Home > Techie Tips > How Do I Know If I Need Managed IT Services?

How Do I Know If I Need Managed IT Services?

How Do I Know If I Need Managed IT Services?

As your company’s system administrator with a small team and an even smaller budget, you wear many hats. Not only are you responsible for the configuration and management of your company’s network, but also when the network is down and business is interrupted, all eyes are on you.

Have you considered managed IT services? Outsourcing something as important as IT can be a scary thought — but outsourcing IT isn’t your typical outsourcing arrangement. You are always in control, and you ultimately decide what you want to outsource and what you want to keep in-house.

Managed IT services cover a wide range of functions from monitoring that simply alerts you when there is a problem to full management. Some companies even use a hybrid model in which a trusted partner helps with things like administering the firewall, ERP system maintenance or managing your telephone system.

Are managed IT services right for your organization? Is it time to outsource some functions to a managed IT service provider? Start by asking yourself these five critical questions.

#1: Is your IT department overwhelmed? Frequently, IT departments in small to mid-sized companies rely on the skills of a handful of team members to handle complex IT issues that require specialized training. Though your team might be able to troubleshoot the issue and eventually come up with a solution given enough time, chances are it will take them much longer than it would an expert with advanced technical knowledge in a particular system. With managed services, you always have access to the expertise you need, as well as full-time IT coverage and support.

#2: Is your IT department focused on growth or survival? When you’re constantly putting out fires related to your company’s multiple computers, servers, devices and employees, it’s hard to find time to plan for future growth. Small IT departments are typically expected to handle everything from security updates to software patches and from upgrades to licensing contracts. This leaves little room for more important projects that can ultimately help build the business and grow your company’s bottom line.

#3: Are your break-fix solutions working for you? Do you currently work with a contracted IT company that comes onsite to fix little problems with individual computers or emergency issues that could have been foreseen with better monitoring and maintenance? Leveraging managed IT services such as continuous monitoring can help detect problems early before they cause a bigger problem. Outsourcing maintenance also allows you to budget more effectively, eliminating some of the expensive IT “surprises” that can occur. Most contracts offer a fixed-price model, regardless of how much support you actually use each month.

#4: Are you responsible for highly sensitive data? In an age where data breaches are almost commonplace, the burden of keeping your company’s sensitive, mission-critical data secure can be a big burden on an IT department. Outsourcing data protection to a managed services provider ensures that your company’s data is always protected with the highest level of security. Your systems are constantly monitored, and any issues or threats are handled before the business — and your customers — are negatively impacted.

#5: Are you up to date on all the latest and greatest technology? Keeping up with all the best new technologies in the market can be a full-time job. But if you want the right technology that can grow with your company, you’ll need to know what’s out there. The right managed services provider can do the time-consuming legwork for you and recommend exactly what you need now, as well as in the future.

Choosing a Managed Service Provider

When choosing the right managed services provider for your business, always ask how many technicians they actually employ and what experience they have. As with any service provider, ask for recommendations and do your research online. What do their customers say about their service?

Make sure your services provider offers 24/7 continuous support and that they will be there, no matter what time you need their help. Also, make sure your system is being monitored by an actual human in addition to automated monitoring. It won’t do you any good to get an automatically generated message that says there is an issue if there isn’t anyone there to fix the problem.

The best providers have a wide range of expertise on their team to handle all kinds of issues. Make sure the provider you choose has experience with your key technologies.

Managed IT services can be a viable option to help meet the increasing demands of your company. At Aventis Systems, we are always willing to take on any IT-related service. We never say, “No!” Our ultimate goal is to be your single managed services provider for any IT solution your business needs from logistics to support, design, procurement and more.

To learn more about managed IT services from Aventis Systems and how they can help you meet your unique business challenges, contact us today at 1-855-AVENTIS.