In the world of small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), budgets can be notoriously tight, and every penny must be spent with an eye toward a wise return on investment (ROI). For many, trimming waste from the budget can mean the difference between struggling to make the next payroll and turning a profit.
In the post-COVID-19 environment, spending smartly is even more important, since many companies are operating with less staff while they’re navigating the market fluctuations caused by the pandemic.
For smaller companies, one great place to cut waste is by outsourcing IT management. IT departments, with their specialized and often highly paid staff, can take a huge chunk of the budget. Paring down, or even eliminating, these departments in favor of a managed IT program can be a smart move.
4 Ways Managed IT Services Help SMBs Succeed
With managed IT, SMBs can have cutting-edge expertise at their fingertips for a fraction of the cost of maintaining an in-house IT staff.
Managed services providers (MSPs) — companies that provide IT services on an outsourced basis — can completely transform the way your business functions. Not only will you have trained IT professionals at your fingertips, but a host of other benefits, such as:
- Risk Reduction
The internet is filled with articles about how hackers are exploiting coding vulnerabilities and outdated protective measures to target SMBs.
With hackers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, SMBs must have strong digital security measures in place to defend from phishing, malware, ransomware, brute force, and other attacks that can disable their business.
And that’s not the only concern: If your business is subject to compliance regulations, such as SOX, HIPAA, the GDPR, or others you must protect sensitive data.
Managed IT services ensure that your system is up to date with the latest software and hardware patches and network security updates. They implement strategies that reduce risk and further protect your system from harm.
Maintenance and updates are performed on a regular basis, so you always have the most recent security safeguards in place.
- Controlled Spending
When you have a limited budget, you need to be able to predict your costs accurately to stay within healthy margins. Managed IT comes with regular monthly costs that are stipulated before work begins.
There are no unexpected fees or surprise costs along the way -- your entire IT spend will be mapped out in advance.
- More Productivity and Better Response Time
With Managed IT, you don’t have to worry about constant downtime or long waits for service. Your MSP will assess your current infrastructure, optimize your system for maximum productivity and a streamlined workflow, and ensure that routine maintenance is performed to keep everything running smoothly.
Unexpected glitch? No problem, your MSP has technicians standing by for instant troubleshooting and problem resolution.
- Competitive Advantage
Large companies can support a full-time team of IT experts to keep them on the cutting-edge of technology. With Managed IT, SMBs can provide you with the same level of highly skilled technicians at a fraction of the cost of an in-house department.
Having access to these personnel helps level the playing field and gives SMBs the same advantages as those organizations with in-house IT.
That means your in-house staff, IT or otherwise, can stay focused on mission-critical initiatives that can help drive revenue, increasing your chances of business success.
Let DSI’s Managed IT Transform Your Workplace
If you’re confused about where to turn to get strong, reliable IT support, DSI is here to help. Our team of IT experts can help your business navigate complex technologies to assist you in eliminating waste, increasing productivity, and protecting your important data from theft or loss.
We employ a value-added approach that begins with assessing our clients’ individual needs and challenges to determine the right mix of technologies to suit their needs and budget for improved profitability across the board.
Our team can take you from infrastructure design and implementation to maintenance and troubleshooting, carefully selecting state-of-the-art equipment and security that matches your business goals.
Ready to gain that competitive advantage that a strong IT program yields? Contact a DSI consultant today to learn more about Managed IT services.