Outsourced IT services have become the hope for businesses - especially small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - to optimise business operations. By entrusting your IT services to an experienced IT partner, you can focus on your core operations without worrying about technological glitches and downtime. This shift to outsourced IT services has opened SMEs to competitive advantages essential for today’s success.
Outsourcing has become a cornerstone for modern businesses looking to streamline their operations and tap into global talent pools through a third-party service provider to help bolster their technological capabilities.
But the thing is, in-house teams can still perform what outsourced IT service providers can. So why outsource IT services rather than hire an in-house team? In this blog, we’ll introduce you to outsourced IT services, all their benefits, and why they’re popular among SMEs and corporations.
What are outsourced IT services?
Outsourcing your IT services means hiring an external service provider to manage and support your company’s Information Technology (IT) infrastructure. Third-party managed service providers (MSPs) offer benefits that can deliver specialised IT solutions, from cyber security and cloud computing to IT support and communications, that might not be available in-house.
Choosing to outsource your IT services means offering more than cost-effective strategies – it gives you a proactive stance toward empowering your business with the dynamic tools and capabilities necessary to thrive in your industry. One example is utilising IT outsourcing to craft strategic partnerships with service providers to leverage expertise and innovation with their internal capabilities.
What IT services can be outsourced?
If you're unsure of what IT services can be outsourced, depending on the service provider, there are numerous ways to do this with MSPs either partially or entirely (depending on your requirements). Services such as IT help desk support, cyber security, cloud computing management, project management, or business communications are typical examples of IT services that can be outsourced - these are all common within today's modern business world.
Why outsource your IT services?
There are many reasons why businesses choose to outsource their IT services. To give you a broad perspective of how these differ, we've outlined 15 main benefits of outsourced IT services that are traditionally seen in today's corporate space.
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Cost-effective solutions
IT is an expensive asset that requires extensive planning, resources, and tech experts to establish it according to your requirements and goals. And it can be challenging, especially if you do it in-house. However, by leveraging outsourced IT services, businesses can eliminate the burden of maintaining and training an in-house IT team. Instead, you'll have access to a pool of talent and specialised expertise, all while remaining agile and adaptable in your industry without burning a hole in your pocket.
When you hire an in-house team, there are many expenses to consider. But when you choose to outsource IT, you only need to partner with an MSP, and they will assign a dedicated team for you so that you free up time and resources that you can allocate to other things.
Another notable cost-effective benefit that outsourced IT services bring to the table is fixed IT costs. Doing IT in-house can lead to unpredictable monthly spending. With IT outsourcing, you can strategically allocate resources based on real-time requirements, enabling better cost management and optimisation.
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Focus on core business
Another benefit outsourced IT service can bring is it allows you to focus on core business goals rather than spend all your time worrying and fixing IT issues. So, instead of being bogged down by IT issues, you can turn your efforts to where your expertise lies to foster growth and innovation. This benefit goes to your teams as well.
The beauty of outsourcing lies in its ability to create a harmonious balance where your team can operate at optimum capacity while your IT is taken care of by seasoned professionals. By entrusting IT-specific tasks to external experts, you can tap into cutting-edge capabilities while maintaining your focus on priorities, which is the core of a dynamic and competitive business environment.
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Access to specialised expertise
Hiring and training IT applicants takes time and resources that not all SMEs have. If you’re building a team in-house, you know it drains resources quickly that you could have otherwise used in other areas of your business. However, by partnering with an outsourced IT service provider, you can tap into a pool of IT professionals well-versed in various technologies and systems currently unavailable in-house.
This approach will save you time and money, alleviate the burden of constant training, and ensure you’re up-to-date with the latest trends in technology and innovation.
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Dedicated team
When we think of dedicated teams, we typically think of in-house. But you can outsource your IT and have a dedicated team as well. MSPs assign you to an exclusive team focused solely on your IT projects and that understands your project requirements and goals. This setup creates a cohesive work dynamic that can lead to efficient and high-quality results.
