Enhance your operations with managed IT services

Go beyond a reactive approach to solving IT issues

Digital technology empowers small and medium businesses to do amazing things. From running your business on your mobile phone to hosting virtual meetings with remote teams, the opportunities continue to grow. Such reliance on digital tools means it's essential to ensure your technology is operating well.

Managed IT service providers (MSPs) are a popular solution for taking care of your IT infrastructure. MSPs are third party companies that provide specialist technical support remotely. They monitor your IT environment to ensure it continues to operate as it should. They also help you stay current with rapid change in technology and cloud services. Microsoft for example releases patches and updates every week. Staying up to date with such a flow of updates can be time-consuming.

Many businesses use external experts to help with IT problems when something is not working as they need it to. This type of reactive approach to seeking support has its limits though, which may include longer resolution timeframes. Longer resolution timeframes can result in longer downtime and may increase costs.

What’s more, adopting an approach to your IT that’s primarily reactive in nature may not help when it comes to dealing with the pace of technology innovation.

How can an MSP bring value to your business

A good MSP can help:

• Manage daily IT tasks, so that your time is freed up to focus on your business
• Keep IT services healthy to enhance performance and minimise downtime
• Provide specialist skills to help keep your business up to speed with technology changes
• Speed up IT support for your teams
• Scale support as you need it
• Improve the security of your technology

Below we explore five technology areas where MSPs can help you. These are:

• Network device management
• Business app management
• Endpoint management
• Security and policy compliance
• IT helpdesk support

1. Network device management

Network device management is a service that involves monitoring, managing and reporting on the devices that make up your network. Some of these devices might be your router, modem or gateway. Each device is valuable in ensuring your business stays connected and operations run smoothly. Having specialists maintaining the health of your network can help you avoid costly downtime and lost productivity.

Key benefits of network device management

• Network configurations offer you tailored connectivity solutions to fit your needs.
• Automated monitoring can reduce disruptions by catching issues in real time.
• Easy device replacements mean less worry about technical hiccups.

Outsourcing these tasks to a reliable provider can help you focus on core business goals, knowing your network is in expert hands.

2. Business app and licence management

Business software platforms that enable collaboration can be powerful tools to help boost productivity. They can help you engage customers, work together better, and help keep your data more secure.

An MSP can help ensure you are getting the most from your investment by using their expertise to make sure you maximise your use of the features available to you.

3. Endpoint management

Endpoints include devices like desktop PCs and laptops. These are the end points that you and your employees are using to work on and run your business. They are critical to connecting employees to your business operations. Effective endpoint management ensures these devices stay secure, updated, and optimised for performance.

Key benefits of endpoint management

• Ensure devices are regularly updated with the latest software and firmware
• Boost efficiency and reduce downtime by monitoring endpoints remotely and identifying potential issues proactively
• Minimise risks of unauthorised access by configuring devices to best-practice security standards
• Help with remote set-up to onboard new staff
• Efficient response and resolution support can help your team get back to work quickly if there’s an incident.

Endpoint management services help give you peace of mind knowing your devices are fully managed and your data is secure.

4. Security and policy compliance

Security and policy compliance support helps ensure your systems are up to date from a security and policy compliance perspective. This can be critical for helping protect your business from cyber threats. Yet managing these areas can be complex and time consuming. Outsourcing to an MSP can help simplify the process.

Key benefits of having an MSP manage your security and policy compliance requirements

• Your MSP ensures your security licenses are up to date.
• They update and enforce security policies in your environment to reduce the risk of breaches.
• They respond to and resolve issues if they arise.

Explore more ways to enhance your business cyber security

5. IT helpdesk

Taking a proactive approach to dealing with potential problems before they arise can help ensure you boost efficiency. An IT helpdesk service provided by an MSP can be valuable for businesses who do not have large internal IT teams.

An MSP providing an IT helpdesk service may be able to help support your technology and devices in areas such as those listed below.

• Software/firmware upgrades and patching 
• Support for multi-function devices (printers, scanners) 
• Help with cloud storage services 
• Support with software you’ve purchased

Having your MSP provide an IT help desk service can assist by supporting your team with everyday technical issues. This can help your team avoid those issues becoming a productivity drain or potentially escalating into bigger issues that may be harder to resolve.

Key benefits of outsourcing your IT helpdesk

Here are some potential benefits of outsourcing your IT helpdesk function:

• Save time and money with a single point of contact for IT support
• The IT help desk can handle the routine support tasks that would otherwise distract you from bigger priorities.
• Improve staff productivity by having your IT issues resolved as quickly as possible
• Ensure all fixes are compliant with your policies
• Access skilled support, with escalation to experts if necessary

Flexibility to create a tailored service with a trusted partner

Just like a business needs all its departments to work together, a modern business also needs its technology to work together smoothly. Everything needs to be connected and run well for the business to be successful. MSPs can manage your IT, making sure everything works together, so there are fewer problems, and your business can get more done.

If you’re considering partnering with an MSP, it’s important to choose one that suits your business. Every business is unique, with its own requirements, IT systems and internal skills.

Look for managed service providers with the range of capabilities to suit your business. And check they offer the ability to select only those services you want. This way you only pay for what you actually need and benefit from. An MSP can also assist you in scaling your IT services as your business grows, without the hassle and expense of recruiting additional IT staff.

Outsourcing IT management to a trusted provider can provide value across your business. Your team can get the right support to help them be more productive. And you can devote more time to your business strategy.