Technology gives small to medium-sized businesses the tools they need to compete. However, leveraging tech effectively means keeping your IT infrastructure in shape. That’s where managed services provider (MSP) shine. Here are the benefits of managed IT services.
10 Benefits of Managed IT Services
Here’s why you need managed IT services:
1. Access to IT Expertise
Small businesses face significant challenges when managing their IT, including:
- Navigating today’s complex IT landscape to pick the best solutions based on your current and future needs.
- Implementing the selected solutions and integrating them with existing infrastructure.
- Maintaining them in good working order.
The managed IT service model resolves these challenges. It provides ongoing access to extensive IT expertise and experience. This level of professional knowledge typically exceeds an SMB’s budget for hiring an equivalent team in-house.
Additionally, the ongoing talent shortage in the tech industry significantly complicates the process of hiring IT professionals for your organization. So, another managed service provider benefit is that it eliminates the frustration and expense involved in hiring and training full-time IT professionals.
2. One Point of Contact for All IT Issues
When small organizations have an IT problem, they often spend the time-consuming process of calling and emailing different vendors. Trying to find someone who can pinpoint the issue and solve it takes them away from other work they could be performing.
And this already tedious process can be further complicated by a language barrier. Because it’s a common struggle for non-IT people to communicate IT issues effectively, through no fault of their own.
So, another managed services benefit is that they act as a central point of contact. They are the middleman between your organization and your vendors. As such, they are ultimately responsible for the solutions you pay for.
The best MSPs, who are well-acquainted with their customers, often know what actions to take once they identify an issue.
3. Around-the-Clock Support
Downtime is expensive. And its consequences can go far beyond the immediate loss if it continues for too long. When you partner with an MSP, you sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This agreement clearly defines their obligations – including service delivery times and the scope of work.
An SLA ensures that customer support is always available exactly when you need it. That way you can avoid the frustration of your calls going unanswered or sent to voicemail. Especially during IT emergencies when immediate help is crucial.
4. Predictable Costs
MSPs use various pricing models, such as per-device, per-user, or value-based pricing. What these pricing models have in common is that they reflect the size of your organization. This reduces your IT operating expenses into a single predictable figure. When something breaks unexpectedly your bill stays the same.
Moving IT infrastructure to the cloud can further amplify the predictable nature of MSPs. This move requires significant capital expenditures. Yet, once implemented, cloud computing can lead to significant cost savings and improve scalability.
5. Up-to-Date Technology
The managed IT services market is highly competitive. It’s expected to reach $274.20 billion by 2026, up from $152.05 billion in 2020. To attract and retain customers, MSPs can’t afford to offer anything less than the latest technology available.
Their customers benefit the most from this. Why? Because it’s in the best interest of MSPs to promote solutions that perfectly meet their needs.
This contrasts with direct relationships with vendors. They may know that their products are inferior to their competitors, but still try to convince their customers otherwise.
6. Comprehensive IT Strategy for Business Integration
Small businesses need a holistic approach to IT value-creation. And implementing a new IT solution is just the start of the IT value-creation process.
To work as intended, you must integrate the solution well with your existing infrastructure. This ensures it won’t become a source of more issues than it solves – especially if it’s cybersecurity-related.
Because leading MSPs establish long-lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships with their customers, they can provide a holistic approach to IT value creation. They help with everything from choosing the best solution to implementing and maintaining it. Plus, they have a solid understanding of your infrastructure and its unique characteristics.
7. Protection Against Cyber Threats
Gone are the days when hackers largely ignored SMBs because they saw them as low-value targets. Today, cybercriminals are keenly aware that small fish can be used to lure big game. Which is one reason why everyone – from the smallest local business to large international corporations – must take cybersecurity seriously.
Most MSPs offer proactive monitoring in the form of managed cybersecurity. This makes it easy for their customers to improve their defenses against cyber threats.
8. Regulatory Compliance Made Easy
Cybersecurity and compliance go hand in hand. MSPs understand that customers in different industries must comply with security and privacy standards.
Examples
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
Experienced MSPs can help you navigate the complexities associated with these and other standards. This makes compliance easy by removing the regulatory burden your in-house staff would otherwise have to bear.
9. Proactive Approach to IT
The biggest issue with the break/fix method is that it doesn’t address its root cause. It’s like firefighters trying to put out fires set by an arsonist, but never telling the police to catch the person.
When it comes to most IT issues, poor hardware and software maintenance often traces back to their root cause. MSPs are paid to keep all systems running without a hitch.
Because of this, they provide ongoing network monitoring for signs of problems. The moment they see a potential issue, they address it to prevent them from growing into significant issues.
10. Sharp Focus on Core Objectives
Employees at small businesses must frequently wear several hats, which is perfectly fine if the hats they wear fit them. Issues arise when organizations overextend themselves by tackling IT and cybersecurity challenges beyond their expertise.
Partnering with an MSP and makes it responsible for aligning IT with your business goals. This helps you maintain a sharp focus on your core business objectives and ensures your business grows.
Experience the Advantages of Managed IT Services
We cannot stress enough the importance of managed IT services for the health and maturity of small businesses. It’s a force multiplier that you can’t beat.
Learn more about managed IT services offerings in our popular article: 11 Most Important Managed IT Services for Small Businesses.
Get the IT Support You Need Today
If your organization could benefit from seasoned managed IT services, we would be happy to help. Our sophisticated expertise has helped hundreds of business owners navigate the complexities of IT and cybersecurity. Â
Teal offers responsive and secure managed IT services to SMBs nationally, with local headquarters based in:
If you’re interested in learning about our premier IT consulting, contact a Teal business technology advisor today.
