When you outsource IT tasks to an expert third-party, that’s managed IT services. Managed IT services are ideal for companies that need to:
• Proactive Support Model
• Supplement in-house IT teams
• Lighten the workload of in-house IT
• Keep up with increasing IT demands
• Hire or replace an IT team
• Scale IT services up and down as needed
Managed IT services typically include monitoring, maintenance, reporting, and more. Businesses can then scale managed services to meet short-term and long-term goals.
One of the major benefits of managed IT services is that you can customize
tech solutions to fit your needs. For example, some companies choose to outsource
all IT tasks to a service provider. Others opt to only outsource some services.
Here are some managed IT services you can contract out to a third-party like Verticomm:
✔ Day-to-day operations
✔ Updates and troubleshooting
✔ Real-time hardware monitoring
✔ Tech support for staff or customers
✔ Manage incoming support tickets
✔ White label Help Desk services
✔ Private email security
✔ Intrusion detection and prevention
✔ Access control policies
✔ Regaining access to IT infrastructure
✔ IT recovery following cyberattacks
✔ Restore technology and data
✔ On-demand system resources
✔ Hosted data storage and access
✔ Remote computing
✔ Software updates and patches
✔ Malware prevention and monitoring
✔ Encryption services
Businesses of any size benefit from managed IT services. Here’s a look at the most common reasons companies choose to partner with providers:
Contracting a managed service provider like Verticomm means you can save on IT costs. Instead of hiring a full-time team of techs and engineers, you can contract them. This means you only pay for the services you need.
Most managed service providers offer 24/7 support. Should you experience a tech issue early in the morning or late at night, support is there for you — no matter what.
Plus, managed service providers work around your schedule. This means disruptive system updates and maintenance can take place during off-hours.
Managed service providers don’t just maintain security — they improve it. When you hire managed IT services, you also gain access to:
• Enterprise-grade security solutions
• Threat intelligence experts
• Around-the-clock monitoring
• 24 / 7 / 365 threat protection
Oftentimes managed IT services include long-term planning designed to help you grow. For example, IT consultants can identify ways to improve performance. Then, they can design strategies to help you get there. It’s a great way to improve efficiency in-house and gain a competitive advantage in your industry.
Just like anything else, there are pros and cons to working with third parties. And managed service providers are no exception. So when you’re ready to invest in managed IT services, it’s important you do your research. Here are some things to consider when you start looking:
Check for providers with a solid work history. Read online reviews to see what other businesses are saying about their performance. And review their service level agreements to make sure everything is clearly outlined.
With managed IT services, you give a vendor access to your company’s infrastructure and data. It’s important you review your provider’s security standards and compliances. This ensures you’re not opening yourself up to vulnerabilities.
Not all managed IT service packages are alike. Some providers offer services that others don’t and vice versa. Read through service level agreements to make sure they offer exactly what you need.
Review service level agreements to know whether you’re dependent on your provider. For example, some providers use proprietary resources to provide managed IT services. In which case, should they go under or you choose to switch providers, you may lose valuable information about your business.
One of the major benefits of working with a managed service provider is less downtime. But if the provider fails to deliver, you could experience downtime anyway. Thoroughly review contracts to make sure you can hold the provider accountable.
Choosing a managed service provider is an important task. Your provider directly impacts how well your business performs, and how fast it can grow. Consider all options available to you and use the checklist below to get started:
• Check Google for local providers
• Read online reviews
• Ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations
• Check for accountability clauses
• Analyze services for each provider
• Compare pricing
• Talk with an accountant
• Compare the cost of hiring a provider versus a team of full-time employees
• Narrow down your list of potential providers by budget
• Ask potential providers to audit your current system
• Compare providers based on competency and customer service
• Make sure each provider is familiar with compliance standards
• If you plan to grow, can your provider scale with you?
• Can your provider help you scale?
• Will your provider support growth without sacrificing quality?
Some industries need managed IT services more than others. Here are the most common that should partner with a managed service provider:
Dentists, physicians, you name it. If you’re in the healthcare industry, you should use managed IT services. The right provider can help you protect data like patient records and transactions. With so much data to manage, you’re going to need a helping hand. And that’s where a managed service provider comes in.
When it comes to real estate, there’s a lot of sensitive information that’s sent back and forth. And as a real estate agent or property manager, you’re responsible for making sure all that data is safe and secure.
Plus, if you’re part of a small agency or you work alone, you may not have the budget for an in-house IT team.
🎯 Am I responsible for sensitive information?
🎯 Am I vulnerable to cyberattacks?
🎯 Do I regularly need help with hardware or software issues?
🎯 Do I manage financial information (like credit card details)?
🎯 Is my business prepared to undergo a disaster event?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s a good chance you need a managed service provider. If you aren’t sure, reach out to your local provider anyway.
They can help you decide whether you need services. And you can discuss what kinds of services are appropriate for your business.
Having a competent IT Helpdesk staff with the robust monitoring and cyber security tools to either supplement your current team or provide a total solution is not as expensive as you may think.
This is why companies make the switch to managed IT services. It’s a flexible, affordable, and easy alternative to traditional in-house IT services or supplement in-house teams. What you pay depends on four factors:
✔️ The number of people at your company that require IT services
✔️ The cost scales alongside the total number of IT users
✔️ Different roles require different services
✔️ The number of applications each employee affects your overall cost
✔️ Cloud computing, IT help desk, and so on
✔️ Pick and choose which services make the most sense for your business
✔️ Protect your business and data against cyberattacks
✔️ Keep sensitive data safe, private, and secure
Find out exactly how much you can save each month with Verticomm’s managed IT services. Request a quote now and talk to a real, experienced IT expert who’s ready to answer all your questions.