Technology is a rapidly evolving, ever-changing element that impacts every business. So whether you’ve recently gone paperless or your company is always the first in your industry to adopt cutting-edge tech, IT considerations are vital to your business’s growth.
But are you genuinely optimizing your tech performance? You’re likely facing new IT challenges every day, especially if your business dabbled in hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re ready to ensure optimal, efficient tech processes, remote monitoring management (RMM) solutions are in order. In this guide, we’ll break down RMM and explore five ways an effective IT solution can change your company’s relationship with tech.
What is RMM Software?
IT service providers use remote monitoring management software to assess, maintain and monitor the health of a company’s tech network—their computers, data, software and storage.
RMM software has a few significant functions, some of which include:
- Completing regularly-scheduled system maintenance and software updates
- Alerting IT service providers to vulnerabilities, failures and potential system issues
- Providing a platform for issue resolution (e.g., a ticket-based help desk system)
- Scheduling and completing routine data backups
- Managing cybersecurity scans and identifying viruses
- Filtering and analyzing data to prepare IT-related reports
- Monitoring device and network performance
- Tracking critical IT key performance indicators (KPIs)
Most importantly, RMM software is remote. As a result, IT staff and service providers can use the software to provide support and assistance from any device in the network, whether it’s an on-site computer or a remote work device.
Benefits of RMM Software
Adopting RMM software in-house or via an IT managed service provider (MSP) can significantly improve your business’s IT functions and everyday operations. Let’s explore five key benefits of RMM.
1. System Failure Prevention
We’ve all experienced a tech hiccup in the workplace from time to time. Tech snafus can be irritating (like connectivity issues between computers and printers) or devastating (like network failures and data loss). Preventing these system mishaps is an integral part of any effective IT department.
RMM software can help prevent system failures, and some of its key functions support this purpose:
- System health monitoring – RMM can alert IT departments to potential problems that could escalate into large-scale failures by keeping a watchful eye on all system elements.
- Update scheduling and maintenance – Any RMM software worth its salt will help IT staff schedule necessary maintenance and software updates. However, more advanced software can provide automated support for these tasks, freeing IT departments for larger projects and simple troubleshooting. Maintaining up-to-date software keeps all devices and users up and running during business hours.
- Vulnerability assessments – Security breaches and viruses can decimate system performance in the blink of an eye. By regularly scanning for these risks, RMM software prevents security-related incidents that could halt everyday operations.
2. Decreased Shadow IT
Have you ever downloaded software or used a browser client without express consultation from your IT department? Welcome to the world of shadow IT.
Using unsanctioned software might sound benign, like using Dropbox to send files too large for your email server, tracking your time with a third-party app, or taking notes in a web client may not seem like the end of the world to most.
But shadow IT can cause a variety of problems for businesses, like:
- Cybersecurity risks
- Exposure to viruses or bloatware that can decrease system function
- Increased tech spending when free trials run their course
- Siloed data from applications that don’t integrate
RMM software can tackle shadow IT (and its ramifications) in a variety of ways:
- Monitoring devices for new downloads or browser activity
- Providing staff with a ticketed system for software safety questions
- Routinely scanning for system vulnerabilities
3. Optimized IT Spending
Whether your business has a dedicated IT department or depends upon the expertise of one tech-savvy employee, how can you be sure you’re spending your IT budget wisely?
RMM can help businesses and their IT staff maintain efficiency, ensuring optimized IT spending and a positive return on investment (ROI). For example, instead of tasking hourly employees with performing routine system maintenance, RMM software can automate this process or assign responsibility for software upgrades to one specific IT team member.
RMM can also help IT departments improve by tracking critical KPIs like:
- Average issue handle time
- IT spending vs. IT budget
- Mean time between system failures
- IT employees per end-users
RMM software can help adjust your IT spending by compiling and analyzing KPI data to get the most bang for your buck.
4. Increased IT Department Efficiency
By tracking these KPIs, RMM software can also improve IT department efficiency. But how can they indicate areas of improvement?
- Average issue handle time – If your IT department’s average time spent resolving issues is higher than you’d like, RMM can help redirect staff from ongoing projects to in-the-moment system and user issues.
- IT spending vs. IT budget – With real-time IT spending numbers in hand, RMM can help IT and finance departments adjust their spending priorities and plans to stay on budget.
- Mean time between system failures – RMM software can help IT departments determine how frequently a company’s system fails. A fundamental grasp of the average time between system failures can help IT departments achieve adequate staff and brainstorm solutions for failure-reducing projects.
- IT employees per end-users – An RMM solution can help IT and HR departments identify staffing redundancies, improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
5. Improved and Increased Functionalities
An RMM solution can increase the functionality and effectiveness of IT departments, providing faster solutions for staff tech maladies and improving everyday operations.
RMM software can help IT departments provide:
- 24/7 support for employees, even if they’re working outside of regular office hours
- Multi-mode support for staff via phone, chat and email
- Scheduled system downtimes, ensuring staff access to tech during peak hours
Partner with Helixstorm to Monitor Your Remote Devices
If your business is ready to streamline and improve its IT processes, remote monitoring management software may be the solution you’re seeking. RMM can enhance your IT operations, which can facilitate faster company growth.
Even the most effective RMM solution requires qualified IT experts to maximize its high-powered tools. At Helixstorm, our IT experts use cutting-edge RMM technology to keep company networks, software and hardware up and running, ensuring optimal performance and productivity.
As a seamless extension of your in-house IT department, we provide solutions that help staff resolve everyday tech issues, create and accomplish long-term IT projects and manage even the most complex networks.
If you’re looking for a dedicated IT partner, we’re ready to help. To learn more, contact us today.