With outsourcing, MSPs are responsible for new team members. So, hiring, training, and managing them will be their responsibility – allowing you to access specialised skills and experience without disrupting your workflow and progress.
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Quality service
SMEs have many questions regarding IT, from implementation and maintenance to recruitment and training – especially if you’re building an IT team in-house. But with outsourced IT services, you can access a team of skilled professionals and experts in technological advancements and best practices. Getting quality IT is not just necessary for your SME, but also for your customers.
With an MSP handling your IT, you can benefit from services like proactive maintenance and monitoring, 24/7 support, enhanced security measures and more without spending an arm and a leg on hiring top-level IT talents for your team. Your MSP has that in the bag for you.
In essence, Outsourcing IT services reduces operational costs and enables SMEs to access quality IT to stay ahead in a highly competitive business environment.
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Scalability
Scalability is a crucial trait in today’s fast-paced business landscape and outsourced IT services offer a practical solution to meet this demand. MSPs offer businesses the ability to scale up or down as needed, providing a strategic advantage in adapting to changing market demands that might be too costly to accomplish internally.
An MSP has the necessary infrastructure and resources to handle large volumes of work efficiently, allowing you to access high-quality services at a fraction of the cost it would take to do it with an in-house IT team.
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Flexibility
IT outsourcing is your best bet if you are seeking flexibility and efficiency within your operations.
But why outsource IT services if you have an internal resource of IT professionals?
By opting to outsource, you liberate yourself from the constraints of traditional full-time employment models and instead focus on the services you need whenever you need them.
Having the right access to the right level of support on demand and the ability to adjust the workforce based on seasonal demands can give you a competitive edge in delivering seamless customer experiences and maintaining operational excellence.
With IT outsourcing, you can access flexible solutions that adapt to your evolving needs. Outsourcing IT providers have the expertise and resources to respond to internal IT issues and challenges that may come your way – allowing for a more efficient resolution process, which leads to improved productivity and performance across the board.
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24/7 support
24/7 support is the highlight benefit of outsourced IT services. Imagine the bliss of knowing that expert assistance is just a call away, regardless of time or day. And because of this, on top of proactive monitoring, you can stay ahead of potential technical glitches.
Most outsourced IT service providers offer round-the-clock monitoring to identify and resolve issues before they escalate and cause problems. This measure helps you focus on your core business functions without worrying about the intricacies of troubleshooting software or network-related issues. And because of its 24/7 availability, you gain a competitive edge through improved responsiveness and optimised IT performance.
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Enhanced security
Strengthening your cyber security strategy is a challenge. Doing it in-house is like a battle between The Empire and The Rebel Alliance. You'll need as much help as you can to minimise your cyber vulnerabilities. By outsourcing your cyber security to specialised IT providers, you gain access to expertise and cutting-edge technology that can better detect and respond to cyber threats proactively.
By getting some cyber security help through IT outsourcing, you can stay ahead of emerging cyber threats, enhance your overall cyber security posture, and better protect your IT infrastructure and customers. MSPs usually use a tailored approach with existing IT systems to create a more proactive threat response strategy that can anticipate potential security risks before they occur.
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Up-to-date with new technologies
With the many technological advancements released daily on top of the regular workload, it’s hard to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and implement them concurrently. One of the many benefits of outsourced IT services is ensuring your team is always up to date with the latest news, trends, and certifications. This benefit confirms you're leveraging the latest and best technological advances and can stay ahead of the curve in your industry in term of IT.
As you keep up with new technologies, you unlock new opportunities for innovation and automation together. Your MSP will bring fresh perspectives and out-of-the-box solutions to propel your SME towards success in an increasingly competitive market.
