4 things you should expect from your IT provider
Your business relies on your IT systems to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, many business owners choose to neglect their technology needs. Some justify this course of action by saying state-of-the-art IT is too expensive, or that they don’t need an IT provider because they have that one person on staff who is “tech-savvy.” This is a dangerous philosophy, especially in an increasingly digital economy.
Excellent IT is about working smarter, not harder. It’s about cutting down on the legwork your employees have to do so that they can focus on their most important tasks. It gives you tools that enable you to compete against larger, more established competitors.
Not too long ago, it was difficult for smaller businesses to access these solutions. Thanks to the emergence of managed IT providers, great IT is accessible and affordable for businesses of any size.
You may be looking for a managed service provider (MSP) right now. Or maybe you’re just staying aware of industry trends. Either way, you’re probably curious about what kind of service to expect from the partnership. We’ll be addressing the most important services you need to expect from your IT provider.
Help desk support
In-house IT staff are often tied up dealing with a long list of routine IT tasks. With managed IT services, your staff can count on expert help desk support to handle support requests, alerts, and everything else that distracts them from core projects.
An MSP will also assist with everyday essentials that are necessary for managing and protecting your networks. This includes patches and software updates. This means, instead of paying your IT staff to solve mundane tech issues and to keep up with routine software updates, they can work on IT projects that will help your business grow.
IT consulting
IT support is just the tip of the iceberg. With an experienced MSP, your organization has access to a team of skilled IT experts. This includes security and IT communications experts. They’ll have the knowledge and expertise necessary to look at your business goals. This will help your organization identify and get set up with the most relevant hardware and software solutions for your business.
Proactive monitoring & maintenance
Every good MSP should offer ongoing maintenance and network monitoring for their clients. Network monitoring shouldn’t just be a silent feature that you pay for and never reap the benefits of, however. A responsible IT partner will have a proactive attitude toward network monitoring. They will also keep you apprised of your network’s strengths and weaknesses.
Keeping constant tabs on your network means that fewer issues impact your staff. With truly proactive monitoring and remediation, your business can experience significantly less IT-related downtime and slowdowns. This is a massive boon when you consider that the average cost of downtime for a business is $5,600 per minute.
Backup and disaster recovery
In 2019, the average cost of a data breach in the United States was $8.19 million, up from $7.91 million in 2018. This is why having a robust backup and disaster recovery plan in place is so critical. Even if you have a basic IT disaster recovery plan ready and routinely back up your data, you still may be at risk.
This is another area where managed services are so important. An MSP can thoroughly analyze your hardware, software, connectivity, and network to identify loopholes. They can also train employees to help prevent accidental data loss. Additionally, ensure your staff is well-versed in cybersecurity best practices.
Make sure you have the service you deserve
Your IT provider has many responsibilities and will help your business in a variety of ways. However, these practices, in particular, are great signs of professionalism and commitment. If you think your business could benefit from managed IT services, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to learn about your business and discuss what Square3 Technologies can do to change your world.
