Managed IT Support Services Provide Expert Repair for SMBs
Summary: This article explores how outsourced IT service providers can supply expert repair and many other managed IT support services required for your small business, such as network monitoring and maintenance, basic cyber security, installation, purchase consultation and IT strategy.
There are so many moving parts to managing a small business. For most SMB owners and managers, there is a never-ending to-do list. Sometimes, everyone gets stretched a little too thin. So, do SMBs have the time or budget to manage their own IT? Even if someone on your staff is knowledgeable about IT, they might not have the experience, information or tools required to support most of your IT needs. Outsourced business IT for SMBs can come to the rescue.
Managed IT Service Solutions
Outsourced IT service providers offer a wide range of services for small businesses. A small business cannot justify an in-house IT department armed with all the cutting-edge tools, knowledge and experience required for comprehensive IT support. Managed services IT can keep your computer system up to date and running with maximum speed and efficiency.
When you are overseeing an SMB and focusing on its core competency, small business IT outsourcing services can remove IT worries from your plate. If you own an SMB and are engaged in the core business, do you have time to deal with a malfunctioning computer, an unstable network or other unexpected IT issues? Is it the best use of your or your employees’ time to stop work and try to analyze or repair a problem? Managed support IT services can handle all computer repairs, network support and basic cyber security concerns for far less than hiring and maintaining a full-time IT staff.
Managed IT Support Services
We suspect that uninformed small business owners do not understand how many services are required to keep their IT running smoothly. It is a weak strategy to wait until there’s a problem. Your efforts might have already made it more challenging to repair. For a reasonable monthly fee per user, managed IT service providers can serve as your tailor-made IT support technicians and provide many services, such as:
- Computer Repairs – Even if you think you’re a tech-knowledgeable user who’s done some simple repairs in the past, do you have time to devote to this task? Can you risk wasting time and resources only to find you cannot fix the problem or perhaps make it worse? Small business IT outsourcing services have the expertise and tools to repair your devices quickly and will stand behind their work once repairs are made.
- Network Support – As an SMB owner, you need robust and secure connections. A slow network connection can impact the flow of your entire business operations. An IT managed service provider can analyze and repair your network to bring it up to maximum speed and efficiency. IT experts can also catch impending problems and take proactive measures to correct them with innovative managed IT service solutions before your system slows down… or shuts down. A managed IT provider improves network function and provides ongoing support for maximum productivity.
- Ongoing Proactive Maintenance – Computer systems are not immortal. They must be maintained regularly to ensure a long lifespan and smooth, productive functionality. Professional managed services IT takes the lead on updating software and cleaning and replacing hardware as needed. For a reasonable monthly fee, most potential problems may be avoided through proactive maintenance.
- Device and Software Installations – Outsourced IT service providers can be your IT consultants for purchasing devices and software. They will know your computer system thoroughly and can help you avoid hardware and software that might conflict with the rest of your system. They can also ensure that everything is installed correctly and that no conflicts exist. From purchase to installation, IT experts can save small businesses a lot of time and possible costly mistakes.
- 24/7/365 On-Call Live Support – If you or your employees are working on a deadline in the middle of the night or are on a business trip and experiencing computer malfunctions or software issues, your managed IT service provider will be available for live support whenever and wherever needed – especially in an emergency. Also, many fixes can be done remotely, so you won’t have to wait for a technician to get to your location. Live support means you will not be alone, frustrated by a malfunctioning device or network.
- Help Desk Services – Live support is not just for after-hours problems. A help desk also allows anyone in your company to call for help during their regular business day. If one of your staff has a quick question while working, they can contact the help desk for an answer or a solution to a problem.
- Robust Cyber Security – Unfortunately, SMBs are a prime target for cybercrimes. It is estimated that cyberattacks on small businesses have gone up by over 400 percent over the last few years. They are the low-hanging fruit for hackers because many SMB owners don’t believe cyberthieves care about their business because it’s small. Therefore, SMBs typically pay too little attention to cyber security. Managed IT support can select and install the best possible cyber security protections to secure your network and its connected devices. Every device represents a potentially vulnerable endpoint through which hackers can attack. Your managed IT support can provide state-of-the-art endpoint protection. Unfortunately, 60 percent of SMBs that experience cyberattacks go out of business in the first six months after an attack.
Conclusion
Managed IT support services can reduce the worry of computer system breakdowns and offer a wide variety of managed IT service solutions for SMBs. Operating your core business is your top priority. It is foolhardy to waste time and resources on DIY computer repair. By enlisting help from expert small business IT outsourcing services, you will be free to focus on what you do best.