Managed IT Services: Why Smart SMBs Outsource Their IT

Picture a typical day in the office. Emails are flying out to customers. Databases are getting updated. Technical equipment is running at capacity in the back room. The marketing department is about to finalize that new ad campaign. Then your computer system goes down. Everyone is impacted, and the whole workday comes to a screeching halt.

Businesses depend on IT to keep their computers, networks, software, and specialized equipment running smoothly. Sometimes the burden of IT troubleshooting falls on employees with basic tech skills. This is a mistake. They may be able to clear paper jams out of the printer or check that the equipment is plugged in. However, many tech challenges that can crop up take a pro to resolve.

Enterprises that don’t have the budget or staff for a dedicated in-house IT department need to outsource. That’s where managed IT services come into the picture. Contracting with these companies gives your business access to experienced IT experts and niche specialists.

The Challenges of Doing IT Yourself

Smaller companies just getting started may be able to get away with one IT employee with generalist training. However, as your business grows, its needs will also increase. Keeping up with the changing tech landscape with your existing staff may not be possible while staying on budget. Here are three hurdles to handling IT in-house:

Lack of Skills

An employee with basic training may have no idea how to handle niche problems that crop up. Or they may have training in one system or application but be little better than a beginner with others.

The Cost

Keeping one employee devoted to full-time IT can get expensive when you may only need part-time or seasonal services. IT managers can command six figures a year, which may be beyond the company budget. Don’t forget about additional costs, such as training staff to deal with new equipment and ever-evolving cyber threats.

 Overwork

What if you have an employee who steps in for occasional IT work but otherwise has a totally different job in the company? This can seem like a great solution to the cost issue we just discussed, but it triggers another problem: burnout. After a certain point, asking someone to do more decreases productivity. There will also be times when both jobs are critical, meaning one task gets neglected.

Benefits & Features of Managed IT Services

Managed IT services are a cost-effective way to make your business more competitive and shield it from disastrous tech breakdowns. You won’t have to budget for IT-focused employees, yearly training, or operational costs like an in-house department. Expenses are predictable; just look at your contract. You can scale up and down as your company’s tech needs shift. If you need a quick consultation with an IT expert in a niche field, the service provider can arrange that for an affordable fee.

Another significant advantage of managed IT is the sheer convenience. You’ll have a single point of contact for tech issues. That support may be available 24/7/365. Just call your service partner, and they will determine what kind of IT assistance you need, interact with third-party tech providers, and more. These pros can also arrange headache-free transitions to cloud storage, back up your data, and generally take on the mental load of IT concerns.

Then there´s security. Businesses need to increase their cybersecurity measures every year in response to increasingly bold hacking attacks. Managed IT companies stay abreast of new cyber threats and pay for their employees’ training in new skills and technology. They offer services like penetration testing and disaster recovery plan development. Your company’s systems will also be proactively monitored to catch user errors and suspicious activity, letting you step in before the situation escalates.

Managed IT services can also increase your business’s efficiency. They free up your employees to focus on core activities. These services can also audit your IT infrastructure. The generated report highlights inefficiencies, what vital equipment is on the brink of failure, and whether there are better tech options within your budget.

Finally, a managed service can help your office stay compliant with various local, federal, and international data and client privacy requirements. You’ve probably heard of the big ones like HIPAA and GDPR, but these are the tip of the iceberg for the laws and regulations your company might trip over. A dedicated service will have the experience to prevent you from running aground on these requirements.

 

Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your IT

When does it make sense to switch to outsourced IT services? Here are five key signs:

• You keep stumbling across persistent issues that your existing IT staff don’t have the skills to resolve.
• A major deadline is coming up, and every system has to run smoothly. No delays are possible.
• The next project requires niche skills, but you don’t have the budget to hire a full-time specialist.
• Significant growth is projected, and you want to streamline the transition to a more extensive and more complex IT infrastructure.
• Your IT department is plagued with a high turnover rate. You want to outsource and work with reliable professionals.

Support the Future of Your Company with Managed IT Services

Businesses rely on their computer systems for all processes. This makes IT one of the most critical services in the company. However, depending on a single employee or small in-house department can be expensive and inefficient. Your business may also be lacking certain advanced IT skills that it needs to succeed.

If this is affecting your day-to-day operations and slowing down growth, managed IT services may be the answer. Outsourcing your IT gives you access to round-the-clock support and specialists at affordable rates.

Is it time for your Kentuckiana small business to outsource its IT needs? If so, contact Duplicator Sales & Service today. We’ll put you in touch with seasoned professionals who have the resources and training to deal with whatever IT challenges come your way.