Technology can help businesses in various ways. Thanks to technology, employees are able to pull up client information faster, send faxes or emails instead of having to mail hard copy documents, and even more efficiently do their job and manage their workflows. While this sounds great, there is a bit of a downside to technology. As a business owner, you have to implement new technology and ensure it is working properly, or you may experience loss of productivity or downtime. This is why it is so important to hire IT professionals. IT professionals can manage the technology your business uses, working to update products as needed and helping to decrease downtime. One of the decisions that you as a business owner have to make is deciding whether to hire dedicated IT professionals for your office or whether to outsource your IT needs using Managed IT services. In order to determine which may be the best option for you, it is important that you first understand what Managed IT services is and its benefits. Here is some key information you need to know about Managed IT services.
Managed IT 101
In order to decide if Managed IT services is right for your business, you must first understand what Managed IT services is and how it differs from hiring your own dedicated IT professional. Managed IT services is a third-party service that handles your business’s IT needs. While each service is slightly different and the types of services they offer can vary from one company to the next, most Managed IT services are able to help you download and install new computer software and programs, answer computer-related calls from employees who may be having computer issues, set-up new computer software and equipment, including printers, and work to ensure your website and computer equipment is free of viruses and protected from hackers.
There are a few key differences between hiring an IT professional for your office and outsourcing your IT needs to a Managed IT service provider. One of the most significant differences is availability. When you outsource, you have access to a professional around the clock. When you hire a professional for your office, they are only there eight hours a day. Another key difference is that you have access to more professionals if you are updating software or completing a large IT project. When you hire an IT professional, you cannot increase or decrease staff to fit your needs at any given time.
How Will You Benefit from Outsourcing Your IT?
There are a number of benefits associated with Managed IT services, which is why many businesses are making the switch. One of the major benefits associated with Managed IT services is the cost. If you were to hire an IT professional for your business, you have to pay that employee a salary, vacation and sick days, medical benefits, and other employee-related costs. Many companies do not have a need for a full-time IT professional, yet they still hire one to have available when they need one. When you outsource your IT needs, the costs associated with the IT professional are split among your Managed Services Provider’s various clients, helping to decrease your costs.
Another significant advantage associated with using a Managed IT professional is that you will always have a professional on-call. When you hire an IT professional, they are not on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If an employee’s computer gets a virus or if your Internet crashes, you may have to wait for the employee to make their way into work to solve the problem. This can create a lot of downtime for a company. When you outsource to a Managed Service Provider, they have professionals available to serve you around the clock, minimizing downtime as much as possible.
The final compelling benefit associated with utilizing services from a Managed IT services company is that you have access to different specialists who concentrate their skills in a variety of IT topics to help you no matter what IT issue you face. Every person has their own unique talents, including IT professionals. If you hire an IT professional, they may be great at figuring one tech issue out, but they may not have a lot of experience in another. This can leave you in a bind if you need help with an IT project that your professional is not particularly experienced in. When you outsource to a company, you have access to many different employees with various IT backgrounds. Odds are, someone within the company has the skills needed to help you with any given tech project or problem, ensuring you always have the right person for the task at hand.
How to Choose a Provider
There are numerous factors that you need to consider as you look to hire a Managed IT provider. First, you should consider the location of the service. Some companies operate locally, while others operate internationally. Ideally, you want to find a local company to assist you, should you need them to make an on-site visit.
Another factor to consider as you decide on a Managed IT provider is the experience of their employees. Ask how long the average employee at the company has worked in the IT field. Ask the company how they ensure their employees have the needed skills for the job and about their continuing education policies. Also, be sure to ask the company what types of training their employees have. All of this will help you find a company with experienced IT professionals to assist you.
Lastly, be sure to ask about costs. Ask how a Managed IT services company bills you. Do they bill by the hour for their services or are you charged a monthly flat rate? Also, be sure to ask if you have to sign a contract for a specific length of time or whether you are signing a month-to-month contract. Be sure to clearly understand what services are covered within your contract versus those associated with additional costs.
Many businesses are opting to outsource their company’s IT needs and using Managed IT services rather than hiring dedicated IT professionals for their office. This is because there are a number of benefits associated with utilizing Managed IT services. As a business owner, you need to do what is best for your business. If you are unsure whether Managed IT services is right for you and you would like to learn more information, or if your San Francisco Bay Area business is ready to begin implementing Managed IT, Golden Gate Office Solutions can help. Contact us today to start the process.
