IT services are an essential piece of the puzzle for modern businesses, regardless of industry. The types of roles that can be outsourced to managed IT services range from software solutions to sourcing the ideal office equipment for your specific business needs. A well-implemented IT service management strategy will deliver a host of benefits that will reduce expenditures and improve efficiency which are key factors in a successful and smooth-running business. This article will discuss the crucial role managed IT services provide, the latest industry developments, and outline their chief benefits.
The Purpose of Managed IT Services and Common Functions
The purpose of a managed IT service is to hand off all your business IT-related tasks and their ongoing management to a specialized company. This removes these responsibilities from your list of duties and allows you to focus on other aspects of business operations.
The main objective of a managed IT service is to utilize their expertise to provide cost savings and enhance operational efficiency. This is achieved by analyzing and tailoring a strategy that is in line with your particular business goals, making them important strategic partners that will handle all your IT needs.
In the digital age, IT has become a central focus for companies with almost 75% citing it as their main priority. Some common functions a managed IT service provides include:
- Installation and management of IT infrastructure
- Cybersecurity solutions
- Sourcing and maintenance of equipment
- Monitoring and management of services and networks
- Data storage solutions
- Planning and support
- Remote monitoring
Latest Developments in the Industry
Recently, technological developments have opened the door to a vast new array of ways to optimize your business using a managed IT service. These new cutting-edge technologies have revolutionized the industry and have only served to add value to employing a managed IT service.
Automation and state-of-the-art data analytic tools are just some examples, but many innovations have transformed the industry:
- Cloud-based services
- AI and machine learning
- Improvements in cybersecurity systems
- Development and operations (DevOps) practices
- Refining of remote work infrastructure
- Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI)
Main Benefits of Managed IT Services
Managed IT services are essential in a world in which technology has the power to greatly increase operational efficiency and provide a competitive edge. The list of benefits is endless from designing an IT infrastructure to suit your exact requirements to reducing unnecessary resource allocation.
Managed IT services are a proactive and targeted approach to maximizing the IT systems and equipment used in your business. They’re designed to deliver the optimal IT solutions that directly align with your distinct business strategy and objectives.
Protection from Cyber Threats
Cyberattacks on businesses are on the rise and can cause serious problems that extend far beyond data breaches. The rise in sophisticated cyberattacks on businesses can lead to a wide variety of significant setbacks such as financial losses, reputational damage, network interruptions, and downtime.
Managed IT services are the perfect defense against cyber threats because they provide preventative strategies, methods for detection, and solutions to any threats that manage to bypass your security.
When it comes to prevention, the installation and management of firewalls, including subsequent patches and staff training, will help stop threats from accessing your systems.
Furthermore, the use of encryption tech will protect data from being accessed by unauthorized sources. Powerful authentication procedures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also be utilized to further protect sensitive data.
On the detection side, managed IT services offer constant network monitoring to ensure that if a threat arises, it’s detected and rectified immediately. Nowadays, these detection systems can be fully automated using hyper-advanced AI and machine learning to make them even better equipped to detect potential threats.
Finally, if a cyberattack has made it past your defenses, you will have an expert team behind you who are highly qualified to mitigate any potential damage.
Decrease in Network Downtime
The continuous monitoring of your networks provided by managed IT systems allows them to be alert to any issues that can lead to downtime. Proactive measures such as regular maintenance and updates also reduce the chances of network problems that can result in downtime.
Furthermore, remote monitoring systems can be used to detect and fix network issues without the need for a technician to come to the actual location. The reduced downtime managed IT services offer is ultra-important because, on top of the operational disruption, the average downtime cost per minute is more than $5,000.
Cost Savings
Managed IT services can dramatically cut down on IT expenses. Rather than investing in several different services, they provide an all-in-one subscription package for a fraction of the price that will handle all your software and hardware requirements.
The subscription model also allows your business to accurately predict monthly costs and ensure you’re not exposed to any unforeseen expenses caused by software issues or hardware breakdowns. Additionally, the preventative measures, maintenance, and repairs that are included in the subscription fee will also reduce the cost of training staff to deal with IT issues.
Access to Experts
The software and hardware used in your business are highly specialized. Managed IT services will cover your business from the initial setup to the ongoing management with the required knowledge to do so in the most efficient way possible.
The preventative measures an expert team can provide will be able to detect issues before they turn into larger and potentially more damaging, expensive, and time-consuming problems. Furthermore, having an expert team on call 24/7 to set up, manage, and solve any issue that comes up is invaluable as it eliminates the need to train in-house staff.
Most importantly, it provides peace of mind that no matter what IT problem emerges, you have the right people with the right expertise to resolve it properly and quickly.
A Comprehensive Solution to Your IT Troubles
If you’re searching for a comprehensive business solution that will cover all your IT needs from start to finish, a managed IT service is the way to go. You’ll receive every essential IT service your business needs to thrive via a single service. This will save you time and money and improve the efficiency of your IT-related operations and, in turn, your overall business efficiency. If you’re in the Green Bay, Menomonee Falls, or Fox Cities regions, Wisconsin Document Imaging is the best in the business at making your IT troubles a thing of the past. Contact us today to speak about how outsourcing the management of your IT services can enhance your business.