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Did you know that IT services make up 72% of all global outsourcing contract values (according to ISG)? And this is only set to rise. It is forecasted that between 2020 and 2027, the global managed security services market will increase from 27.7 to 56.6 billion US dollars.
More and more, businesses are partnering with managed IT providers like ITRM to provide them with expert IT solutions. And these are businesses in all sectors and of all sizes too.
If you’re a business owner who hasn’t hopped on the trend yet, read on to discover why outsourced IT support is an excellent tool you should be utilising.
The limitations of in-house IT support
Every business starts out with in-house IT support. That is a specialist IT department that works from within the business premises. In smaller businesses, this is often just one individual. However, this can take the form of a wider team or group of individuals who split responsibilities among them.
This team is responsible for overseeing all things IT in the company — from devices and cybersecurity to training and software updates. With all that considered, it’s easy to see how these individuals can often be spread too thin. But what are the other drawbacks of this form of IT support? Let’s have a closer look.
In-house IT support is costly
Employing a team of people full-time to monitor your IT systems can be costly.
According to data collected by Payscale, the average Information Technology Manager base salary in the UK currently sits at £41,399 — and, in London, this figure becomes £55, 392. And that’s without benefits, pension contributions, and the training needed to keep the team as ‘in the know’ as possible with technology advancements, policy, and cyber security best practices.
Expertise
While it goes without saying that IT professionals need to have a comprehensive knowledge of the systems and processes they are required to maintain, it is often the case that outsourced IT providers have a much larger range of expertise than in-house teams.
While in-house teams are deeply acquainted with your specific systems, they may not always have the foresight to recommend new, more efficient software or deal with the challenges that arise when something outside their area of competence comes up; say, a certain type of malware infects the system.
Consistency and coverage
Another downside of in-house IT support is the lack of consistency. IT support staff that your business employs are only usually paid to be there between the usual working hours. This only sometimes includes after 5 pm, before 9 am, and very rarely does this include weekends. That’s without even mentioning annual leave, where staff may be off for extended periods of time, leaving IT matters unattended.
As such, your systems cannot receive 24/7 monitoring, and you can’t enjoy round-the-clock piece of mind.
Team capacity
As we mentioned above, if your in-house team is a little on the small side, regular tasks such as software updates, routine maintenance, and cybersecurity checks could easily fall by the wayside. This is especially the case when larger-scale projects are running.
The problems raised here can all be solved with a managed service provider. Read on for the benefits of this type of IT support.
The benefits of outsourced IT support services
Outsourcing your IT services to a professional might be one of the best things you can do for your business. If you would like greater levels of reassurance and expertise than you are getting from an in-house team, IT support experts like us can help.
What outsourced IT support services are there?
Many businesses don’t know exactly what they need from a managed service provider when they first start working with them, partly because the full extent of what an IT service provider can do isn’t always clear. So, let’s lay it bare for you:
- Cyber Security Services
- Bespoke IT Consultancy
- Office Relocation Services
- Network Cabling Help
- Assistance with Web Design and Development
- Communications Services
- IT Advisory Services
- Help Moving to the Cloud
- 24/7 IT Support
These services are available to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors, too. Now for the benefits.
Savings with fixed monthly costs
One of the main reasons why businesses — especially those on the smaller side — choose to outsource their IT services is cost.
While it may not seem obvious at first, the fixed monthly cost of partnering with a managed service provider eventually pays for itself. It is likely that your business will save thousands this way, especially when considering the savings in repudiation costs from all the data breaches and cybersecurity issues you can avoid with an outsourced team of professionals on your side.
Greater flexibility
As your business grows, it is natural that you may need a greater level of IT support. Or, in fact, what you need from an IT support team may change. Perhaps you are onboarding a new group of employees who require device setup and cybersecurity best practice training.
Or, let’s say your business is focusing on process innovation for a quarter and requires changes to be made to its current IT systems. Managed IT service providers can oversee these changes, providing ad-hoc consultation services or ongoing project support and training.
Experience and expertise
Outsourced IT support companies have to be very knowledgeable — not only in their specific field but all things IT. For example, they must be proficient in an impressive range of software types and should have experience with delivering and integrating IT solutions at all levels to multiple different structures of business.
This breadth and depth is something that in-house teams can very rarely provide on the same level. Outsourcing IT support to a team of professionals also allows your business to access an extremely refined level of expertise that can be fine-tuned to align with your company’s needs, structure, and future goals.
Managed service providers are constantly on the ball with software updates, law and policy changes, and can help your company remain compliant in a proactive fashion. They already know the best suppliers and the most efficient way to implement new technology.
Here at ITRM, for example, we are one of the UK’s top managed service providers and offer award-winning IT solutions to businesses in Kent, London, and Essex. We have been recognised by MSP 501 and are a Microsoft Gold Partner. We have also been successfully helping businesses in all sectors — from charities like the RAF Benevolent Fund to Marketing Agencies like D&AD — for well over 20 years.
Peace of mind
Managed IT service providers are able to monitor your company’s systems 24 hours a day, seven days a week, uninhibited by annual leave or working-hour constrictions.
As a result, there is a far slimmer chance with outsourced IT support of an issue going undetected, or a fault or piece of malware slipping through the net, reducing the chances of a data breach. Due to this, business owners who outsource their IT can enjoy a much greater piece of mind.
Contact us
If you’re looking to partner up with a reliable and efficient managed service provider, get in touch with our team of experts today, And, in the meantime, you can continue to receive strategic IT business insights through our blog.
