COVID-19 has been one of the most challenging crises facing businesses in decades. From social distancing and wearing masks to working from home, the pandemic has forced businesses to adapt their operations and services to the current conditions.
One way that businesses of all industries and sizes are being impacted is that their IT has taken somewhat of a backseat to other seemingly more critical changes. However, businesses who haven’t upgraded their technology and cybersecurity since restructuring their operations are becoming victims of costly data breaches, increased downtime, and loss of customers.
What many businesses are doing to combat these threats is outsourcing their IT to a reliable Managed Service Provider (MSP). This not only allows company leaders to focus their valuable time on core business functions but also greatly decreases the risks of downtime, security incidents, and unnecessary expenditures.
Here’s why outsourcing your IT to a Managed Service Provider is a wise move for any business during the COVID-19 pandemic:
What Does an MSP Do?
Technology such as email services, CRMs, point-sale-systems, and phone systems are all critical to business functions. However, businesses may not be aware that each of these technologies leaves the company open to security threats if not properly implemented and protected.
A Managed Service Provider takes on the role of your IT team to keep your data and systems secure without interruption to your daily business activity. Whether they co-manage your IT with an existing in-house staff or manage it all themselves, MSPs are highly experienced in cybersecurity to ensure your systems aren’t left exposed to potential hackers.
Beyond just keeping your systems safe, MSPs also act as partners to consult you on technology decisions and monitor your IT to eliminate inefficiencies that could cost your business money and customers. Saving money is often businesses’ highest priority during these unprecedented times.
Because an MSP’s business model is dependent on more long-term relationships with their clients rather than one-off fixes, they’re highly dedicated to optimizing your infrastructure and aligning your IT to your business goals. This helps ensure not only that you can survive the pandemic but that you will also be prepared for the future.
Typical Services MSPs Offer
A Managed Service Provider can offer a range of services, and you can choose your level of support. They can be far more cost-effective than hiring an entire in-house team, and their team is trained in a variety of IT specialties to meet your needs during and after the pandemic.
Some of the main services MSPs offer are as follows:
Assessments
MSPs offer assessments to evaluate the health of your infrastructure. The value of these assessments is that they provide professional insight into the aspects of your technology that need to be prioritized in terms of improvement.
An assessment can include such services as bringing your hardware and software up-to-date, aligning your technology with your business goals, and making sure your servers are performing at peak performance. They also make sure your network’s trouble spots are addressed and any licenses you have are up-to-date and valid.
Cloud Services
Managed Service Providers also offer cloud solutions, including hosting, as a way to easily and safely store your data without using physical servers. Many businesses are now leveraging the power of cloud computing, especially since remote work has become a necessity for many companies. Cloud solutions are a great way to secure your company data while also giving your employees remote access to it as authorized.
Cybersecurity
MSPs provide cybersecurity services such as Dark Web scanning, network penetration testing, and software to protect your systems from the increasing digital threats caused by the pandemic. Managed Service Providers can work closely with you and your business partners to ensure that data is always kept secure, helping you implement privacy and data sharing policies that apply to your new working conditions.
Telecommunications
VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, allows your business to make phone calls transmitted via the internet rather than over traditional phone lines. VoIP and other telecommunication solutions are ideal for remote working and often much more cost-effective than traditional PBX systems.
Unlimited Support
When outsourcing your IT management to an external third party, you get the care you need for all of your business applications without having to spend your own valuable time troubleshooting your tech. MSPs can offer round-the-clock help desk support and onsite and offsite support as needed, which can be an invaluable resource for businesses working remotely.
Your MSP can also help you to scale your business IT and develop long-term strategies for your technology to support business growth. Oftentimes, tech alignment with your business goals gets neglected by overworked in-house staff who may have more pressing day-to-day issues to focus on. But with an MSP, you can get specialized support and industry-focused solutions that will benefit your business over time.
If you’d like to learn more about Innovative Network Solutions’ IT solutions, read here about our managed services. You can also contact us today to discover how our experts can help your specific business grow and thrive.
We specialize in providing reliable Managed IT Services for businesses.
For more information, contact us online or call 866-572-2850 today.