Provides a centralized resource to troubleshoot problems and facilitate solutions Manages and monitors user requests and incidents, answering questions and handling communications for day-to-day activities !
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53% of SMB owners believe they are at a competitive disadvantage as compared to larger companies in terms of IT costs. However, small-to medium-sized businesses can offset those costs by outsourcing IT support to an IT managed service provider (MSP).43% of cyber attacks happen to small businesses, but only 14% of SMBs are able to combat cyber attacks by reducing their vulnerabilities and limiting risks. Fortunately, an MSP can help with that.
The cost of IT downtime can mean losing up to $300k per hour. Ouch. Having an MSP and dedicated IT support can help reduce unpredictable downtime.
59% of small business leaders express difficulty implementing and rolling out new technologies. Doesn’t have to be the case for you if you — say it with us now — outsource IT support.
Innovation Resources
Ready to see how Electric can help you manage IT at your company? Watch our latest Innovation Series Webinar to get:
A guided tour of the Electric onboarding & offboarding platform
Tips to reduce onboarding time from 8 hours to 7 minutes
An overview of how switching to Electric has reduced companies IT costs by 50%
8 Benefits of Outsourced IT Support
There are plenty of reasons to invest in outsourced IT, but here are the top 8 benefits of letting an outside team manage your IT support.
1. More time to focus on your business: When you have Outsourced It Support, you can focus your time and attention where it’s needed instead of trying to handle IT situations. There’s no need to occupy someone’s precious time with trying to keep your networks functioning. An MSP handles that so you can handle your business.
2. Access to Professional Expertise: Outsourced IT Support provides access to knowledgeable IT pros who are ready and able to answer questions and provide solutions when needed.
3. Get IT Support Questions Answered Quickly : Experts provide real-time remote support in short order. No delay, no problem.
4. Reduce security risks: Outsourced IT providers know compliance standards and regulations, and can implement security strategies to minimize risks associated with data and sensitive information.
5. Improve employee performance: Using Outsourced It Support and dedicated IT help desk services equates to less downtime and fewer errors. An MSP can keep an eye on issues, prevent them from getting worse and resolve them quickly. That leads to better overall performance.
6. Keep technology up-to-date: Things change quickly with IT. An MSP can keep on top of things, saving you money and time.
7. Reduce IT Operational Costs: One of the most attractive benefits of working with Outsourced IT Support is the savings it provides. MSPs help minimize the chance of costly network problems and IT-related downtime. You also know exactly what services you’re receiving and what you’ll be spending per user/per month. Find out how much you could be saving with Electric’s IT Cost Calculator.
8. Maintain A Competitive Edge: Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you can’t compete with the big guys. A larger company may have access to in-house resources small-to medium-sized business may not enjoy. However, an Outsourced IT Support can provide the same level of expertise a larger company benefits from at a more digestible price-point.
1Device and Inventory Management!
2 Security and Compliance!
3 Network Management and Server Management!
1. Device and Inventory Management
A business is only as healthy and secure as the devices it relies on. And since only 14% of SMBs consider their security as highly effective, working with an outsourced IT provider can really make a difference. A managed service provider can manage detailed software and hardware information to help with determining purchases and how devices are/will be used, which can lower costs. This way, you’re not over-purchasing or losing track of assets.
How a Outsourced IT Support can help:
Hardware procurement
Device provisioning
Custom security configurations
Real-time visibility into device health
Access to world-class Mobile device management (MDM) software, which allows for mass remote management of users and devices as well as there their configurations and settings
2. Security and Compliance
Security is always at the forefront of any good approach to IT management. Both are essential to reducing risks and mitigating threats.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Enforce organization-wide security policies, including routine password resets and BYOD management, which is hugely important considering 83% of companies allow BYOD
Improve auditing practices
Establish and manage multi-factor authentication (MFA) and firewalls
Roll out configurations that follow cybersecurity best practices
3. Network Management and Server Management
There are any number of problems and threats you may face—system failures and viruses spring to mind—so it’s important to monitor hardware and software in order to stay up-to-date and protected. For that you need a reliable and secure network.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Manage entire networks remotely
Mitigate outage-related downtime, which can cost your business about $5600 per minute
Provide proactive network monitoring
Offer hardware recommendations and implementation support
Keep business operations running smoothly
Reduce the complexity and costs an on-site network failure may cause
4. Applications and Cloud Management
Organizations need ways to keep their Cloud environments and applications under control so they can move forward without compromising security. Fun fact! Cloud computing can have financial benefits: shifting from onsite to cloud can help lower up-front costs.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Automate and orchestrate software deployments
Secure your SaaS apps
Set up and manage file-sharing privileges
Manage single sign-on (SSO) so you and your team can use one ID and password to access related systems
...And since only 14% of SMBs consider their security as highly effective, working with an outsourced IT provider can really make a difference.
