business utilizes technology in some form or fashion. Whether software or hardware, technology is everywhere and it makes our lives more efficient and effective. But sometimes, small/medium business owners (SMBs) find themselves wearing so many hats just to manage their operations, that their tech needs fall by the wayside.

Experts estimate that there are major technology advances every 28 days. At this speed, only dedicated IT professionals can keep abreast of the changes. But hiring a full-time, in-house IT professional could require a significant (and often times unnecessary) investment.

A wiser, more cost-efficient solution most SMBs pursue is outsourcing their IT needs to companies that specialize in tech. This frees up their budgets to focus on operations and marketing. This is called managed IT services.

Here’s how SMBs benefit from managed IT services.

How Managed IT Services work

According to CompTIA’s 5th Annual Trends in Managed Services report, the global managed services market is expected to grow to up to $193B by 2019.

Managed IT service providers use remote monitoring and management systems to keep track of the systems that power your business. They also provide suggestions on the software and hardware that will most benefit their clients.

Regular maintenance, data backups, and periodic software checks for viruses and malware are also handled by IT service providers. Many provide access to a support desk as needs arise, serving as an extension of your in-house team. Compensation structures vary with many utilizing a fixed fee interval.

Proactive vs. Reactive Approach

The peace of mind that comes from using an IT service provider cannot be quantified. Clients do not have to worry about their day-to-day IT operations. Many potential problems are prevented (a proactive approach), instead of dealt with when they arise unexpectedly (reactive).

Unfortunately many SMB use a reactive approach. This can cause significant downtime in operations, or damage important internal systems and data. Having an IT service provider who is familiar with your business also adds to increased incident resolution time (versus someone coming in who is unfamiliar with the system)

Increase Productivity

Utilizing a provider specialized in IT increases your team’s productivity. Now your employees can focus on doing what they do best, whether that is finance, marketing, or operations. You risk less downtime and expenditures (that would be used for in-house IT staff) when time can be allocated to other parts of your business to drive revenue.

Quick Response Times

As the old adage says, “time is money.” SMBs benefit from managed IT services because their support team is working remotely, and your customers get support no matter where, when or what time the needs arise. Support services can be reached 24/7, 365 days a year.

Save Money in the Long Run

In the long run, calling in a technician every time your system breaks down could cost your business more over time (not including the loss of operation time).

For budgeting purposes, SMBs benefit from managed IT services, because you will have a handle on what your IT costs will be month to month. Together, you and your managed IT services provider will arrange a flat fee to include coverage during normal business hours, and after hours.

For SMBs, Managed IT services are a cost-effective solution for the long run. By outsourcing your IT needs, your employees can stay focused on doing what your business does best.

Prevent problems before they arise, and start a relationship with a professional who keeps attuned to the latest tech developments to keep your systems running well. Using a Managed IT Services provider who focuses on SMBs, like Harrington Technologies, provides critical day-to-day support and maintenance of your network.