When it comes to operational efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises, ensuring you have the right information technology (IT) support has become increasingly important in today’s digital era. Whilst managed IT support is sometimes delivered internally with available team resources, there is a distinct benefit to outsourcing the management of IT services to an experienced managed service provider (MSP).
Given their expertise, resources and scale, MSPs are able to deliver IT services that are typically more comprehensive, proactive and of a higher quality compared to what you can deliver in-house. They can go above and beyond just managing your infrastructure, with additional services to ensure your IT is safe, secure and functional.
As one of Australia’s leading MSPs, we understand the additional value behind outsourcing the management of IT services, and so do our clients. To help showcase what this value looks like, we’ve put together the following article which explores the benefits and additional services available to SMEs who choose to outsource their IT to MSPs.
10 Reasons Why You Should Outsource the Management of IT Services
1. 24/7 Support
Every business requires consistent IT support – even at the wee hours of the night. MSPs typically utilise remote monitoring technologies to keep constant vigilance over their IT systems. This approach enables real-time notifications that will allow them to proactively address potential issues before escalating into critical problems.
Imagine having a personalised security guard on watch around the clock but for your IT systems.
In our blog Working with an IT Service Provider: Strengths You Need to Know, we explain how MSPs work, focusing on areas they're in charge of like IT service management, including 24/7 support to ensure potential problems are dealt with swiftly. This constant vigilance will leave you secured against significant damages. MSPs do remote monitoring to enhance overall network performance and reliability effectively.
2. Enhanced Security
Every day, hackers develop new viruses and threats to target businesses. This problem requires everyone - from business owners to customers - to stay on top of their security measures and remain vigilant.
Implementing robust management IT services is crucial to minimise these potential risks. Your MSP will be responsible for enhancing security solutions, such as:
- minimising any potential cyber threats lurking in the cloud or within your online set-up,
- ensuring you conform to relevant data protection and security standards,
- and cultivating a culture of resilience and compliance within your systems.
When you outsource IT service management, you can establish disaster recovery systems that will help mitigate damages in case you get breached. You can also transition your processes to new and secured platforms (like cloud services) to minimise disruptions and preserve overall productivity. All while your MSP fixes whatever needs fixing.
3. Focus on Core Business
By handing over IT services management to your MSP, you offload yourself of the IT burden and free up your time and resources on core business activities. So while professionals are taking care of your IT, you're focusing on optimising your operations and enhancing team productivity. This benefit is basically like having your cake and eating it, too.
On top of that, your MSP will also lead your business with the necessary capabilities to navigate complex technological landscapes. For example, they could improve IT performance levels while maintaining resilience and growth to help you stay ahead in your market space.
4. Cost Efficiency
But you know what is more expensive? Using an inexperienced in-house team for your management of IT services.
Managing IT services in-house is a perfectly acceptable choice for many businesses, but one downside is its costs can quickly add up beyond just salaries and bonuses. Purchasing and maintaining hardware and software (and keeping them up-to-date) on top of regular in-house tasks can be a significant financial burden for anyone – especially SMBs with limited budgets.
With the help of an MSP, you gain access to a team of experienced IT professionals who can handle all IT-related tasks at a fraction of the cost of doing it in-house. They will monitor your IT, improve its operational efficiency and productivity, and help you stay ahead with advancements and cybersecurity measures.
MSPs offer flexible subscription-based models that help you align your IT expenses with your requirements. This approach ensures you do not overspend on unnecessary services and only pay for what you need.
What is great about this is you can customise your service level agreements (SLA) according to your requirements. SLAs will eliminate the burden of overspending on IT services and only focus your budget on what is needed.
5. Scalable Solutions
As your business grows, you must be prepared for all the IT adjustments that come with it. You’ll have to expect issues regarding IT requirements outgrowing available resources. And if left unchecked, this can lead to a strain on your growth. MSPs have the necessary resources and expertise to manage your growth and ensure your IT is on par.
If you’re worried about whether you can scale your IT services according to your business needs without the hefty cost, MSPs can help with that. They provide service-based payment models wherein you can scale services up or down based on fluctuating requirements to allocate resources efficiently and optimise costs.
Managed Service Providers look into your pain points and continuously improve your IT as you grow. They will help your company adapt to the evolving IT landscape and ensure you're service delivery to your customers.