5. Backup and Disaster Recovery
Whether it’s from a security breach or ransomware attack, human error or natural disaster, lost data can have massive impacts on your business. It can take hours to recover lost data and that can cause permanent damage to your reputation and your business/bottom line. Your company can’t afford the downtime—on average, an employee’s cognition will decrease 20% after a work stoppage—that comes from neglecting backup or disaster recovery.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Take care of backups (copying data for the purpose of protecting it in case of accidental deletion, corruption, etc.)
Manage disaster recovery, making plans for quickly reconnecting/reestablishing access to IT resources, data and applications after an outage
Develop effective strategies for a solid recovery plan
6. Storage
Consider this: 20% of SMBs will suffer a failure of some sort every five years that will cause them to lose critical data. Strong storage technologies can make a big difference on how successfully you manage your business, drive productivity, reduce costs and enhance security. This is important whether you’re using the Cloud, onsite servers or a combination of both.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Provide product expertise and integrated hardware and software services
Support infrastructure
Assess current storage setup to ensure that it is optimized for maximum efficiency
7. Virtualization
Virtualization—creating a virtual, i.e., software-based, computer system that simulates hardware functionality, like networks, servers, etc.—can help your business reduce expenses and boost efficiency. SMBs are on trend for a higher virtualization spend this year, which is helpful considering it can increase a company’s productivity, agility and scalability.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Increased performance and availability of resources
Automated operations, which will reduce operating costs
Make it easier and more affordable to manage business
8. Data Monitoring and Insights
Get full visibility into the volume and types of support issues your team is facing. You can identify trends and vulnerabilities in your organization that will help you make proactive decisions to enhance your organization’s security and operational efficiency.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Provide full access to reporting dashboard that highlights relevant information
Give real-time visibility into end-user requests
Identify trends and vulnerabilities within your organization
9. Telecommunication and Phone Systems
Telecommunication is hugely important for a business to thrive. Improving your systems, unifying and integrating communications — phone lines and computers, software, storage and internet, etc.— will assist your team in delivering the kind of service your customers need.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Make sure you are compliant to regulations
Save you time and resources
Provide expertise with testing, certification, audits, etc.
Help select the most appropriate service provider
Keep all remote employees (a trend which has increased by over 100% since 2005) connected
10. Surveillance Systems
We all hope to never be the victim of theft or cyber attack. Unfortunately, it can happen. But an effective security system can help prevent theft (Note: Businesses that employ IT monitoring can see a 22% decrease in theft) and is important for any business that wants to protect its assets.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Create a more efficient way of managing, recording and storage
Depending on your needs, can provide either a widespread system covering multiple locations, or just a few cameras
11. Employee On/Off Boarding
Onboarding a new employee should be an easy and pleasant experience for both you and your new hire. And, of course, offboarding one should be as stress-free as possible. Whether it’s getting hardware and all necessary credentials set up on day one, or updating security and access permissions upon departure, an MSP can change something complicated and time-consuming into a quick and easy process.
How Outsourced IT Support can help:
Increase employee productivity from the first day—a good onboarding experience means a 69% increase in employee retention
Manage hardware and equipment needs
Give and revoke user access instantaneously
Customize settings and access at the department level
12. Real-Time Support
Since it’s your go-to resource for IT service questions and needs, the help desk is an essential part of the technology system of any company and, therefore, a key element of any smart business plan.
Provides a centralized resource to troubleshoot problems and facilitate solutions.
Manages and monitors user requests and incidents, answering questions and handling communications for day-to-day activities
Handles service outages and planned service changes
Saves you trouble and time and keeps your business in good working order—using a help desk can save up to 600 working hours each year!
