The term managed services generally refers to the outsourcing of your company’s IT needs, usually computer network management and support, compared to having an in-house IT staff. This is done to allow companies to focus on their revenue-generating business (the stuff that they’re good at) rather than getting bogged down in IT infrastructure and management. But that’s not the ONLY reason. Let’s take a look at some the big benefits to using an IT Managed Services provider like Control Networks.
Lower cost. Using an IT managed services provider comes at a much lower cost when compared to an in-house IT team. You’re not paying salaries for employees, nor any of the additional expenses or benefits like healthcare. The best part? An IT managed services provider doesn’t get paid time-off!
A level playing field. Many larger companies that can afford it will have an in-house IT team, while that might not be an option (financially) for small or medium-sized companies. With a managed service provider, small and medium sized companies can get the same IT support and services (or better, often) as their larger competitors.
Management of vendors. Dealing with all the different software vendors you may use in your company can be a hassle. Trying to get somebody on the phone from Adobe (for example) is about as easy as winning a billion-dollar lottery. Don’t waste your time and effort doing that! A managed services provider will handle it for you.
Greater access to greater expertise. If you hire an in-house IT team, you only have access to the expertise of your small team. Compare that to a managed services provider, which is made of a large team of experts that have specialties in many different facets of IT management and services.
Stay compliant. No matter what business you’re in, there are regulations and compliance issues that have an impact on your IT systems. For example, if you’re in the medical industry, you’ll need a good understanding of the HIPPA. With a managed services provider, you have help to make sure that you’re always compliant with the proper rules and regulations.
Data security. Whether it’s customer data, employee information, or sensitive business documents, cyber security threats are a very constant and very real problem for all businesses. By being always up-to-date with the latest security software and upgrades, a managed services provider can make sure you are ahead of any hackers of other potential threats that could impact your business.
Reduced downtime. A good managed services provider doesn’t just wait for your network to break before they fix it. They are constantly doing routine maintenance and checks to prevent it from going down in the first place. Like the doctor always says, “prevention is the best medicine!”
IT managed services may not be the right fit for every company. However, if you’re a small to medium sized business looking to keep your overhead down while you compete against larger companies, it’s an option that will likely make sense.