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As businesses grow and become more reliant on technology, maintaining robust and secure IT infrastructure becomes increasingly difficult. From security issues to application troubleshooting to hardware and software updates, there are many challenges that businesses face when it comes to supporting their own IT needs. This is where managed IT services can provide immense value by taking over these responsibilities and ensuring your technology runs smoothly.
In this blog post, we will explore how managed IT service providers can help solve common business technology challenges. We will look at real-world examples of how they have helped businesses of different sizes and industries get the most from their technology investments. By outsourcing your IT to experienced professionals, you can focus on your core business while having experts manage security, upgrades and troubleshooting for you.
Hardware and software maintenance and support
One of the biggest pains for businesses is keeping hardware and software up to date. New versions of operating systems, applications and security patches are released frequently. It takes a dedicated team of professionals to test, deploy and roll out these changes seamlessly across multiple devices for a business. Managing updates and patching yourself can be a tedious and error-prone process.
With managed IT services, technicians remotely monitor all endpoints for updates and proactively install them during non-business hours to avoid any disruptions. They ensure all devices run the latest versions for optimal performance and security. For example, a merchant processing bank was struggling to keep 100 endpoints current as new Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and computers were added frequently. An MSP took over monitoring and updating these systems, deploying updates within 48 hours to maintain Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance.
Network monitoring and maintenance
The foundation of any technology infrastructure is the network. From servers and switches to Wi-Fi access points - everything depends on smooth network functionality. But networks are complex with many interconnecting components that need round-the-clock monitoring and maintenance that most businesses lack resources for.
Some issues can bring operations to a grinding halt if not addressed quickly. For example, a manufacturing company experienced intermittent network failures affecting production. After hiring an MSP, they implemented network monitoring tools and established service level agreements for resolution times. Now, the MSP's NOC analyses alerts 24/7 and contacts onsite technicians within an hour if any outages occur to minimize downtime. Proper network maintenance such as switching out old hardware prevents future problems.
IT security management
With cyber threats increasing every day, data and network security should be top priority for all businesses. But security is a full-time job that requires continuous vigilance and expertise across multiple domains from firewalls and antivirus to user training and vulnerability assessment.
An MSP can take complete ownership of a company's security posture through managed security services. They install best-in-class perimeter defences, monitor firewall and IDS/IPS logs, run regular vulnerability scans and pen tests. For instance, a law firm watergated by ransomware which encrypted critical files. After hiring an MSP, they implemented multilayered security, trained staff on secure practices and established an incident response plan. The MSP now safeguards their network with 24/7monitoring to prevent future attacks.
Application management and support
Core business applications are essential digital assets that require expertise to select, deploy and support smoothly. Whether it's ERP, CRM or industry-specific software - applications need configuration, integration, performance optimization, upgrades and troubleshooting support that IT generalists may lack.
An MSP application practice can help at everys tage from selection to ongoing management. A restaurant chain hired an MSP to migrate their home-grown POS solution to a modern cloud-based platform. The MSP experts configured the new system, integrated payment processing, migrated data and provided go-live support. They now manage application availability, upgrades and issue resolution through a dedicated helpdesk. This free drestaurant staff from software problems to focus on operations.
Disaster recovery and business continuity
Unplanned outages from hardware failures, fires or other disasters can have severe business impacts through lost productivity and revenue. Ensuring rapid recovery and continuity of operationsrequires comprehensive planning, tested processes and infrastructure that most businesses lack.
MSPs can design and implement full disasterrecovery (DR) solutions for clients tailored to their Recovery Time Objective(RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). This includes offsite backups, DR sites, warm standby servers and bandwidth. They test recovery plans regularlythrough drills. A manufacturer previously lost a week of orders during a serverhardware failure. An MSP implemented a backup infrastructure with failovercapabilities and now conducts yearly DR tests to bring systems back within four hours in case of any issues.
Helpdesk, troubleshooting and user support
Dealing with user issues, troubleshooting complex problems and fielding endless support requests can drain in-house IT teams. An always-available managed helpdesk takes this load off by acting as the single point of contact for all user and IT issues.
