Unlocking the Key Advantages of Managed IT Services for Your Business

For any business to succeed it needs to have operations that run effectively with as little disruption as possible. With our increasing reliance on digital systems, a technological outage or downtime can have a real negative impact on productivity and performance! This means it has never been more important to stay up to date with advances in new systems and databases.

Small businesses might not have the budget to catch up with these technological updates, which can have serious consequences such as security breaches. With the inability to hire qualified IT staff, an incredible 83% of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK have turned to the help of a managed IT service!

If you know you’re ready to outsource your IT, get in touch with the team, and we’ll get you set up in next to no time!

What is managed IT support?

Using a managed IT support service means outsourcing your IT to a third-party service provider, who is responsible for managing your entire IT infrastructure, including repairs, security, and monitoring. It’s a great solution if you don’t have a huge IT budget, and it provides a much more comprehensive service than a small in-house team.

What are the benefits of managed IT services?

There are a number of key benefits to using a managed service provider (MSP), from cost savings, enhanced security and increased business strategy. If you’d like to know more, here are some other benefits which you may not have thought of that could help your team or organisation:

Expertise

With a managed IT service provider, you can rest assured that the whole department will be fully trained and qualified and can deal with an array of issues. From cybersecurity to IT audits and hosted IP solutions to remote support, a managed provider will be able to tailor your service and use their extensive knowledge and experience to best understand and support your organisation.

Cost-effective

Managed IT services can provide a more cost-effective option for your IT needs. Rather than employing an in-house IT team or getting temporary staff (which can be expensive and inefficient), you’re able to call an outsourced team whenever a problem arises or you need support.

With a managed IT service, you’re also likely to benefit from reduced prices for your hardware. Due to economies of scale, and existing relationships with manufacturers and suppliers, MSPs can typically get better deals on equipment – and that means so will you!

Plus, you won’t need to worry about any surprise costs! With set fees every month, your budget management will be far simpler. You’ll know exactly what service you’ll receive and how much you’ll pay for it, regardless of sickness, holidays and other payroll issues that arise with a salaried employee.

Great customer service

With Service Level Agreements in place, you’re likely to receive greater customer service and, therefore, smoother and more fluid IT management. Adhering to tight deadlines and with a full department at their clients’ disposable, using an MSP means that issues will be responded to quickly and downtime is reduced.

Not only will you receive great service continuity, but MSPs also assess, audit and monitor systems on an ongoing basis to prevent more serious issues from arising. With 24/7 management, every day of the year, you can be certain that your system is receiving the most attention and supervision possible.

Flexible

If your workforce is spread out across the country, or you have employees working remotely, using a managed IT service is a great solution. They’ll have access to the same service and software as employees working from your main office location. Centralised data with a particular provider also allows for more flexibility for employees to access company information securely from a remote location.

Is your workforce largely working remotely in these current times? Take a look at our Remote Working Guide for guidance on how to best put together a remote working policy.

Strategy advice

While you may not have an in-house technical team, your MSP acts as your own IT department! They can assist you with IT strategy, as well as help you make decisions on your IT budget. With feedback and analysis on your IT infrastructure performance, as well as their wide-ranging industry knowledge, managed IT service providers are an indispensable addition to your business operations.

Robust cyber security

Cyber security is an essential part of your IT management. Have you simply been relying on antivirus software to protect yourself and your company’s data? You won’t any longer! An MSP will use the best security and antimalware tools across your whole network to keep your data protected, and you’ll also benefit from their more robust infrastructure, which is under constant monitoring and management.

Often with cyber security, there is a level of education needed within an organisation so that team members can spot malicious emails or attacks. A good MSP will make sure you and your team are trained in-house and shown how best to prevent future malware threats.

Best technologies

Given that managed IT service providers have to use the best equipment and software, you’ll also receive the best products! Even small businesses that may not have the budget for frequent upgrades can have their software and systems updated regularly – and with no extra cost to them!

Business Continuity and Productivity

Are you currently wasting your attention on IT issues rather than on core business? With a trusted MSP in tow, you can get on with your role while the IT experts get on with theirs! You won’t waste any more of your time, energy and profitability on IT issues. You’ll also alleviate pressures on HR.

Outsourcing your IT means that while you are employing the service, they aren’t your employees! So you won’t have to worry about extra payroll pressures such as pension contributions, sick pay, bonuses or annual leave, on top of the rest of your workforce – the MSP will work that out for you!

There you have it! Using a managed IT support service is a great way to enhance your business productivity, cut costs, and know that your IT systems are protected. At Netitude, we offer remote, co-managed, and fully managed IT support nationwide. Find out more about our services, and speak to an expert about your particular needs – we’re more than happy to help!