Partnering with an IT Service
Businesses are under increased pressure these days from many directions. The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple disruptions to traditional business models. Changes in consumer behavior, a tight labor market, supply chain disruptions, and a shift to remote work are just a few of the pressures being applied to businesses today.
As businesses focus on the day-to-day challenges to stay afloat in this ever-changing work environment, more strategic decisions have often been put on hold. As companies begin to look ahead, it’s clear there isn’t a “normal” to return to anymore. To not just survive, but thrive in a volatile business world, businesses will need to transform their entire business model to be more agile and resilient.
For many businesses, one of the paths to reinvention is through managed service providers (MSP). Technology has come a long way since the days of break/fix IT, and the reality is the pandemic illustrated most internal IT services aren’t equipped to keep up with the demands of an ever-changing business in a digital world. Unfortunately, the inability to stay on top of the latest technology solutions can often mean that an organization will not be able to sustain itself long-term. The efficient management of IT infrastructure is crucial to driving critical business operations forward.
What are managed IT services?
Managed IT services are the delegation of IT operations to a third-party organization. This organization, the managed service provider, is typically experienced in meeting the IT-related demands of the business. These include managing IT infrastructure, providing IT equipment, security solutions, cloud services, remote monitoring, issue resolution, and reporting.
How do managed IT services benefit businesses?
- Manage, monitor, and proactively support the organization’s network
- Optimize performance of the enterprise system
- Take the lead on compliance, security, and maintenance
How can managed IT services accelerate business growth?
- Improve efficiency and reliability of IT functions. Sometimes, organizations will maintain a small set of IT staff who may not be specialists and lack skills in handling specific technical demands. Managed IT services offer an extended team of IT experts. They help provide access to the latest technology and business solutions. They can reduce system downtime which keeps your business profitable and moving forward.
- Reshape spending. Cost savings is one of the most critical benefits of adopting enterprise-managed IT services. The labor market is tight, and companies are trying to do more with less. At times, employees are asked to support tasks other than their area of expertise, resulting in decreased productivity. With a managed services model, there is a predictable monthly IT spend that can be incorporated into the budget. The MSP deploys their experts efficiently and consistently, freeing up resources in your organization for other tasks.
- Accelerate digital. The impact of COVID-19 has underlined the urgency of accelerating the shift to digital. MSPs give companies solutions that already include fast and cost-effective access to technology as well as the technical expertise to master them without big upfront costs or challenges in talent.
- Enhance scalability and support. Businesses must keep up with the latest technology trends and adopt them to ensure growth and success. As your business grows, your managed service provider can adjust with you. MSPs provide 24/365/7 IT and network monitoring services that ensure the availability of IT infrastructure and enhance scalability based on demand, improving operational efficiency.
- Boost compliance. Managing regulatory obligations is more complex and costly as rules change faster and regulators demand greater transparency. MSPs understand the importance of security and compliance, and they can help your business adhere to your industry regulations.
- Develop a strategic mindset. New ways of thinking will define successful businesses. Businesses that are ready to let managed services take on critical technology functions can free their leaders to focus on the strategy and innovation that will fuel business growth.
Moving ahead
Staying ahead of competitors is harder than ever, requiring deep technology insights, digital tools, analytics, and the talent to support them. MSPs focus on servicing end-to-end IT needs so organizations can better focus on their core operations. Managed IT services are designed to help boost operational efficiency, improve user experience, and accelerate businesses forward.
Contact the team at Locknet Managed IT to answer your questions about partnering with a managed service provider. We’re here to help.