MSP helpdesks are typically staffed by certified technicians familiar with a client's environment and processes. They triage, diagnose and resolve issues remotely via remote access or guide users. Priority incidents are fast-tracked to on-premise technicians for hands-on fixing if needed. A real estate firm used to spend over 20 man-hours per week supporting 90 users before offloading to an MSP helpdesk. Users now log allis sues through a portal or call a centralized number for faster resolution of any technology problems.
Budgeting clarity and predictability
In-house IT is unpredictable with constantly changing needs and expenses for hardware, software, staffing or consultants. Budgeting becomes guesswork. MSPs offer subscription-based managed services with bundled tools, support, projects and utilities under one affordable monthly or annual fee.
By switching to an MSP, businesses gain complete transparency into costs. They pay a fixed amount for fully managed services with no unexpected overages. For example, a restaurant chain previously went over budget during their busiest quarter due to several server failures and emergency consultants. With managed infrastructure from an MSP, their monthly IT expenditure is now a known line item and break/fixes are included without extra billing. This provides better financial planning and control over technology costs.
IT skills augmentation without hiring
Hiring top-calibre internal staff with skills across multiple technologies is uneconomical for most smaller businesses. MSPs act as an extension of your in-house team by offering trained engineers and 24/7 support without the hiring, benefits and attrition costs of full-time staffing.
You gain access to a deep bench of expertise on-demand for projects, rollouts, migrations or troubleshooting without recruiting specialists. An MSP handled a full ERP system upgrade and Office 365 migration for a manufacturer, assisting with testing, go-live and post-deployment help in just two weeks using their team of 50+ engineers -something beyond the client's core competence and capacity.
Improved productivity and focus on core business
Having to constantly douse "IT fires" burns valuable time and takes key staff away from their main roles. By offloading non-core technology responsibilities, businesses see increased productivity across teams to focus on revenue-generating activities.
For example, a marketing agency was spending 3-5 hours each day dealing with IT breakdowns due to outdated infrastructure. After partnering with an MSP, their management can now count on technology to work seamlessly so employees concentrate fully on client projects. The MSP handles other tasks like new laptop deployments, application updates and security incidents without any disruption. This droves a 10%increase in monthly revenue.
Compliance and governance best practices
Regulated industries have stringent compliance mandates for data security, business continuity and controls. Yet staying on top of these obligations requires dedicated resources. MSPs maintain stringent processes, staff certifications and reporting aligned to frameworks such as ISO, HIPAA, PCI DSS and more.
They conduct annual risk assessments, implement policies, monitor adherence and provide audit assistance. As are sult, clients stay compliant without major effort. A healthcare provider handling sensitive patient data was struggling with HIPAA compliance. Now an MSP oversees their security programs, performs rigorous access reviews and helps prepare for audits to adhere to all privacy regulations.
Change management and onboarding support
Significant technology shifts cause logistical nightmares if not planned properly for end users. MSPs experts help clients through transitions seamlessly by taking the lead on all change management activities from communication to training.
Whether it's a recent M&A, office re location or full digital transformation - their professionals provide documentation, education rollout support and post go-live assistance. A law firm underwent an office move and needed staff trained on new document management software within two weeks. The MSP planned well-designed training sessions, change readiness kits and was available on-site for post-rollout issues during an otherwise disruptive transition period.
Business insights through reporting
Actionable metrics give management visibility into technology performance, risks, usages and costs for decision making. MSP solutions generate customized reports on security events, network health, application utilization and more from monitoring across endpoints, networks and applications.
Timely insights help optimize processes, troubleshoot issues proactively and forecast future needs. For instance, usage reports from an MSP helped a school district identify where additional bandwidth was required before network congestion impacted e-learning. They were then able to request budget for necessary upgrades through data-backed justifications.
Conclusion
Relying solely on in-house resources can strain budgets and shift focus from your core business goals. Managed IT services provide resilient, cost-effective solutions tailored to your specific needs. Asa leader in the field, PSI's team of experts is committed to optimizing operations through reliable infrastructure, cybersecurity protections, application support and expert guidance. Their adaptive, industry-leading approach empowers organizations of all sizes to achieve their strategic objectives through scalable technology. By partnering with PSI, you gain the skills and resources required to successfully navigate today's digital landscape and gain a competitive edge.
