WHAT IS
MANAGED
IT
Meet Your IT Department
Managed IT or Managed Services refers to a collection of business services designed to reduce or eliminate the need for input from the business itself. A managed services provider (MSP) oversees IT solutions, operations, and monitoring, usually from a distance, so that you can focus on what you do best.
What’s the Difference Between Managed IT and Computer Services/Repair?
Standard computer and IT services operate on a break-fix model. In other words, you only call them in when you need them. While this approach might sound ideal and possibly less costly than partnering with an MSP, it usually costs a great deal more in the long run—especially for growing businesses.
What we mean here is that it’s almost impossible to manage scale under a break-fix IT model. Failure to adequately manage IT resources will reduce profitability and have your in-house team chasing its tail and possibly leaving your systems vulnerable.
Managed IT solves many of these issues. It is especially critical during growth and scale as you need to maintain your forward movement. System failure—or any interruption at all—could cause you to lose all the progress you’ve made.
In a simple scenario, let’s say your website is down or your email is hacked. You might not realize it for a while. Even if it’s only 30 minutes, that’s long enough for you to miss critical messages, lose sales, and damage your company’s reputation. Factor in the time it takes for your computer services company to respond, investigate, and restore your systems, and you can multiply that downtime exponentially. If your systems have not been backed up, you might not be able to recover completely.
The cost, time, and stress of this methodology simply do not make sense in today’s fast-paced business landscape. IBM reports that in America, the average cost of a breach in 2022 is in the range of $9.44 million and takes about 280 days to identify and remediate. Most companies will not recover from such an event, underscoring the need for a trusted ally that will always remain vigilant.
When you partner with an MSP, your systems are monitored 24/7. We receive alerts that allow us to respond immediately, and in most cases, we can prevent a breach or event from occurring at all. Your MSP is the watchful eye you need, both at the best of times and when the chips are down; providing updates, monitoring systems, and identifying vulnerabilities before they impact business operations.
THE
BENEFITS
Access Specialized IT Skills
Hiring a third-party company to manage your business IT needs gives you access to highly specialized software, advice, and technical expertise that you may not have in-house. Growing organizations are often too small to support a full-time IT team. In other cases, there may be dedicated expertise on staff but they are too busy with the day-to-day to manage specific tasks or provide the kind of round-the-clock attention you require.
Considering how quickly technology evolves, you need more than one skill set to cover all concerns. An MSP gives you access to an almost infinite range of expertise, providing you with the equivalent of a top-notch IT department without the complexities of hiring—or even knowing what you need to hire for.
Reduce Hiring Risk
Hiring an MSP is a way to access specific skills without the expense and risk of recruiting, hiring, and training full-time staff. When you consider the time it takes to get a new hire up to speed and that there are no guarantees that a person will fit with your culture or be as dedicated to your mission as you need them to be, an MSP makes good sense. By some estimates, the cost of a bad hire can be up to 40% of the employee’s annual salary or more. If it doesn’t work out, you’re back at square one, and in some cases, the damage and setbacks can’t be undone.
Always There for You
Your MSP team is always there for you. We don’t take vacations, days off, or get sick (because we are a team and always have a backup), so you can rest assured that your data and systems are functional, available, and secure at all times. If you have a concern or need help or insight on ways to improve anything related to your IT or infrastructure, we’re eager to help. We’ll explain even the most complex concepts in language you can understand and outline solutions that align with your business model and workflow style.
Need more? Let’s talk about it! IT services are an investment into business growth and we’d love to be part of your success story.