We all want to protect our businesses from unexpected disasters that could undo our years of dedication and hard work, such as hardware failures or cyberattacks. Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality for too many business owners. Companies like yours are targeted by hackers every single day, and many never recover from the reputational and financial ruin that follows a data breach. Others are able to pick up the pieces, but at great cost.
Then there are businesses that are back up and running in a matter of hours, almost as if nothing happened at all.
These are businesses that said “yes” to managed IT services and made the commitment to protect their data, financials, employees, and clients. If your business lacks managed IT services and you haven’t yet embraced total IT security, it’s time to say “YES!” and give your company the professional and comprehensive support it needs to ward off the countless IT threats that exist in the world today.
So, what exactly are managed services? In a nutshell, Managed Services Providers (commonly known as MSPs) provide professional IT support without having to hire in-house IT staff. You get full-time access to network and technology experts without having to pay a full-time team. In other words, you save money and you have someone keeping a close eye on your IT infrastructure. If you are already working with an IT company, there is a possibility that they may already offer managed services — you just have to ask for it!
Here are a few reasons why managed services are the ideal IT solution for SMBs:
Proactive IT support. Businesses must be proactive with their IT management because—guess what? Cybercriminals are a relentless bunch that are constantly seeking new ways to breach your security defenses. Managed services will give you access to your own team of IT professionals and state-of-the-art tools that can identify potential threats before they have the chance to become problems for your business.
On top of that, managed services ensure that your network — and everything connected to it — receives regular updates, security patches, and routine maintenance. Basically, they help keep your business protected while minimizing downtime—and the lost revenue and frustration that comes with it.
It helps you save money — and you know exactly how much you’ll be spending month-to-month. Many businesses do not hire IT staff simply because it’s expensive. Luckily, outsourcing your IT to a Managed Services Provider mitigates the “sticker shock” of paying for in-house IT.
With managed services, you get a customized support plan with fixed monthly costs, making it MUCH easier to adhere to a quarterly or annual budget. And because managed services are tailored to your specific business needs, you can eliminate the possibility of any “fluff” or padded fees. Managed IT is also scalable, so as your business grows or changes, your IT services can change as well.
It provides multi-pronged protection. At this point, all managed IT services should include comprehensive cybersecurity that defends your business against malware, spyware, ransomware, phishing scams, and exploitative hacks. But the protection doesn’t stop there — far from it! MSPs can also protect you from data loss due to disasters such as fires, flood, or hardware failures — things that are impossible to predict, yet very possible to prepare for.
Security compliance is another key component. If you operate in finance, healthcare, insurance, legal, education—or just about any other industry these days—you know how important this is. Your MSP will ensure that your network is up-to-date with all the fine print. You won’t have to worry about anything slipping through the cracks or inadvertently violating privacy and cybersecurity legislation, which can lead to all kinds of costly headaches.
It gives you TIME. This is the most precious commodity of all. If you’re running around dealing with IT problems all day, your business productivity, profitability, and morale will ultimately suffer. Wouldn’t you rather spend your time focusing on what you do best—like growing your business and taking care of customers?
Simply put, managed IT provides a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for businesses that aren’t big enough or cannot afford to hire full-time, in-house IT support. While it’s not a “set-it-and-forget-it” solution—no such solution exists when the business technology we rely on is evolving at such a rapid rate—it’s pretty darn close. Your MSP handles your IT, while you handle your business — and you collaborate when you need to. You can rest assured that someone is keeping a close eye on your network, and that professional IT support is just a quick phone call away when you need it.
Ready to make the switch to Managed Services? Contact your IT provider today. Not sure where to start? Give us a call or send us an email, and we’ll be happy to help!