Outsourcing your IT services is a great way to close the IT skills gap that many businesses struggle with.
Managed services providers have become the preferred IT model for businesses of all sizes. They provide advanced support, security and proactive maintenance that most companies can’t afford to hire in-house.
In this blog, we’ll cover 12 telltale signs your company would benefit from hiring a managed IT services provider.
12 Telltale Signs You Should Outsource IT Support
2. Your IT costs are skyrocketing
4. You require extra support for remote workers
6. You want to grow strategically
7. You’re experiencing excessive downtime
9. You lack hardware, software and system monitoring
11. You need to implement security policies
1. You’ve Been Hacked
If your business has been victimized by ransomware, malware, phishing or denial of service (DoS) attacks, you aren’t alone. According to Interpol, fear and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have caused an “alarming” rate of cyberattacks.
What’s worse is that 40% of IT leaders say cybersecurity positions are the hardest to fill. The lack of qualified, experienced cybersecurity personnel keeps most companies scrambling to keep up with security advancements, putting them at risk for recurring hacks.
Working with a managed services provider that is up-to-date on recent cybersecurity advances keeps you – and your sensitive data – safe.
2. Your IT Costs Are Skyrocketing
If you’re relying on the pay-as-you-go or break-fix model for your IT support, you’re probably paying too much. By definition, it’s a reactive rather than proactive approach to IT, with no ongoing or preventative management.
Unexpected costs can arise at any time. If you only get support when there’s a problem, chances are you have already experienced a loss of revenue, productivity and uptime. Regular maintenance is much more cost effective than break-fix or completely overhauling your IT infrastructure.
One of the benefits of outsourcing IT to a managed services provider is that fixed monthly costs are preferable to expensive, unpredictable emergencies.
3. You Have Limited IT Staff
In the IT world, the only constant thing is change. If you’re not focused on technical advancements, you will fall behind. And with the speed of technology growing ever faster, falling behind can be disastrous to your business.
It’s easy for in-house IT staff to become isolated or complacent in a closed environment. Managed services providers who work with multiple clients are exposed to the latest real-world IT problems and solutions.
Additionally, MSPs continually invest in education, training and tools to serve those clients. This responsibility makes them accountable for keeping up with the latest technical advancements. Reputable MSPs have years of technical expertise that most small businesses could not afford to retain on a full-time basis.
4. You Require Extra Support for Remote Workers
Many businesses have transitioned to remote work environments due to COVID-19. Companies have realized that supporting remote workers brings unique challenges that they were unprepared to face.
While there are remote IT support tools available, your IT staff may be too busy to use them. The learning curve to master remote access software can be steep, preventing your IT staff from providing the quality support your employees need.
Managed services providers can recommend, install and support remote access software for you, enabling your remote workers to get up to speed and back to work fast.
5. You Need Help Migrating
The process of migrating from one system to another can be daunting – and with good reason. If done incorrectly, migration can result in extensive downtime, lost data and security breaches.
Luckily, the benefits of migrating outweigh the risks. Switching over to new technology usually results in cost savings, enhanced security, increased productivity and better scalability.
An expert managed services provider can command this process, completing your migration safely and securely. They’ll analyze your current systems and work with you to create a migration strategy that works best for your business.
6. You Want to Grow Strategically
If your business is in growth mode, you must proceed cautiously to build technology and systems that scale efficiently to meet your goals.
Having an IT strategy lays out a clear plan of where you want to go and how an investment in technology can help get you there.
A managed services provider will take the long view. They’ll not only consider your current needs but will help you come up with a plan that incorporates future improvements and growth.
7. You’re Experiencing Excessive Downtime
“Get up, stay up!” is the overarching goal of any experienced IT department. Downtime is a business killer that everyone wants to avoid.
System availability usually aims for “5 nines uptime,” meaning that a computer system or network is fully operational 99.999% of the time — which equates to less than 6 minutes downtime per year.
A seasoned managed services provider can provide the expertise you need if your IT staff struggles to achieve this standard.
8. You Need Help Desk Support
Help desk support may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about an MSP. While managed services providers also offer so much more, maintaining user support cannot be overlooked.
The amount of support you need is entirely up to you. Many businesses find that handing off routine support needs to a service partner frees IT staff to work on larger projects. Having dedicated help desk support results in faster response times, increased productivity and happier workers.
Managed service providers can be available 24/7/365, giving you expanded coverage that you may have previously lacked.
9. You Lack Hardware, Software and System Monitoring
Despite the adage, sometimes something is broken, and you do need to fix it! And while we’re at it, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — especially at today’s prices.
You can prevent most cyber threats with regular IT maintenance and effective patch management. Studies show that 60% of data breaches involved vulnerabilities in which a patch was available but not used. Without routine maintenance, you’re putting your IT environment at risk.
Outsourcing monitoring and maintenance to an MSP can be a lifesaver, identifying issues and potential threats before becoming critical. Performing a network IT assessment is an excellent first step in determining your current system health status.
10. You’re Out of Compliance
If you’re in an industry that demands regulatory compliance, make sure you’re following obligatory guidelines along with your IT requirements.
The following are some standard compliance regulations that specific industries must obey:
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
- GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)
- SOX (Sarbanes Oxley Act)
- PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
- CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
By entrusting regulatory requirement issues to a qualified MSP specializing in compliance, you’re minimizing risks associated with violating rules regarding credit card numbers, client data, competitive information, and more.
11. You Need to Implement Security Policies
As your technology becomes more sophisticated, enforcing security policies is crucial to maintain compliance and ensure data safety. Without appropriate policies, device management, application sprawl and password theft can threaten your company’s livelihood.
Outsourced cybersecurity experts can implement and continuously update policies that protect both your systems and your employees.
12. You Crave Peace of Mind
Who can put a value on peace of mind? If unresolved security issues keep you awake at night, the benefits of outsourcing IT services are priceless.
From routine backup and recovery capabilities to thwarting hacking attempts, managed services providers enable you to (finally) relax, knowing your essential needs are handled.
Things to Consider Before Hiring a Managed IT Services Provider
There are a few things you should consider before hiring a managed IT services provider.
- Experience: Have they ever worked in your industry or vertical? What systems have they supported installed previously? Are you comfortable with their track record?
- Testimonials & Case Studies: Can you speak to current or former clients for recommendations?
- Cost: Do they require contracts? Does their pricing align with your budget constraints?
- Expertise: Does their knowledge align with your needs? What tools do they use? Does their staff have certifications or credentials to prove their expertise?
- Service requirements: Are they available 24/7/365? Do they provide a service level agreement (SLA) to guarantee accountability and performance requirements?
Outsource Managed IT Services to a Team of Seasoned Experts
Is your IT staff drowning in support tickets? Are your strategic initiatives buried beneath a backlog of technical problems you can’t solve on your own? It may be time to get help.
Managed services providers enable you to outsource your IT support needs to another company. Rather than investing in costly technology, infrastructure, and staff, you can hire an MSP to do the heavy lifting for you.
Working with a managed IT services provider like Helixstorm helps future-proof your business. Helixstorm gives you access to an experienced team of technical experts — at a fraction of the cost.
If you need to decrease downtime, improve security, reduce risk and maintain compliance guidelines, partnering with Helixstorm is a decision you won’t regret.
Contact us today to find out how our managed IT support services can restore your peace of mind.
