IT services have become one of the core parts of the modern business world. Businesses may need to constantly upgrade their IT infrastructure and team to keep up with technological advancements. However, this may not be viable for every business due to the exponential cost and constant IT downtimes between the upgrades.
As a result, managed IT services have emerged as a popular option for businesses looking to reduce their in-house workload and improve efficiency. If you are curious about managed IT services for your business, this blog is for you. In this blog, we will explain how managed IT services became so popular and what their benefits are, and we will help you decide between MSPs and traditional IT teams.
A] The Rise of Managed IT Services
Modern businesses are almost completely dependent on a good IT infrastructure, which has become the backbone of today’s business sector. As a result, companies are trying to find easier and more cost-effective ways to leverage the latest technology. Managed service providers (MSPs) provide these tools and technologies to their customers at a fraction of the cost of installing them in-house.
Businesses that choose to partner with an MSP do not have to invest in expensive IT infrastructure or the best IT staff. Instead, they can focus on their core business, improving productivity and profitability. Additionally, businesses get access to experts in the IT industry, helping them overcome security and downtime challenges.
IT MSPs first became popular in the 1990s, providing remote application hosting services. Remote IT support and third-party managed IT support started to become popular in the early 2000s. After years of perfecting, they have become the preferred model in IT services.
B] Key Benefits of Managed IT Services
1. Proactive Support and Maintenance
In stark contrast to an internal IT department’s reactive strategy, most reputed and experienced managed IT service providers offer proactive support and maintenance. The reactive approach limits the optimal working of an IT system. The IT team cannot do much until a ticket is raised, which leads to downtime and lost productivity.
When you hire a managed IT service provider, they have a reputation to maintain. Hence, they ensure all the systems are working in optimal conditions through regular maintenance. They may also help to make your team more informed about the systems, leading to reduced downtime.
2. Enhanced Security
Businesses often face cybersecurity risks that could have devastating consequences on their operations. As a result, businesses need to be assured about their data security and risk management protocols. They also need a cyber security expert or a team that can stay on top of all security threats.
However, this is not viable for businesses, especially small businesses, due to the significant cost of hiring a full-time employee for a problem that may or may not occur. An MSP provides your business with a security professional, tools, and software in the same contract. This ensures you do not compromise on security while staying within your budget.
3. Cost Savings
Managed IT services are an excellent choice for organizations looking for cost-effective solutions. With MSPs, you do not have to hire an internal team of IT professionals on a payroll. Companies who wish to have an in-house IT team need to spend resources on recruiting, training, upskilling, and retaining candidates.
MSP IT services for small businesses offer the perfect solution as they can provide the same level of service at a much lower cost by leveraging the large number of clients they serve. By outsourcing your IT processes, you can also access the latest tools and technologies at a fraction of the cost.
4. Access to Expertise
One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing your IT services is the access to a team of qualified IT specialists. Finding and hiring suitable IT candidates for your organization is a long and complex process. Instead, an MSP can take care of this for you.
Outsourcing enables you to get access to IT professionals with specific skill sets, all under a single contract. Businesses benefit from having specialists working with their teams. Additionally, IT MSPs often hire the best IT engineers and technicians with experience and expertise in a wide range of industries.
5. Scalability and Flexibility
IT MSPs give businesses the option to scale when the opportunity presents itself. By outsourcing IT processes to a managed service provider, you can keep up with the technological advancements without much investment. You can afford to scale your business without worrying about bandwidth, service hours, and service quality.
IT MSPs also offer the flexibility to increase or decrease the level of service depending on your current business needs. This helps the business to cut back on costs or improve IT infrastructure on demand.
C] Managed IT Services vs. Traditional IT Support
Traditional IT support operates on the “break-fix” model, which is a reactive process. When something goes wrong with the network or systems, the user notifies the IT team, who then fixes the problem. This method sees a lot of downtime between the problem first occurring and its resolution.
Managed IT service providers (IT MSPs) are third parties that take a proactive approach to maintaining IT systems. The IT MSP monitors the systems 24/7 for issues through modern tools and software. As a result, system downtimes are kept to a minimum. This approach is also scalable, as businesses can tailor their service packages based on their needs.
D] Choosing the Right Managed IT Service Provider
Choosing the right managed IT service provider is crucial for maximizing your ROI. The IT MSP must have proven experience serving your industry and what your business currently requires. The IT MSP you choose must also have a quick response time, a robust security network, and high uptime guarantees and performance metrics. Most importantly, the IT MSP should provide a service-level agreement that specifies all the deliverables and expectations.
Conclusion
Managed IT services are the preferred IT model for businesses today. They are flexible, cost-effective, and efficient. An IT MSP can provide you with the same benefits of having an in-house team of IT experts at a much lower cost. Additionally, you can upgrade your IT infrastructure more flexibly as your business grows.
If you are currently looking to hire the best staff for your IT MSP, Vertical Talent Solutions is here to help. We are the leading MSP IT staffing company in the USA, assisting MSPs to scale their business without worrying about recruitment and staffing. Get in touch with us today!
Ted White is the President & CEO of Vertical Talent Solutions and has over two decades of IT recruiting experience. Specializing in assisting Managed Service Providers in securing their ideal roles, his expertise navigates career paths precisely. Connect with Ted White for tailored recruitment solutions today.