Making the case for managed IT Services
In today’s digital world, technology is an enabler of business growth. In fact, COVID-19 has seen an increase in the digitisation of business, and technology is proving itself more important than ever before. Yet many small businesses lack the in-house IT skills to identify, implement and manage their IT effectively. This constrains their growth and opens them up to various risks.
5 risks of managing IT internally
While many small businesses try to keep costs low by managing their IT in-house, the truth is that this seldom proves to be the most cost-effective choice in the long run, for several reasons:
1. Managing IT takes time away from core business activities and may waste valuable resources that could be better spent elsewhere.
2. Small businesses often lack the specialist skills required to develop a comprehensive and systemised approach to IT, meaning that systems don’t adhere to best practices and are “patched together”.
3. Managing your IT internally without access to up-to-date expertise and technology resources may mean your systems are outdated – opening you to cyber risk. In fact, Business Matters magazine lists cyber risks as one of the top 10 risks currently facing small businesses.
4. If IT support is managed by somebody wearing multiple hats, it may not be prioritised and may fall by the wayside.
5. Poorly managed IT opens a business to operational, regulatory and compliance, and even reputational risks.
5 benefits of a managed IT service
By outsourcing IT requirements to a business IT service provider, companies can minimise their risk and focus on their core business activities. Managed IT support services offer numerous benefits, including:
1. Access to a qualified, fully-equipped IT department, whenever you need help. An outsourced IT department offers skills, resources, expertise and availability that most small businesses could not afford in-house.
2. Contracting a managed IT service ensures accountability for IT decision-making and implementation, as well as governance and compliance.
3. A managed IT service with a reputable IT company gives you access to IT strategy and advisory services to support business objectives. This ensures your entire business IT function is integrated and that systems are working together properly.
4. Outsourcing your IT allows for improved budgeting and cost management. You know exactly what you’re paying per month – there are no sudden surprises – and IT procurement is taken care of, from procurement to installation, renewals and lifecycle management.
5. Proactive IT management reduces downtime. Rather than fixing problems when they can no longer be ignored, a managed IT service provider can ensure updates and preventative maintenance is undertaken as required to identify problems early on and keep your systems running optimally.
Growing a small business is a challenging affair. From managing cash flow to keeping clients happy, small business owners have a lot on their plates. Worrying about IT is one frustration that can easily be removed by partnering with a reliable business IT company.
Find out about Numata’s managed IT solutions today.