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Risk management
When you get cyber security help from an outsourced IT service provider, you create a robust and secure online presence for you and your customers. Note that you never really eliminate the risk of attacks, but you can manage it and be one step ahead of them. This approach improves data safety and system uptime, giving you the peace of mind to focus on strategic growth rather than security issues.
If you have an in-house team, you can work with an external MSP and foster a collaborative relationship where the shared efforts can improve resilience against potential disruptions or data breaches. Your MSP is your agile ally that can support your cyber security by navigating the landscape of IT risks with ease. On top of playing catch up with evolving market conditions, they are proactive in identifying, resolving, and mitigating vulnerabilities before they impact your business.
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Industry compliance
Outsourcing your IT services is a big help if you’re navigating complex compliance standards in your industry. By entrusting this task to experts in the field, businesses can ensure that they are meeting all compliance standards on time and within budget – which is a crucial aspect in today’s business environment.
By working with a trusted MSP, you can entrust critical components such as network security and data backup to them – who are specialised providers – so you can focus on your business objectives with fewer distractions.
Compliance is not just about meeting the basic standards of your industry. It’s also about safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining customer trust in this digital age of emerging threats. With outsourced IT services taking care of your industry compliance, you can get operational efficiency while minimising the risk of potential breaches or non-compliance issues that may jeopardise your reputation.
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Increased productivity
Outsourced IT services can provide a strategic edge in today’s competitive business landscape. One of those is increased productivity. Because you offload IT responsibilities to your MSP, you leverage external knowledge and resources that drive innovation and efficiency within your operations. When this happens, your in-house teams can refocus their energy on critical business objectives.
A common consideration from business owners is, "Why outsource IT services to get higher productivity?"
Well, this shift in focus allows teams to delve deeper into business strategies, driving innovation and enhancing competitiveness without worrying about day-to-day IT woes. The expertise and efficiency of an outsourced IT service provider tackle complex issues but also offer opportunities for growth and development that might otherwise be limited if done in-house.
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Consistency
An often-underestimated aspect of outsourced IT service providers is their ability to deliver consistent support and maintenance. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are a strong foundation for ensuring you receive the necessary and agreed-upon help promptly and consistently. This benefit fosters a sense of trust among business owners and decision-makers, laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships that drive growth and operational consistency.
These SLAs lay the foundation for an operational structure that facilitates strategic planning and resource allocation and helps you make informed decisions and pursue long-term goals. By ensuring stability in your IT operations, you allow your teams to excel in their areas of expertise, allowing them to unleash their full potential in a system with consistent uptime and performance.
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Gain competitive advantage
Outsourcing IT services in today’s competitive market is no longer just about cost-saving measures but a strategic move towards innovation and agility. This is why you outsource IT service!
By partnering with an MSP, you have specialised skills and advanced technologies within reach that may not be readily available in-house. These experts and tools can offer innovative solutions to complex IT challenges, leading to developing technical solutions tailored to your specific business needs.
This collaboration can give you a distinct advantage in your market sector, accelerate your digital transformation journey and stay one step ahead of competitors.
When to outsource your IT services
Outsourced IT services are a game changer for both SMEs and large corporations. By entrusting your IT functions to these experts, you are opening yourself to innovative and cost-efficient solutions that will help you gain focus on strategic business goals and growth initiatives rather than IT hassles.
Yeah, outsourcing is great. But when do I outsource my IT services?
If you feel like your internal team is overwhelmed with routine tasks and unable to focus on strategic initiatives, then maybe it’s time to get some external IT help. Outsourcing can provide access to various skills and expertise, strategic initiatives, and scalable resources your business requires. No more, no less.
At Office Solutions IT, we believe in a holistic IT approach. We understand the unique needs and challenges various businesses face with their IT infrastructure. We use design-driven innovation, ensuring that every IT solution we provide is tailor-made to fit our clients like a glove. This commitment sets us apart as we take proactive measures to help you reach your goals. Not ours.
Reach out to us today and take the first step towards an IT that’s set up for success.