6. Enhanced Productivity
If you're aiming to maintain workplace productivity, you'll need to keep up with the management of IT services.
But how?
When Managed Service Providers free your internal team from routine tasks - like maintenance and troubleshooting - they can focus on core business functions. This approach will help unlock the full potential of your IT teams, fostering a culture of constant improvement and progress.
Outsourcing not only your IT but also all the other departments in your business. Think about it: when your IT functions get managed efficiently and effectively, operations and processes improve as your teams can now stay agile and responsive to the things that matter.
7. Risk and Disaster Management
A critical aspect in the management of IT services is risk and disaster management. Managed Service Providers can help in strategically reducing your security risks and maintain the integrity of your data.
Becoming a victim of cyber risks and threats can be costly. Think about the sky-high fines, penalties, and public relations you can get because of an easily mitigated mistake.
Cyber security should be a top priority for any business. To be on top of your cyber security, you need experts who can solely focus on this critical aspect where you’re receiving round-the-clock monitoring and protection. Look into the current security measures your MSP has, along with their skills, certifications, and experiences in your industry. Triple-check if they're capable of handling your risk and disaster management.
8. Expertise and Specialisation
When you outsource IT services to an MSP, you gain access to a team of experts who specialise in various aspects of technology. They will be your indispensable partners in filling the knowledge gaps within your in-house teams – so you can access skills you may not typically have in-house.
If you’re having difficulties hiring a specific type of IT expert for your in-house team, like a cyber security specialist, hiring an MSP will be your best option to acquire the necessary cyber security requirements you need and more.
And if you want to expand your team and focus on other areas of the management of your IT services, your MSP probably has the expert for you.
9. Return on Investment
Outsourcing the management of IT services is a strategic move for your business.
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a Managed Service Provider is you can cut down costs on:
- recruitment,
- hardware and software,
- and maintenance.
10. Fewer Downtimes
There are severe financial consequences to downtime. It should be a primary concern for any business owner/decision-maker. Just this June 2024, a network outage caused multiple Aboriginal health clinics to temporarily shut down due to their inability to provide their essential services, leading to many patients not getting the medical service they require.
Ripples go far beyond technical glitches when IT systems fail. Your team productivity takes a hit, as they’re left unable to access crucial tools and information needed to perform their tasks. This hit can cause delays in business operations which impacts team performance and customer happiness.
Rapid response times and proactive solutions provided by Managed Service Providers can make all the difference in ensuring that any IT issues get swiftly resolved before they spiral into something more severe.
MSPs do this by identifying and addressing potential problems beforehand. So, instead of waiting for issues, MSPs actively monitor systems and networks, pre-emptively fixing vulnerabilities or glitches that can cause downtime.
Ready to Outsource Your Management of IT Services?
Outsourcing IT service management transformed how businesses interact with their IT. Now, businesses no longer suffer from the task of internally managing their IT. Instead, they outsource these responsibilities to specialised Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who can offer more efficient and cost-effective solutions.
Whether you’re an SMB or a large corporation in Western Australia, the expertise and support offered by an MSP can give you the competitive edge you need to thrive in this fast-paced digital landscape. Reach out to us today, and one of our IT experts will reach out and discuss how we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IT service management mean exactly?
IT service management (ITSM) refers to the comprehensive management of IT services provided to organisations. This management process includes a broad spectrum of activities, such as the design, development, and implementation of IT services, along with their continuous delivery and support.
What are the main goals of IT service management?
IT service management aims to maximize the value and efficiency of IT resources within an organisation by ensuring system reliability and security, enhancing user satisfaction, and improving operational efficiency, all of which contribute to business growth.
What are your IT service management responsibilities?
IT service management is responsible for the continuous monitoring and maintenance of an organisation's IT infrastructure to enhance performance, ensure system availability, and uphold operational continuity. This process requires strategic planning to align IT services with business objectives and ensure they are efficient, reliable, and scalable.
Why is the management of IT services important to an organisation?
IT service management plays a crucial role in ensuring that all team members have all the necessary resources and tools to effectively perform their duties and responsibilities. This responsibility encompasses:
- timely and efficient technical support to quickly resolve any technical glitches that may arise,
- ensuring minimal disruption to help maintain team productivity, and
- implementing advanced automation tools and technologies to streamline processes and reduce workload.
