Understanding Managed Services for IT: Why it Matters?

All That You Need to Know about Managed Services for IT!

IT requirements evolve continually as the technology undergoes rapid changes. This has led to increased security threats to data and downtimes which can disarm any business. Before you panic however, let’s begin by saying that many companies have been able to successfully handle these challenges. The solution – a good partnership with the right managed IT services provider.

Managed services for IT play an integral role in the modern business field as it is nearly impossible to venture into contemporary services without some form of IT support. Managed IT services can help you smoothen different processes on the cloud while managing security and finance challenges efficiently in a continuous manner. That isn’t all. This article will help you see why managed services for IT is important and how you can implement it to improve your business operations. 

Read more: What Is IT Consulting? How Can It Revitalize Your Business? 

What do you mean by Managed Services for IT?

Managed services for IT are services that are outsourced to an external IT service provider. That service provider is completely responsible for the day-to-day operations of your specialized applications and business equipment. This allows your in-house IT team to focus on more strategic IT programs and frees up your team to focus on your business’s core competencies. 

What is the importance of Managed Services for IT?

Traditionally, IT-related maintenance was done only through the “break-fix” methodology. This meant that a business would call a maintenance expert only when something broke down. This would completely halt all business operations until the problem is fixed. The more your system stays down, the more will be your organization’s money drain. Unresolved IT issues such as security breaches that compromise your data could prove to be costlier than you think. Such data security breaches are devastating for your business. 

Thankfully, as the name suggests, Managed services for IT allows smooth management of a business without disrupting the flow of business operations. On your behalf, your IT service provider will manage, monitor, and resolve the problems of your IT systems and functions. Such a partnership allows you to focus on your core business process without any hindrance caused by IT issues. 

Read more: Software Development Outsourcing –  Why software development outsourcing is a smart move now?

The most important advantages of Managed IT Services

1. Get the expertise you need

New technology might bring in new problems that your IT team may not have the knowledge or experience to solve. Then there is the issue of management. Fortunately, both these problems can be resolved by your managed service provider. A key advantage of the managed service model is that it allows you to either hire an entire team of IT professionals or choose specialists depending on the demands of each project. 

2. Cost-effective

Managed services for IT lowers labor costs. Also, it can completely eliminate the cost of hiring and training new IT staff. The best upside is that you won’t ever have to worry about unexpected service costs. This means your organization can now shift from a capital expense model to an operating expense model. 

3. Scale your system as needed

Your technology decides whether you need to scale up or down. Managed IT service providers can respond to such changes in real-time.

4. Downtime reduction and recovery

Managed services for IT provide backup solutions to protect critical information. In the event of a disaster, they can also provide avenues for service continuations. For smaller businesses, this can be a lifesaver. 

How can you leverage Managed IT Services to improve your business? 

Leveraging managed services for IT cannot be done in a one-size-fits-all way because most companies use different options to meet their overall goal. Though the services offered by each provider may vary, they can still be useful when handled properly. There are businesses that use three or more types of IT functions. If yours is one of those businesses these tips below will help you take the most advantage of managed services. 

1. Choose your provider wisely

Each business has its own specific requirements. Identifying that requirement will make it easier to choose the right managed services provider. Often, most businesses need a minimum of three IT services (eg: cloud, IT consulting, and data and network security). But you will need to assess your business needs and come to the exact number. Once you have your requirements down, you can go about researching the credentials of the IT partner. Previous clients and case studies is the best place to start. The best way to find a capable managed service provider is through referrals, work colleagues, and reviews on online platforms.

2. Develop a business relationship

The best collaboration is when your managed IT services provider partners with your existing IT team in a seamless way. With that in mind, it is important to build a good working relationship with your provider. This will ensure that your skills complement each other, and resources are effectively used leading to better business outcomes. It will also give your team the opportunity to learn as much as possible from them.

3. Device a reliable data backup and recovery strategy

The most important objective of hiring managed services for IT is to protect data. Your data is under tremendous risk during a virus attack, machine error, unexpected hacking, or improper handling. During such instances, it is critical to have a good back-up strategy. Such a strategy will ensure that your business does not grind to a halt due to lost data. Fortunately, hiring good managed services for IT makes it easier for your company to develop a strategy that can protect existing data and retrieve lost data. 

Read more: Digital Innovation – 10 Services Offered by Fingent to Prepare Your Business for the Future of Digital Innovation

What does the future hold for Managed IT Services?

According to Gartner, 56% of business leaders engage with service providers for long-term development and maintenance. This will result in 63% of global managed service providers gaining their revenue through digital business infrastructure operations by 2023. Managed services for IT have kept the business world running and will continue to do so in the future. Are you keeping pace with it?

Survive and thrive 

In our current state of extraordinary upheaval brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, managed services for IT may be your company’s greatest hope for surviving and thriving during and after these unprecedented times. Partner with us and see for yourself! First though, take a look at our case studies and feel free to check our credentials. We want you to be sure we are the right fit for you.