What are managed services? Managed services, as IT professionals call it, is a service that’s outsourced to another company to manage all aspects of the service. Managed services can be anything from managing data backups for customers to make sure everything is backed up properly, to managing email services to ensure all devices work with users email clients, to managing small business computer systems, which basically acts as a help desk for small businesses that cannot afford to hire as many employees.
This article will discuss 11 ways small businesses can save money on IT and maximize their IT dollars using managed services providers.
1. No unexpected or unbudgetted costs
A managed service provider (MSP) will usually charge a monthly fee for the management of your entire network. As part of your agreement, any issues that are discovered are addressed and fixed. This will eliminate any unexpected costs.
2. Unanticipated problems with the system will also be addressed as soon as possible
It is in both the MSP’s and your best interests to ensure that any problems do not arise when you work with them. It is not necessary to question why the technician or service provider takes longer to resolve an issue. This is just for billing purposes. The faster the MSP addresses the issue, the better they are able to handle any future issues.
3. It can be used as a complement to any staff.
While a help desk employee may be able to handle all user issues, they might not be able to reach all users at once or have the skills and knowledge necessary for more complex aspects of your network. You can hire a MSP to handle this specialized aspect of your network, instead of handling every user’s day.
4. This eliminates the need for a non-IT-trained staff member to be the person to call regarding technical issues
Many small businesses employ someone who is not IT-related but is still required to manage all network issues. They ‘know a lot’ about computers. Although this may sound like a cost-saving measure, it often causes more downtime. This is when staff members have to sacrifice part of their workday, week, or monthly to attend to another issue. The staff member must also research the best way to resolve the issue. This can cause even more downtime and reduce productivity. The ‘go-to’ staff member can communicate with the service provider to resolve the issue quickly and allow them to return to their normal job functions.
5. Solutions and known issues for other businesses can help other businesses solve their problems
It is possible to learn from other small businesses’ experiences and find out about the technologies used by your competitors. MSP’s won’t share your data, and they will protect all their customers’ data. However, small businesses that have experienced similar problems to yours may have found solutions. MSP’s are able to recommend technologies that can help you and your staff automate processes that normally take much longer.
6. Security threats can be addressed before an issue occurs
Monitoring is often included in the support services. MSPs will install secure software on your network devices. This software can monitor your anti-virus, spyware, anti-spam, and other security issues. Software and provide a report detailing any security concerns and a suggested course of action.
7. Hardware issues can be monitored and acted upon before they cause any downtime.
It is common for problems to occur on users’ computers in small businesses. They might have a virus or their hard drive is failing. However, these problems are often not reported to the company because users don’t want anyone to blame them. Although a user can cause problems with company computers, this is usually not the user’s fault. It could be due to hardware failure or other anomalies that are causing performance issues. MSP monitoring can alert you and your staff to any problems that may arise so that you can resolve them.
8. All systems are current and up-to-date with any software upgrades
Managed service providers often offer software packages that allow you to update any system or software that needs updates. This includes Windows Update. You are probably familiar with the annoying prompt that states “updates ready for installation” These software packages allow you to inventory all software on your network. You can also update any software that is outdated. Sometimes, an third-party vendor of software may find that your software is incompatible with the update and refuses to allow it to be installed. You can create an exception to any update, but all updates will continue to be installed using the MSP’s software. This greatly increases the security of your network.
9. Backup systems can be monitored
Are you able to verify that your data backups are being stored properly? How can you be sure that all data is being properly backed-up and stored? Consider this: A staff member spends 10 minutes a day checking on backups. This is 50 minutes per week for a five-day workweek, 200 to 250 minutes per month. If the person discovers that the backup isn’t being done properly or is failing to function, what steps can they take to fix the problem? MSP’s can monitor the situation and notify you if something isn’t being backed-up. They also send you an email informing you if it is, as well as letting you know that it has been successfully backed-up.
10. All maintenance tasks that are being performed manually can be automated and run during non-peak hours
Many small business computer users are instructed to clean up their computers and delete any temporary files. MSP’s can automate these tasks using their software during off-peak hours to make sure all tasks are completed successfully and eliminate the need to spend time on the computer.
11. All unauthorized software and hardware can be tracked for
Have you ever worried that an employee may have copied company data to a flash drive after being fired? Are you a victim of software being installed by an employee that causes other problems? These types of situations can often be avoided with the technology that managed service providers use. They can also be disabled before any unauthorized activity takes place. MSPs can use the MSP methods to report all software and hardware on your network.