If you are running a small or medium business, one of the things that you will likely have heard about when it comes to your IT Support is Managed Services. But what is it? And why should you invest in it?
What is Managed Services?
Managed Services is designed to provide you with proactive remote support that is focused on network infrastructure and security. Most managed service package options include:
24/7 Monitoring: Advanced performance monitoring to ensure that your system is functioning reliably with notifications for your IT provider to identify critical issues before you experience significant downtime.
Preventative Maintenance: Ensuring that your team is running the latest operating system patches and firmware updates on servers, endpoints (VPN, WIFI) and end user systems.
Managed Security & Backup: Antivirus and endpoint protection, as well as disaster recovery planning, implementation and testing.
Monthly Network Health Reporting: Regular reporting that identifies issues encountered and addressed, to keep you updated on your technology.
What are the benefits of Managed Services?
The biggest benefit of managed services is discovering and fixing problems before they become an issue for your team. A well-maintained, proactively serviced computer network will always run better and more securely. That said, here are some of the key benefits for Managed Services:
Risk Reduction: By having a managed service IT provider, you are no longer dependent on your team (who might not be IT professionals) to ensure that backups are working, antivirus is in place, or that systems have had their latest updates rolled out.
Increased Operational Efficiency: Downtime can be limited with proper monitoring. Your team will have a better user experience with less downtime, and improved network health and efficiency.
Future Proofing Services: Managed Service providers are researching, training their teams and updating systems to ensure that they are providing the right services - so you don’t have to invest in the training or research time.
Knowledge Retention: With an outsourced IT provider, employee turnover has a smaller impact than there would be within a smaller organization. A Managed Services IT Provider will ensure that your information is securely kept on file, allowing seamless transition between team members.
Expertise & Strategic Planning: As managed service providers are IT experts, they can offer skills outside of the managed service to help you build your IT strategy based on their industry experience.
Reduced Operating Costs: While it might seem like an increased cost due to monthly costs, by proactively addressing issues and maintenance, there is less time spent on costly break/fix issues.
Thinking about rolling out managed services? Let us help.
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