Managed IT Services for Small Businesses: Your Complete Technology Solution
A formidable IT infrastructure is integral to a growing business’s success and reputation. A lack of initiative or focus on implementing cutting-edge IT applications could put you at a pretty hefty disadvantage compared to your tech-savvy market rivals.
However, it is just as important to mention that maintaining a solid technology environment for startups and small businesses is a stressful challenge in itself.
The main obstacles that can impede a business’s technological growth are a limited budget for IT development and access to skilled and talented IT staff. This is essentially where managed IT services come into play.
IT outsourcing basically comprises partnering with a reputed third-party managed services provider that takes managerial control of your IT ecosystem. This can include a plethora of vital services such as network maintenance, hybrid cloud storage transitions, 24/7 technical support, data backup, and much more.
Why Small Businesses Need Professional IT Support
With the increase in globalization and sharp growth in competition, it has become necessary for growing or established small businesses to collaborate with credible IT solution providers. Let’s take a look at some critical reasons why you may require professional IT support.
Complications with Scalability
As small businesses achieve growth, their needs for essential IT applications and resources also grow in tandem. They require quick and effective scalability solutions that must be in line with their operational requirements. However, scalability in IT ecosystems can be very costly and sophisticated and require a skilled and experienced team of IT experts.
Managed IT services for small businesses provide scalable solutions that are designed to expand as the business grows. How? Well, reputed companies have access to state-of-the-art cloud technologies and are very adept at virtualization and AI-based tools. In other words, MSPs are flexible and can offer technology scalability at affordable prices with minimal downtime.
Limited Access to Talented In-House IT Professionals
An experienced and skilled IT team is the backbone of modern businesses. You need talented human resources to manage and optimize your IT ecosystem efficiently. However, finding and recruiting such as team can be a lengthy and expensive endeavor.
Experienced IT solutions for small businesses have a powerful network of skilled IT professionals and can provide small businesses with 24/7 technical support and proactive network maintenance. They can delegate their professionals to help keep your IT systems running efficiently.
Cybersecurity Issues
Startups can especially be prone to cyberattacks because criminals perceive them to have a variety of vulnerabilities that the business may not be prepared to overcome. Some of the most typical cyber threats that small businesses face include malware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches.
Managed IT services can provide you with avant-garde network security protocols and solutions that commonly include proactive system monitoring, constant vulnerability detection, and a very fast incident response time.
Cost Comparison: In-House IT vs. Managed Services
Hiring and building a team of in-house IT specialists can come with a slew of mind-boggling upfront expenses in comparison to outsourcing your IT infrastructure to an experienced third-party company.
A General Overview of the Costs Associated with Building an In-House Team
Starting with IT support professionals, excluding training and onboarding costs, the average per-hour salary of IT support resources in-house can range from $25 to $350. In comparison, reputed managed IT services providers may offer you free and unlimited IT support.
Moreover, an in-house IT team requires a combination of IT technicians, cybersecurity professionals, and developers. The average salary of a skilled IT technician can range from $50,000 to $65,000+ per annum. According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary of experienced cybersecurity experts can range from $113,000 – $203,000 per year.
With such enormous, fixed costs (excluding benefits, stock options, etc.) it is quite easy to see why more than 90% of bigger companies opt to outsource their IT needs. Not to mention, you also have to consider additional expenses associated with quality hardware and software, bigger office space, supplies, etc.
Moreover, building an in-house IT team can be time-intensive. For instance, hiring an IT professional can take over 2 months and it can take several months for your IT employees to achieve maximum productivity. Furthermore, the IT industry has an extremely high turnover rate, which can be more than 18% throughout the world.
How Managed IT Services Can Help Mitigate Costs
One of the most important ways that small business IT support can help reduce costs is that you will only be charged a fixed fee for the services you subscribe to. This eliminates the need for a business to hire several experts (mitigating salary costs) along with keeping their overhead expenses zero. In addition, reputed MSPs may also offer free technical support and a variety of added services to maximize your productivity at lower prices.
IT Outsourcing Companies Offer Comprehensive Services
The following are some excellent IT solutions offered by reputed and experienced MSPs, such as Corporate Technologies.
