Outsourcing your managed services can reduce the strain on your in-house IT staff and allow your team to focus on what matters pertaining to strategic growth over day-to-day operations. When you eliminate the time spent on repetitive tasks like daily service and support, the benefits of managed services become apparent throughout your organization. Employees can focus on leveraging the best solutions for your company that will increase productivity across departments.
So, What Are Managed IT Services?
Managed services, or managed IT services, include any information technology support and services handled by an outside firm. These information technology solutions often provide 24/7 monitoring of your systems, along with proactive support and timely repair and troubleshooting services—often before your in-house team may realize there’s an issue.
Some examples of managed IT support include remote monitoring and management of your network, managed video conferencing solutions and other collaboration tools, cloud-based storage, system maintenance, virtual machine management, and cybersecurity measures.
The benefits of managed services include the potential cost-savings of outsourcing, 24/7 IT services and support, and reduced strain on your in-house IT staff to become experts in the many applications your business uses on a daily basis. Having one firm manage all such services can ultimately reduce costs and increase your peace of mind. You can relax, knowing your systems will work when you need them.
10 Benefits of Managed Services
Let’s explore 10 of the benefits of IT support services for small to mid-sized businesses.
1. Streamlined Operations
With monitoring, data storage, management, and security (to name just a few) under one roof, there’s no playing the “blame game” when something goes wrong. Your managed IT solutions and support team will own and fix the problem.
2. Centralized Servers and Applications Improve Security and Stability
With managed services, your apps and data are hosted remotely, usually in a virtual server environment. These facilities follow international standards for control and security. Even if a natural disaster or unforeseen event hits your office, your data will be secure in a remote facility. Managed service providers have standards established to help you keep business continuity if something goes wrong in your office or off-site.
3. Peace of Mind With 24/7 Monitoring
Picture this: It’s after midnight and you’re putting the final touches on a crucial presentation when your server goes down. Your in-house IT staff has been home for hours, and they’re probably asleep. But your managed service provider (MSP) has got you covered. In fact, with managed IT support services, there’s a high likelihood the network wouldn’t fail, because your MSP would notice there was a problem before you did.
4. Trained Managed IT Service Members Can Fill the Roles Your In-House Staff Can’t
Today’s current IT infrastructure and software applications often require specialized and unique skill sets. Adding new software requires learning new skills that are typically needed only once. You could spend time and money training your in-house team each time you roll out a new program, or you could let your MSP streamline the process with their specialized knowledge base.
5. In-House IT Workers Can Prioritize Innovation
With your day-to-day operations running on autopilot thanks to your managed IT service provider, your internal IT team can focus on your company’s core competencies and the innovative ideas that will keep it at the top of your industry.
6. Managed IT Support Helps to Ensure Compliance
From the security of financial data to consumer privacy, compliance rules and standards help protect individual rights. Business owners in the e-commerce, retail, healthcare, education, financial services, and legal industries all know that compliance plays a crucial role in avoiding fines and growing your customer base.
Managed IT services can shift compliance burdens away. Trained experts, like the ones at Merit, can ensure your technology systems adhere to national and international rules and regulations.
7. Predictable Costs Reduce Regular Cash Flow Burdens
Managed IT services have low introductory costs and predictable monthly payments, making it easier for you to budget for your IT expenses.
8. Managed Services Simplify Remote and Hybrid Work Environments
Not only does the centralized management of your IT services reduce overall costs, but it also ensures all employees have an identical technology experience. Whether employees work in your office, from home, or another location, they can log in and have the same security and speed as if they were on-site.
9. Scalability Options Conserve Resources and Control Expenses
It’s easy to scale up managed IT services as your business needs grow. With pay-as-you-go service plans, you can even decide to increase your managed IT solutions during your busiest season and decrease again should the need arise.
10. Future-Proof Your Business
Your managed IT service provider is always training, learning, and upgrading systems to ensure leading technology systems. As a partner, you gain the benefit of their expertise and investments to stay up to date with technology without having to pay for upgrades or training.
Next Steps
If you’re looking for a managed services solution, you’re in the right place. Talk with an expert to discover a responsive and relationship-focused IT service provider, rather than just another vendor
