To enjoy a smooth-running IT system at the heart of your business, you need to provide it with adequate support. Unless you have a full-fledged in-house IT team, you may need to outsource some of your IT tasks to a managed services provider (MSP). If using an MSP is something you’ve yet to try, read on to learn the basics about what managed services are and how they could benefit your company.
On-Demand IT Support
When IT problems arise, they’re usually challenging and inconvenient. Failing to resolve them quickly could result in a loss of productivity for your business. As a result, you may also find that you’re losing money.
You can use an MSP to access the IT support you need at times that are convenient for you. As providing IT support is the crux of the MSP’s business, they can offer it on demand. In addition to accessing generalized support teams, you may be able to access one that specializes in certain areas. For example, if you’re using Office 365, you can find a team that focuses on that particular type of software.
Continuous Cybersecurity Services
Year after year, the world of cybercrime grows increasingly more worrying. In 2019 alone, at least 903-million forms of malware were released. And in 2018, cybercrime cost businesses at least $2.7 billion. By piecing those two statistics together, it’s easy to see that cybercrime is highly prevalent and incredibly expensive to manage.
Rather than tackle a breach or attack once it has already happened, an MSP can continuously monitor your services to prevent one from happening in the first place. How they do this will vary according to the company you choose. They could provide ongoing vulnerability assessments, which look for flaws in your system, address them, and then find ways to stop them arising again in the future. Or, they could respond to risks in real-time, analyze the data, and make your defenses stronger. No matter which approach they choose, they’ll work around the clock.
Disaster Recovery That Works
When your business relies on data, suddenly losing it can cost you in more ways than one. Unless you’re confident you can create a solid plan on your own, outsourcing to an MSP is always wise. Your MSP will assess how often you need to back your data up. Backup intervals often vary between businesses. While some can survive with 24-hour intervals, others would lose a lot of money if they lost a day of data.
After assessing how often you need a backup, your MSP will store your data safely and create a recovery plan. Using an MSP ensures you have a definitive source of support to turn to if something suddenly wipes out all your data. This could include events such as successful ransomware attacks and natural disasters that affect your hardware. Your MSP will restore your data quickly so that you can get back to working as normal. As a result, you’re less likely to lose money from reduced productivity, and you can retain the trust of your key stakeholders.
By using managed services, you can save yourself both time and money. You’re more likely to keep your business secure and you’ll have a team of experts to turn to when something goes wrong. Before choosing an MSP, make sure you discuss your requirements with them to ensure they can provide you with exactly what you need.
How Managed IT Completely Transforms How Your Business Operates
