Businesses of all sizes choose to outsource their IT to an IT Services company for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they outsource the whole IT function and other times parts of it such as when they are experiencing a skill shortage inhouse. For example Cyber Security is a particular skillset that can be expensive to bring inhouse. Outsourcing to a Managed IT Services company with expertise in Cyber Security can reduce the cost and risk associated with managing cyber security across a network.
As a Managed IT Services company we work with lots of different businesses on a bespoke level. We have compiled our top 5 reasons why it makes sense to outsource IT.
Cost Savings
Outsourcing IT reduces the overall cost of ownership and makes the IT budget work harder for your business. A Managed IT Services provider will be able to deliver economies of scale and in doing so free up budget that you can invest in other areas of the business. IT can be expensive to install and run and it takes well trained individuals to do it right. Outsourcing IT allows you to avail of the expertise needed to maintain and efficient IT environment that is flexible and can scale according to the business needs. Put simply you can pay for what you use and set a monthly budget for support rather than employ the skills all inhouse which can be expensive. Outsourcing IT allows for a leaner IT spend but critically it is being spent in the most efficient way possible and will protect your IT investment into the future.
Focus on Core Business
Engaging with an IT services company to run your IT allows you to focus on other areas of the business such as core goals and objectives. Even if you have an IT Manager inhouse they can often get sucked into providing user support which takes them away from focusing on projects that could enable the business to grow and run better such as automating workflows and productivity projects. Outsourcing even business IT Support only alleviates the workload on IT staff to allow them to focus their energies where their competencies lie.
Access to Enterprise Level Solutions
Managed T Services Companies partner with global leaders in the IT space and build on their solutions to deliver more value from deployments. Using a Managed IT Provider gives smaller businesses access to enterprise level technology at a price point that they can afford. Managed Service Providers can tailor their service to meet the needs of a smaller budget. Businesses get to utilise world class technologies and solutions which they may have thought were outside their reach and can avail of ongoing IT support from the people that know the technology best.
Better Cyber Security
Cyber Security is critical especially during recent times when cyber criminals have exploited the current remote working environment to gain access to vulnerable networks. During the pandemic Cyber attacks have increased by over 400% in frequency. IT Services Companies have particular expertise in Cyber Security and data protection. Cyber security is constantly evolving. As threats become more sophisticated so do the solutions to protect against them. A robust cyber security strategy has many layers and is a blend of solutions and services depending on the business needs. For example businesses in the financial sector and others that are highly regulated have specific criteria that they need to meet to be compliant in the cyber security area. A Managed IT Services company with expertise in Cyber Security will be knowledgeable on what needs to be done to fulfil compliance needs. Handing over IT Management ensures that Cyber Security is not neglected due to a lack of time or resource or knowledge internally.
Proactive IT Management
IT cannot just be installed and forgotten about. The biggest risk to a business is legacy or outdated IT. For example an unpatched PC can be the source of a damaging cyber attack. Or downtime from an outdated infrastructure with reduced processing power can affect a customer’s perception of a business and lead to brand and reputation damage. Staff need to be equipped with the tools and technologies that enable them to do their job well, especially remotely. Outsourcing IT to an Managed IT Services company will come with business IT Support agreements that surpass not only solving user issues but managing and maintaining systems and hardware as you move forward. This will future proof your investment in IT and keep it working efficiently reducing leakage of resource time and money through poorly maintained networks.
At HCS we partner with our customers to balance their IT needs now and into the future with budget and the current business climate. We adopt a flexible working model with customer service and security at the heart of it. Our aim is to keep our customers IT working as best it can for them and to guide them to invest in the right areas to ensure their IT is protected into the future.
