Most businesses will benefit from having a managed IT service, which refers to the practice of using a specialist IT company to take care of all of your IT needs, often referred to as a managed service provider (MSP).
While it’s common knowledge that most businesses need an IT guy or girl to two to keep their IT working, many businesses go to great (and often unnecessary) lengths to keep everything running smoothly, often employing an IT specialist or a whole IT department. Whilst it’s great to have someone on-hand to take care of everything, a managed service provider can usually do their job, plus many more, at a fraction of the cost.
What Is A Managed Service Provider?
Managed Service Providers come in all sizes too but the main idea is you have a strategic partner who understands your business and of course, your IT needs.
A managed service provider manages all of the day-to-day aspects of your IT and often introduces new systems to help your business work more effectively. They take care of everything from setting up your computer network, providing IT support, business broadband, IT security, back-up and recovery (so your data is always back up should anything go wrong), as well as managing your servers and cloud computing services, such as your business emails and storage.
Benefits Of Using A Managed IT Service
There are many benefits of using a managed IT service, most of which will help your business and communication systems to run more efficiently. A managed service provider allows you to focus on your businesses’ day-to-day tasks and not get held up by technology and IT issues.
Continuity Of Service
Unlike employees, MSP’s don’t go on holiday or leave, everything is carefully documented, planned, organised to run efficiently whilst keeping your IT costs low. You won’t have to worry about your employee leaving and having to train someone new if you work with a managed service provider.
Enhanced IT Security
More recently IT Security and compliance have been a major reason that businesses have chosen to work with a managed IT service provider. With the unprecedented rise in ransomware attacks and other forms of cyber attacks, such as phishing scams, many have realised the large financial loss that can occur should their business be targetted by cyber-criminals. For example, recovering from a crypto-ransomware attack is a costly exercise, both in time and money, often causing immense business disruption whilst it can also damage your companies reputation.
Reduced IT Costs
Compared with the costs of employing an IT director, MSPs are much more cost-effective whilst they typically provide more services and expertise than a full-time employee can.
Increased Services & Expertise
A managed service provider will often take on responsibilities and provide more services to your business compared with an employee, whilst they often provide your business with an enhanced level of expertise, reducing the need for staff training and IT consultancy costs.
Services such as endpoint protection, back-up and disaster recovery as well as cloud computing services are offered by MSPs, who will often have additional expertise and experience. They may also be Microsoft and Amazon partners which allows them to pass on savings for your business IT services.
Up-To-Date Technology
Using a managed service provider means your business will likely be utilising the very best in technology, as they are typically always ahead of the game when it comes to the latest IT trends and services. From cloud migration to cyber security, you will always know about it, and be utilising the available solutions, if your business has a managed IT service.
Easy to Scale As Your Business Grows
Managed IT services have been designed to be easily scalable, without having to build a new IT infrastructure should your business expand or your needs change. If you want to scale up, a managed service provider will make the transition as simple and smooth as possible.
24/7 support
MSPs often provide a 24/7 IT support service, which is especially important for businesses who operate round-the-clock whether bricks-and-mortar or online businesses, such as e-commerce stores.
With the right managed IT service for your business, you won’t have to wait until the morning to get things up and running, many companies provide round-the-clock support.
Do Small Businesses Benefit From Using A Managed Service Provider Too?
Small businesses may depend on one of their team to take on IT duties, but eventually, they will need someone who knows more and can take care of issues such as cyber security.
Alternatives To A Managed Service Provider
Some businesses try and work with a “break-fix” IT company that charge by the hour whilst some employ an IT Director or team, but unless you have 1000’s of computers, the most cost-effective solution for most companies is to work with a managed service provider, for all the reasons stated above.
Looking For A Managed Service Provider in London or Surrey?
Most people come to us as they have outgrown their existing IT and can’t understand why it’s going wrong! With over 20 years of experience as a managed service provider, we know what will work for any business and what doesn’t! It doesn’t matter if you have 2 or 20,000 computers, we can bring your business up-to-date and provide an efficient and effective service that will allow you to focus on growing and running your business.
The most important thing is that the IT systems and communication channels work and the data is kept as safe as possible!
We work on a set menu of services to provide your business with a simple and effective IT solution with support on hand when you need it. If you already have an Internal IT team but require extra expertise when it comes to IT, we use COMIT (Co-Managed IT) systems to ensure you not only get IT services and support at our high standards, but you benefit from a larger team for far fewer costs than if you recruited directly.
Our Managed IT Services For Businesses
We can deal with all business IT support and security needs. The key services we provide are:
- Managed IT Security
- Managed Endpoint Purchase Disposal(PC’s and Laptops) and Lifecycle Management (i.e. we support and supply your equipment using our standards.)
- Server Management and/or
- Cloud servers and Cloud Migration
- Collaboration and cloud computing tools such as Microsoft 365 and Phones
- Connectivity and Business Broadband Services
- Remote Working IT Support and remote employees are working security
- Managed IT Support and advice
GoodChoice IT also work for a number of other MSP’s delivering their services.
- Increase their success and profitability via using us
- Trust us as their technology provider
- Be willing to listen to our advice as technology changes so quickly
If you’re looking for a managed IT service, drop us a message, we’d love to have a chat or invite you to one of our workshops where you can meet our team and customers.