6 Key Reasons Your Organization Needs an IT Managed Service Provider
In today’s world, businesses of all sizes and industries rely heavily on technology to operate efficiently and effectively. Yet, the cost for managing your technology increases year over year. That's why it's important to have a reliable and proactive IT support team in place. Below are six key reasons why your business needs an IT managed service provider:
1) Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring
An IT managed service provider (MSP) can monitor your network and systems 24/7, detecting and resolving issues before they become bigger problems. This proactive approach minimizes downtime and prevents costly disruptions to your business operations. According to a study by Ponemon, the average cost of IT downtime is $9,000 per minute. A single hour of downtime can cost a business more than $540,000. With proactive maintenance and monitoring from an IT managed service provider, your business will minimize the risk and cost of downtime.
An IT managed service provider’s proactive monitoring also ensures that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates. This can help prevent security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyber-criminals.
2) Expertise and Knowledge
An IT managed service provider has a team of experienced and certified professionals who are knowledgeable in a wide range of technologies and systems. They can provide your business with expert advice and guidance on IT strategy, infrastructure design, and technology adoption. The right provider knows how to communicate to businesses the complexities of technology. They customize the solutions that are best suited for organizations’ unique business needs by evaluating costs and recommending the necessary investments for long-term success.
Outsourcing your IT support also allows you to leverage the expertise and knowledge of an entire team of professionals, rather than relying on a small team or single in-house IT employee. This can help ensure that your business is always making informed decisions when it comes to technology, which will help you stay ahead of the competition.
3) Cost Savings
Outsourcing your IT support can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house IT team, as they are able to provide your business with a range of services, including help desk support, network monitoring, cybersecurity, and technology planning, for a fraction of the cost of hiring an internal team. According to a study by CompTIA, 46% of businesses that outsource their IT report technology cost savings of at least 25%, with 13% of those companies reporting savings of over 50%.
How are IT managed service providers able to provide such significant savings? Economies of scale allow them to provide expensive services and licenses to a wide client base for a fraction of the cost. For example, MSPs can provide clients with software licenses below market price – far cheaper than what the client could purchase on their own – because the MSP is purchasing licenses in “bulk” to serve their entire client base. Additionally, managed service providers likely have strong relationships with their vendors, which often allows for more flexible pricing.
Another reason outsourcing your company’s IT can be more cost effective is because, aside from direct costs like salaries, outsourcing reduces the indirect costs associated with staffing an internal IT team. Recruiting, training, and retaining an internal team all carry significant costs. Partnering with an IT provider significantly reduces – or even eliminates – these expenses, while also increasing your IT-related efficiency and productivity.
Finally, the expertise of an IT managed service provider assists clients in making informed technology decisions that help avoid costly mistakes. A reputable IT provider has a staff with a diverse skill set and range of expertise, providing clients with access to a larger pool of resources. All of this ensures that businesses get the most value out of their technology investments.
4) Increased Access to Newer Technologies
One of the most significant benefits of working with an IT managed service provider is the increased access to technology. A reputable IT managed service provider will invest in research and development, and have the resources and expertise necessary to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends. This helps businesses stay ahead of the curve by providing access to the newest and most innovative technologies.
By partnering with an IT managed service provider, you can ensure that your business is always equipped with the latest and most efficient tools and systems. This can help you improve your productivity, and ultimately increase your bottom line.
5) Improved Cybersecurity
Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. An IT managed service provider can help protect your business from cyber threats by implementing and managing advanced security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and endpoint detection systems. According to IBM’s annual Cost of Data Breach report, the average cost of a data breach in 2022 was $4.35 million. By investing in an IT managed service provider, your business is also investing in more extensive and effective cybersecurity measures that can minimize the risk of data breach.
In addition to proactive security measures, finding a managed service provider who includes managed security services can also help businesses respond to security incidents. They provide guidance on how to handle a breach, support with incident response and remediation, and help to ensure that your systems are restored as quickly as possible. By getting your systems back up and running with minimal disruption, IT providers help to minimize the impact and cost of a security incident.
6) Scalability
As your business grows and changes, your IT needs may evolve as well. An IT managed service provider scales with your business. Your IT resources will increase or decrease as needed, providing the flexibility to adapt to changing business conditions. Additionally, managed service providers can assist in creating a technology roadmap for your organization; by considering your projected growth and future needs, MSPs help build technology plans that ensure smooth transitions and growth.
How do you pick the right IT managed service provider for your business?
Businesses rely heavily on technology to operate efficiently and effectively. By outsourcing your IT support to an IT managed service provider, your organization can improve its overall technology and security while maximizing your IT budget.
However, picking the right IT partner for your organization is an important decision that requires knowing the right questions to ask. To equip your organization with the tools it needs to select the right managed service provider,download our free guide on how to choose an MSP. This eBook will walk you through the most important questions to ask when evaluating IT managed service providers!
