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Not all companies have the resources to maintain an in-house IT team to handle the tasks that come with ever-evolving internet technology. This is where managed IT services come in, providing businesses with a cost-effective solution to outsourcing their IT needs.
In this article, we'll dive into the world of managed IT services and explore the different types of services available to businesses today.
Table of Contents
What Is Managed IT Service?
Managed IT services are a type of IT outsourcing that allows businesses to delegate the management and maintenance of their information technology infrastructure to an external IT solution provider.
Managed IT services are a valuable solution for businesses looking to free up internal teams to work on business-specific tasks, streamline their IT operations, improve service quality, and reduce costs associated with managing their IT infrastructure.
Managed IT service providers (MSPs) offer a range of services to support businesses in various IT areas, including help desk support, data backup and recovery, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more. They identify businesses' specific IT needs and develop customized solutions to fulfill them.
Six Benefits of Managed IT Services
Businesses can enjoy numerous benefits of managed IT services, which often include:
- Access to expertise. By outsourcing IT services, businesses can access a team of IT experts and technology resources they may not have in-house. Managed IT services can help improve their IT capabilities and stay up to date with the latest technology trends and best practices.
- Increased focus on core business functions. Outsourcing IT services allows businesses to free up their time and resources to focus on revenue-generating activities, increasing overall productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
- Improved security and data protection. A Zippia study found that cyber-attacks happen every 39 seconds, and 95% of them are the result of human error. MSPs offer cybersecurity solutions and data backup and recovery services to help businesses protect valuable data from security threats and data loss incidents.
- Competitive advantage. 80% of businesses consider digital infrastructure critical to achieving goals. Small and mid-sized businesses that use managed IT services gain a competitive edge over their IT-unaware colleagues and compete with larger companies.
- Scalability. Managed IT services can be easily scaled up or down based on the changing business needs. Scalability makes outsourcing IT services a flexible and cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes and industries.
- Cost reduction. Using managed IT services can save money on staff and training because companies don't have to hire and train their own IT team. Plus, managed services pricing can be more affordable and predictable than building in-house IT operations. Companies pay a fixed monthly amount instead of dealing with variable cloud expenses, which makes it easier to budget their expenses.
Seven Types of Managed IT Services
Managed IT service providers commonly offer seven types of IT services designed to help businesses improve their IT infrastructure, reduce costs and enhance their overall efficiency.
Let's take a closer look at each of these seven types of managed IT services:
- Infrastructure Management
- IT Consulting
- Help Desk Support
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud Computing
- Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
- Technology Support
1. Infrastructure Management
Hardware and software systems that support your business operations, such as servers, databases and network devices) need regular maintenance, and that is what infrastructure management is all about. It ensures your systems run smoothly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
MSPs that offer IT infrastructure management services can help with tasks like system monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintenance, as well as providing recommendations for system improvements and upgrades.
2. IT Consulting
You can stay updated with the latest IT developments and keep your organization ahead of the curve by consulting IT specialists about technology decisions and investments. MSPs will assist you in developing SMART IT goals and creating a roadmap to reach them, ensuring that you get the most out of your IT investments and increase overall collaboration, productivity, and profitability.
Furthermore, IT consulting services can assist you in ensuring that your systems comply with industry-specific requirements. MSPs can provide network maintenance and advice to help you use your resources more efficiently and effectively, resulting in increased company success.
3. Help Desk Support
Help desk support provides technical assistance to employees or customers experiencing IT-related issues. IT specialists can offer help through various channels such as phone, email, chat, or even remote access.
These services can help businesses minimize downtime and keep their employees productive by quickly diagnosing and troubleshooting various IT issues, including hardware and software problems, network connectivity issues, and cybersecurity threats.
4. Cybersecurity
Global cybercrimes are expected to cost up to $10.5 trillion by 2025. Managed cybersecurity protects your business's digital assets and sensitive data from costly cyber threats such as unauthorized access or malicious attacks—hacking, malware and ransomware, reducing the risk of dangerous and expensive data breaches.
MSPs that offer cybersecurity services have security measures to protect your business, including vulnerability assessments, intrusion detection and prevention, anti-virus and anti-malware software, firewall protection and security training for employees.
5. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing involves using remote servers on the internet to store and process data. MSPs can help businesses migrate their data and applications to the cloud, providing them with scalable computing resources and increased flexibility. Employees can access their apps and data from any location — all they need is an internet connection.
Approximately 60% of global business information is stored in cloud computing technology, and there is a good reason for that. Besides great accessibility, cloud computing services offer improved data security and disaster recovery capabilities. MSPs can monitor and manage cloud-based applications, ensuring high-level security protocols and automated file backups.
6. Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Data backup and disaster recovery as managed IT services ensure that a business's critical data is securely backed up and can be quickly restored in case of a data loss or disaster.
MSPs can provide businesses with regular data backups and offsite storage solutions to prevent data loss. They can also help you develop disaster recovery plans, ensuring they are prepared to handle unexpected disasters, such as cyberattacks, natural disasters, or equipment failures.
7. Technology Support
Technology support is a managed IT service that helps businesses find cost-effective technology solutions, monitor their systems to identify potential problems, and ensure that their operating systems are up to date. Use this service to optimize your technology infrastructure, improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
If you need IT support in any of these seven fields, contact the top managed service providers.
Managed IT Services: Takeaway
By delegating the management and maintenance of your IT infrastructure to a third-party provider, your company can benefit from the expertise of IT professionals without needing to hire and train an in-house IT department.
Managed IT services offer businesses a comprehensive range of solutions to outsource their IT needs, including infrastructure management, IT consulting, help desk support, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data backup and recovery.
Outsourcing IT services provides many benefits, including access to IT expertise, improved security and data protection, competitive advantage, scalability, and cost reduction, which will allow you to reduce stress and focus on profitable business tasks. By staying updated with the latest technology trends and best practices, your business can streamline its IT operations, minimize downtime and increase efficiency.
Sounds appealing, doesn't it? Reach out to highly-rated IT outsourcing companies and start enjoying the benefits of their services today!
Managed IT Services FAQs
1. What is the difference between IT services and managed IT services?
IT services can be provided by an in-house or external IT team, while managed IT services specifically refer to outsourcing the management and maintenance of a company's technology infrastructure to a third-party provider.
2. What are managed services examples?
Examples of managed IT services include:
- Network and infrastructure management
- Cloud computing and storage management
- Cybersecurity and threat management
- Data backup and disaster recovery
- Help desk and technical support
- Application and software management
- Database Administration
- Mobile device management
- VoIP phone system management
- Print and document management
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