If you’ve heard of Managed IT services before, then you might be wondering what exactly they entail, you wouldn’t be alone either. In short, they provide businesses of all sizes the ability to outsource IT services to a team of experts who are then contracted to perform a variety of IT tasks as outlined in their contract. The whole idea is to simplify the workload of having an in-house team, they can either be employed alongside an existing IT team, or instead of, depending upon the client’s needs;
The most commonly used services
Managed IT services from IT Authorities include a wide range of duties; however, they usually comprise the following:
• Hardware and infrastructure monitoring and administration from afar.
• Monitoring, penetration testing, threat hunting, and incident response are examples of security services.
• Cloud service configuration, monitoring, and administration. These services can be provided in conjunction with or independently of managed cloud services.
• Support for communications, including IP telephone systems.
The main benefits of managed IT services
You will find that there are various benefits that firms may obtain from the appropriate managed IT service provider. These advantages frequently include:
Slicker, more efficient systems
Your employees may focus on revenue-generating duties by outsourcing IT responsibilities to managed services. These companies may frequently offer advice or suggestions to assist you improve the performance of your software, and hardware infrastructure. This can lead to increased production and a better return on investment.
Better time management
IT service providers that are managed are not bound by the same timetable as your other workers. As a result, providers may often upgrade and maintain their systems during off-peak hours. You’ll experience more uptime and fewer workflow disruptions whenever MSPs have workplace flexibility to operate around yours.
Contractual conditions
Most Managed IT services provide you the flexibility to create contractual conditions for IT tasks, such as service level agreements (SLAs). You won’t have to waste time finding, employing, or training IT personnel, or teaching them how to do business. This allows you to pay just for the coverage or services you require, avoiding the costs involved with keeping full-time people on staff.
Things to think about when employing a service provider;
Although most managed IT service providers will offer the same core services, there are some things you might want to think about before you make your choice of provider;
Planning your IT future – Managed IT companies should assist you in strategizing infrastructure upgrades and updates, you will not be able to get the most out of your managed services if they don’t. This means that suppliers must not only comprehend your present infrastructure, but also work to manage it in accordance with your company’s aims and ambitions. Planning should be done for the next year or two, not just the next few months.
Referrals and recommendations – Before making any kind of decision you will want to check existing client testimonials, speak with them if possible, and make sure to check as many online sources as possible. Not only should you check their website, but you should also check their social media presence too, you may be surprised to see how much you can find out about a company without even speaking with anybody.
Accountability – As and when you come to select a service provider, you will want to make sure that the terms are clearly set out within the service level agreement. Essentially, your service level agreement will be the contract that you agree with them and will determine what they are responsible for.
You can negotiate different terms based upon your needs and also make sure that the terms benefit you and your business as needed. The team you are considering working with should be flexible and understand your needs, the service level agreement should reflect this.
Request an Audit
Before signing on the dotted line, it would make sense to request an audit from which ever companies you are considering, make a call and arrange a visit to see precisely how they can help you moving forward.