24/7 Technical Support and Monitoring
Having uninterrupted access to an efficient and responsive technical support unit can prove wondrous for solving both simple and complex technical issues remotely. MSPs offer unlimited and timely monitoring and tech support to keep downtime at a minimum. Not to mention, Corporate Technologies also offers IT support outside of normal business hours.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
Outsourcing your cybersecurity to specialist MSPs can boost your incident response rates and prove vital in safeguarding your virtual assets from constant threats. Affordable IT support services offer a range of tailored network security solutions in line with your specific needs.
Corporate Technologies evaluates your present network security protocols and provides data-backed options as to what type of security solution will work best for you instead of offering you a cookie-cutter solution.
Cloud Services Management
Cloud management encompasses a variety of network monitoring solutions designed for real-time tracking of a business’s cloud applications, including their security compliance, remote devices, and access controls.
With an experienced managed IT services provider on your back, you’ll have the benefit of having your cloud systems consistently evaluated and monitored. In addition, you’ll also be able to optimize your productivity goals in line with your overall business strategy with the advantage of constant scalability and cost mitigations.
Network Infrastructure Maintenance
Network maintenance and optimizations emphasize the productivity of a company’s software and hardware, including its servers. MSPs provide comprehensive network maintenance protocols and solutions that include troubleshooting, quick bug fixes, regular software updates, and more. All of this can help considerably improve the performance durability of your hardware, boost the reliability of your network systems, and propel your system performance.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
One of the most important elements of a strong IT infrastructure is a credible data backup and recovery protocol. You need to ensure your sensitive data and overall information are safeguarded in the event of a natural disaster or a cyber threat. Small business technology solutions providers, such as Corporate Technologies, offer powerful cloud-based storage solutions in secure locations, ensuring your data remains safe and secure in the face of unforeseen consequences.
Benefits of Choosing Managed IT Services
Predictable Monthly Costs
One of the main advantages of partnering with a reputed managed IT services provider, such as Corporate Technologies is that you will never have to worry about your IT budgeting. This is because you’ll only be required to pay for the types or amount of services used. In other words, your monthly IT costs will be predictable, allowing you to steer clear of any unforeseen expenses (such as equipment damage, software failure, etc).
Access to a Team of Specialists
Corporate Technologies has vast and talented teams of experienced IT professionals and specialists. We understand how difficult it is for small or growing businesses to onboard skilled IT professionals. With our developers, cybersecurity professionals, and technical support resources, you’ll never have to worry about any downtime, redundancies, or discrepancies.
Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring
We offer 24/7 network monitoring and maintenance, even outside of regular business hours. Our experts proactively monitor your software and hardware systems at all times, constantly looking out for vulnerabilities or potential cyberattacks, leaving you to focus on other important business aspects.
Enhanced Security Measures
We work with state-of-the-art and AI-backed cybersecurity systems and tools to provide our clients with uninterrupted and streamlined network security support at all times. Corporate Technologies evaluate each business’s current network requirements, providing them with both affordable and enhanced security solutions.
Our Managed IT Service Solutions
Overview Of Service Packages
With over 2,000 satisfied clients across the globe, we offer businesses 3 distinct service packages, which are:
Secure Advantage
Our Secure Advantage program offers multi-layer cybersecurity solutions along with boosting your data compliance and regulatory needs.
Technology Advantage
Our Technology Advantage Package offers comprehensive, tailor-made managed IT services and solutions for businesses of all sizes. It includes a wealth of solutions ranging from cloud computing and cybersecurity to remote monitoring and management, data migration services, network management, and more.
Help Desk Connect
As a small business, navigating an onslaught of minor or complicated technical issues can be difficult and time-consuming. Our Help Desk Connect offers small businesses the opportunity to outsource their troubleshooting and technical support needs to our remote professionals.
Bottom Line
So there you have it, an in-depth look at why it has become necessary for small businesses to collaborate with third-party managed IT services providers, such as Corporate Technologies, and how doing so can help mitigate costs and maximize operational productivity. For more information on our services, get a free consultation and quote here.
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