Tag: msp

5 Benefits of Co-Managed I.T.

Co-Managed I.T.

Managing the complexity of networks and servers, compliance standards, cybersecurity, application updates, software licenses and patches, hardware replacements, and more – all while trying to keep up-to-date with new technology and provide 24/7 support – is a lot to expect from one employee.

Let’s face it, your I.T. department is an essential and necessary part of your business, but even your most competent staff can’t do it all or know it all. That’s where co-managed I.T. comes into play.

Co-managed I.T. is a strategic model that blends the convenience of an internal I.T. team with the outside support of a managed service provider (MSP). It allows businesses to customize which I.T. services they provide in-house and determine where they can use an “extra pair of hands”.  For example, your existing I.T. team might manage software updates, installations, and cabling, but your external partner provides help-desk support and cybersecurity training.

For companies with limited internal resources, co-managed I.T. offers business agility and has significant cost and operational benefits. Here are the top five.

TOP 5 BENEFITS OF CO-MANAGED I.T.

  1. I.T. Expertise On-Demand – If you run into issues your employees have less experience resolving, your co-managed support team can provide their expertise. Opting to offboard some of the problems they don’t know how to fix internally is a great way to leverage MSPs’ expert resources. Not only is their focus on I.T. best practices, but they’ve seen a wide variety of issues, so they know how to handle and resolve pretty much anything.
  2. Increased Productivity – A co-managed service model typically covers routine maintenance, upgrades, and patches. Your systems will run more efficiently, resulting in fewer interruptions to operations. You’ll also benefit from additional support during peak “demand periods,” so your internal I.T. team doesn’t have to stop working on major projects for minor emergencies.
  3. Around-the-Clock Support – One of the most significant advantages of using a co-management I.T. model is offering round-the-clock support to customers outside of regular business operating hours. MSPs can also help cover things like sick or vacation time, eliminating the need to pay overtime or stagger your staff’s schedules.
  4. Better Security – Splitting the responsibilities of your I.T. infrastructure between you and a third-party company creates layers of security, making entry into your organization more difficult for bad actors. Many companies choose to keep their most crucial I.T. functions in-house while offloading the rest to a managed service provider. Additionally, because MSPs focus on industry standards for cybersecurity management, you can rest assured knowing that they take every precaution to keep your business data safe.
  5. Less Burnout and Boosted Employee Morale – Business insights, improved strategies, quicker response times, professional consultations, and decision support are empowering tools that can help to foster a more positive employee culture among your I.T. team. By giving them the resources they need to be successful, you create a work environment that promotes longevity and reduces burnout.

The right co-management partner can transform your existing I.T. team by resolving tickets faster, supporting your staff during off-hours or peak times, meeting unique project needs, and keeping up with changing market demands and technological advancements.

As the leading MSP in Dayton, we offer technology and compliance assessments, personalized insights and recommendations, access to the latest technology, and a robust suite of managed services. If you’re interested in co-managed I.T., we can help you navigate options and put together a package that’s right for you.

Call us at 937.490.5600 or contact our team of I.T. experts today to learn more.

Battling the Myths of How Businesses Control Their IT Infrastructure

IT Infrastructure

In order for businesses to stay ahead of the competition, they need to be innovative. One word that is often associated with being innovative is technology. A business’s technology stems directly from their IT infrastructure. This includes their server(s), hardware, technology, managed services, software, network, etc. In order to allow innovation, businesses need to have a stable, secure and up-to-date IT infrastructure. By having this, it will allow technology to help the business operate smoothly.

Back to Business I.T. helps businesses to create, monitor and maintain their IT infrastructures. After helping many clients, we have experienced a lot of different IT environments. Through these environments, we have noticed there are some common myths that businesses believe regarding how to control an I.T. infrastructure. Below we discuss three myths and explain the realities to these situations.

1) Myth: A business can hire one person to run their entire IT infrastructure.

Reality: This may be true in some very rare cases but for most businesses, they find success in having a team of experts to control their IT infrastructure. IT managed services firms have a team of experts who work together to monitor and maintain these infrastructures. This is what allows technology to continue running for a business. So, outsourcing a business’s IT department to an managed service provider is needed.

2) Myth: An employee considered to be “tech savvy” can take on a business’s technology issues.

Reality: Taking an employee, who already has responsibilities in their current position, and throwing them into an IT environment can be dangerous. Monitoring and maintaining an IT infrastructure is a full-time job. It should not be given to someone who does not have the time to put in the work that is required. Also, being considered “tech savvy” does not mean they have the expert knowledge to provide the stable, secure and up-to-date IT infrastructure that every business needs.

3) Myth: Outsourcing a business’s IT department to a third-party managed service provider is expensive and not worth the high costs.

Reality: Outsourcing a business’s IT to a managed services firm can take up a major portion of their IT budget. However, when looking at the big picture, it can save the business money. For example, if a business’s IT network is invaded by a major threat that their one-man IT department or “tech savvy” employee cannot handle, the business is going to acquire substantial losses. Not only will they have to find and pay an IT expert or firm to resolve the issue, they will also lose a lot of important data in the process. Yet, if the business had outsourced their IT infrastructure to a managed services firm before this happened, they could have contained the threat in a much more cost and time saving manner.

In order for businesses to keep up with the competition and become innovative enough to stand out against them, they need to start investing in their technology. By doing this, they will be gaining access to opportunities that will help their business to grow.

If you are interested in learning more about what an IT managed service provider can do for your business, let’s start a conversation.

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