Top 5 BENEFITS OF MANAGED IT SERVICES

 Outsourcing your IT with managed services has many benefits. Here are our picks for the top five, although this is certainly not a complete list. 

Benefits of Managed IT Services :

# 1: OPERATING EXPENSES AND IT COST CONTROL

If your environment is ready for managed services, IT outsourcing requires only a small initial investment. Then all your IT needs are built into one predictable rolling monthly payment. This means that managed services are primarily an operational expense and much easier to predict and plan. Controlled and predictable spending for your IT? It is always a good idea.

 

In addition to eliminating capital expenditures, managed IT services can also reduce IT costs. For example, you can save on licenses, training, consulting, and emergency repairs. You can also frequently get reduced labor rates through a managed services contract, saving you even more.

# 2: ACCESS TO EXPERIENCED AND CERTIFIED IT PROFESSIONALS

With managed services, you are hiring a team of experts who have the training, qualifications, certifications, and experience you need. You have access to high-level IT administrators and specific skills, without the need to find and hire them yourself. It's hard to keep up with the demands for IT expertise. Your managed IT service provider can do it for you or lift some weight.

# 3 FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS

With managed services comes the freedom to focus on the core of your business, not the IT issues. As an owner or manager, you can focus on running your business, without the burden of daily IT maintenance. And this is equally true for IT staff, if you have your own in-house IT support. Outsourcing the ongoing management and maintenance of your technology can free up your IT staff to focus on larger, more challenging projects (like major upgrades) that might otherwise happen much more slowly.

# 4 PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS AND PEACEKEEPING

In addition to having access to experts and their expertise, you also get proactive solutions with managed services. These solutions monitor and manage your IT to detect problems before they become serious problems. Proactive monitoring combined with rapid response can help minimize IT downtime and the risk of serious and costly problems. But managed services also mean that you can keep up with the changing demands of the IT experience and can implement new technologies more quickly.

Keeping up with changes in the IT industry can seem impossible or, at best, time consuming. Who do you turn to when you need to make sure your business is in compliance with compliance laws and regulations? Your managed service provider can help you in critical areas like cybersecurity. Emerging trends and IT needs require new IT skills and knowledge, as well as rapid deployment to keep up with cyberattacks.

# 5 REDUCED RISK

Security is a huge area where managed IT services can provide benefits. Security services are also part of managed services, and many vendors are now focusing on becoming Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). Managed security services can help fill your organization's security gaps. For example, they can help improve endpoint security and implement tools to detect threats both inside and outside the network. Managed services, with built-in cybersecurity, mean that your infrastructure is constantly monitored, managed and updated, which is critical to reducing the risk of attacks and breaches.

AND THERE IS MORE ...

Of course, there are more benefits to managed services, IT outsourcing, and remote network administration. These are just our top five: controlled costs, access to experts, focus on your business, proactive solutions, and cybersecurity. But remember also that there are advantages such as scalability that must be taken into account. In general, managed services can greatly simplify IT expansion and upgrade as needed over time.

Managed IT services will always evolve. While managed services were once primarily related to hardware monitoring and management, they now also include labor, support, and software as a service.

 

How Managed Service Providers Improve Operations

 Leaning on a managed service provider (MSP) for a subset of IT services can be a blessing. Instead of tackling a specific domain, such as email hosting or customer relationship management, having an MSP as part of your IT mix can free up internal IT staff for more strategic projects.

But establishing a strong strategic partnership with your MSP is essential. Here we take a look at the current state of managed IT services, where companies are using the MSP model, and how to get the most out of their partnership with MSP.

The growth of managed services is constant

Managed services are the second most popular business model on the channel today, according to the CompTIA IT Industry Trade Association's fifth annual managed services trend study. Three out of 10 MSPs surveyed by CompTIA ranked managed services as the top revenue generator in the previous 12 months, second to 44% for IT solutions (such as projects that incorporate hardware, software and services), but ahead of other options in the business model. as a Value Added Reseller (VAR), IT support and consulting and desktop services.

How Managed Service Providers Improve Operations

Continuously putting off new projects and addressing a backlog of user requests are clear signs that it is time to look to Managed IT Services, especially for a provider that offers significant value.

Before choosing a partner, organizations should clearly define their requirements and the improvements they hope to see. For example, they may want to introduce after-hours coverage for network technology or a mobile monitoring platform used by competitors.

When meeting potential suppliers, operations teams should ask themselves how they will achieve these goals. Beware of vendors who only talk about their own characteristics - the toolsets they use, their processes, the quality of their engineering resources - rather than focusing on the organization's goal.

Another factor to consider is the breadth of the provider's experience. Many service providers focus on niche areas, but with the pace of change in technology, it's important to work with a partner who can meet an organization's needs now and in the future.

Benefits of Outsourcing IT Through Managed Service Providers

 Managed Services is a term that refers to the practice of outsourcing the support and management of a company's IT network to improve business operations. Companies that provide managed services are called Managed Service Providers (MSPs). MSPs take a holistic approach to IT services, resulting in a higher standard than many organizations can achieve internally. Major service providers also offer ongoing management and maintenance of the underlying infrastructure along with end-user support and service guarantees. The major Benefits of Managed IT Services are: 

 Proactive solutions

When you decide to outsource your IT as a proactive effort, you get better performance, with almost no downtime, and with less hassle. MSPs help identify these problems to avoid deterioration and costly repairs and increased downtime.

