Managed IT services help businesses focus on what they do best. Managed IT services optimize data flows and mitigate the risk of data breaches. Third-party management of IT is proactive to prevent security issues rather than reactive that attempts to repair damage once it has been done.

Proactive vs. Reactive IT Services – What’s The Difference?

Most people think of risk as something negative, such as avoiding exposure to a loss or managing an adverse event. But the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines risk as “the effect of uncertainty on reaching objectives.” In managed IT services, and especially in cybersecurity, negative risk refers to potential losses, but positive risk refers to the potential for increased data, information, knowledge, and assets.

Managed IT services are responsible for preventing data breaches, maintaining company-wide access to databases, and for timely hardware maintenance and replacement. They always have a reactive component. But managed IT services also scale their services according to their clients’ needs. Managed IT services are proactive and reactive in maintaining efficient operation while increasing a company’s profitability.

Recognizing Risks & Evaluating Your IT Environment

Managed IT services seek to mitigate negative risks with proactive services. They act proactively to increase the efficiency of data management. But they always remain ready to react to hazards that do not enter ordinary business calculations.

Let’s take a closer look at how managed IT services are proactive and reactive in serving your company.

Managed IT Services Proactively Prevents Predictable Crises

Most managers intuitively understand how managed IT services reduce downtime risks. And they appreciate how these services deal with negative risk proactively.

After all, smooth operations are always preferable to disasters, and some data management catastrophes are predictable and preventable.

Refreshing Hardware

One of the basic issues in IT is the fact that data center hardware has a limited useful lifespan. It is always better to keep hardware up to date rather than simply maintaining aging technology. That way, your IT department can focus on new and profitable projects rather than just keeping an old system up and running.

Just how critical is refreshing IT technology?

The average lifespan of a server is just three and a half years. Server efficiency typically declines at 14 percent a year, starting as soon as you take it out of the box. This means your connection speeds can erode as much as 50 percent in four years.

But efficiency losses pale compared to the failure of tier 1 functions. Consider the overhead costs just one division of your company incurs in one hour of downtime. Then add in the costs of lost productivity and missed deadlines across your company, plus the costs of paying to replace failed power units and motherboards that are out of warranty.

Periodic replacement of old hardware reduces the risk of failure and the cost of repairs and replacement if failures occur while equipment is still in warranty.

Cybersecurity

It only takes one well-publicized incident for companies to understand the value of an up-to-the-minute patch management process.

Cybersecurity is essential for regulatory compliance, especially for companies that do business in California or with customers in the EU. Most managers understand that cybersecurity isn’t just a technology concern.

Brand image rests on public trust. Managers realize that preventing data breaches is a fundamental, if unappreciated, part of keeping their customer base.

Managed IT can help your company react to problems caused by management decisions in the past. But it is much better to prevent predictable problems in the first place.

Determining If Your IT Strategy Needs An Update

Managed IT services also proactively optimize upside risk. This is where they generate the greatest ROI for clients. Your IT strategy needs an update if your company is not managing positive risk.

Managed IT services handle these kinds of positive risks:

  • Technology positive risk. New technology can reduce labor costs and accelerate production.
  • Project management positive risk. Implementing technology in a timely fashion ensures that project managers accurately estimate costs, so funds are available for opportunities.
  • Cybersecurity is a positive risk. Implementing patch management reduces data loss vulnerabilities and increases customer trust. Implementing incident response empowers managers to detect inappropriate network use by employees, increasing bandwidth for the company’s purposes. Mitigating the threat of malware and ransomware demonstrates regulatory compliance and can create business opportunities for the company.

A Closer Look At Software Updates & Patches

Managed IT services enhance cybersecurity. Managed IT services professionals keep your software updated and protected from cyberattacks. They are in constant communication with the makers of your software, and they receive early warning of issues from multiple companies, not just yours.

But reacting to cybersecurity threats is just a small part of what managed IT services can do for you.

They can prevent the untimely failure of an aging server and control your data center cooling costs with power supplies that have 80 Plus or even 90 Plus efficiency certifications. Your managed IT services provider can help you plan and budget power supply upgrades for maximum impact on your P & L.

Managed IT services can help you better organize your IT infrastructure, so your company needs fewer physical machines. And they can incorporate your data operations with the cloud for reliable security and predictable operating costs.

To learn more about the benefits of managed IT services for your San Francisco Bay Area business, contact Golden Gate Office Solutions today!