Predictable monthly costs

All investments in IT involve peripheral costs. Organizations require adequate networking, security, and storage. They need to train staff, manage teams, and implement systems. Unexpected costs can arise. By outsourcing initiatives to MSPs, organizations will be able to break down costs into fixed monthly payments, in contrast to the huge capital expenditures involved in managing internal systems.

 Reduce the risk

All corporate investments carry a specific amount of risk. Competition, government regulations, markets, technologies and financial conditions change very rapidly. Outsourcing vendors anticipate and manage much of this risk for you, with industry-specific insights, especially security and compliance issues. In general, they are believed to be much better at deciding how to prevent risks in their areas of expertise.

 Level the playing field

Larger companies generally have in-house support services along with a team of full-time IT professionals. Small and medium-sized businesses cannot afford this luxury alone. One of the benefits of using managed IT services is that outsourcing allows you to gain the knowledge and skills that larger companies have. This can really help level the playing field between you and the competition.

 Reduce costs

The primary benefit of a managed services model is its ability to reduce business costs. One cost that companies can't always remember is that MSPs help reduce the occurrence of costly network disasters.

 Compliance and security

When you outsource to an MSP that is very familiar with PCI compliance standards, you effectively reduce the risk of customer data, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information. MSPs use security strategies to keep the firewall up to date.

 Management of provisions

MSPs deal with hardware and software vendors, so there's no need to go through complicated technical conversations.

 Stay focused on your core business

Companies are known for having limited resources and limiting the time and attention of each individual manager. Outsourcing can help your company stay focused on core business and not be bothered by complicated IT decisions. Your business will need to operate at maximum efficiency and this can only be achieved when your networks are up and running.

 New technology

One of the major benefits of managed services is the speed with which new technologies can be applied to your business. A quality outsourced IT services organization will have all the essential resources to start new projects immediately. Running the same project internally could take weeks or months just to hire the right people, train them, and then provide them with the support they need. For most deployments, quality IT companies will bring years of experience to the fore, saving time and money.

Discover The Many Benefits Of Partnering Up With an IT Managed Service Provider

 Today, many companies work with IT-managed service providers. 60 percent of companies use managed IT services, and this number is expected to continue to grow. And that is due to the many benefits of the services offered by these professionals. Here is a list of the benefits you should consider.

Control IT costs

Paying internal IT staff is an expensive task. With managed IT service providers, you get fixed IT costs at variable costs, allowing you to budget efficiently. Companies only pay for what they use and can use it when they need it. Outsourcing IT tasks only saves companies money.

Reduces labor costs

Not only does it cost money to have internal IT staff, it also costs money to hire and train them. And temporary workers don't always meet expectations. Outsourcing enables companies to focus on the human resources that are most needed in other areas.

Certified, trained, qualified and experienced

How can you be sure that the IT employee is truly qualified for the position? With an IT managed service provider, you get a certified, trained, qualified and experienced specialist. If you want to train an IT employee, keep in mind that certifications like Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) are very expensive.

Qualified does not mean experience

Regardless of how much you train an IT professional, this training is isolated and the employee may not have the proper experience. A managed IT service provider sends an experienced IT expert. When you see a doctor, you want an experienced one, right? The same applies to IT.

Increase efficiency and competitiveness.

When companies try to do all the IT themselves, it is inefficient and costly in the long run. Much more time was spent on implementation, research and development. And all these costs only go to customers. Save operating costs and keep your product and service costs more affordable for customers and more competitive for your competition.

Deploy the latest technology quickly

Technology is changing as fast as lightning today. Few companies have the resources and the ability to use the latest technology and quickly implement it. Working on a project internally with the latest technology can take months to train IT staff. IT professionals at a managed provider have the skills and knowledge to quickly implement the latest technology. That saves time and money.

Focus on business

It is important for companies to take care of business every day and not be distracted by complex IT decisions or problems. Trying to fix a security breach or hardware crash means that managers no longer have to focus on their core business. Valuable time and money are also lost here.

Lower business risk

Regardless of what business it is, there is always some risk. State regulations, technologies, market conditions, and competition are changing rapidly. IT vendor outsourcing reduces and controls risk through industry-specific insight, including compliance and security issues. Correcting these types of problems can cost a lot of money, not only for fines but also for downtime. IT-managed vendors can use their expertise to help avoid risk.

The same competitive conditions

Many small businesses simply do not have the funds to match the internal IT services of large companies. IT outsourcing helps smaller companies improve the competitive environment with Mr. Big. The economies of scale and affordable cost structure of IT-managed service providers offer smaller companies that need competitive advantages.

Security and compliance

Businesses can get the security they need with bank transfers, electronic checks, credit cards, and gift certificates. Fraud is common today, and companies can lose a lot of money and reputation through fraud. IT-managed service providers are very familiar with PCI compliance standards. Businesses can minimize risk by managing confidential information along with credit card information and customer information. They also make sure that your firewall is up to date and that a DMZ has been installed. "The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Family Education Protection and Rights Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have strict regulations for retail, health and healthcare and the financial industry. "

24/7/365 support

Today many companies work 24 hours. And their networks too. Help is always available from managed service providers, regardless of whether it is day, weekend, or holiday. Companies can always provide support. All in all, there are simply too many advantages to partnering with a managed IT service provider for companies to ignore today. New technologies offer companies great opportunities, but also present daily challenges. Professional companies managed by IT services can help your business overcome these challenges.

IOT Managed Services

 The Internet of Things is here to stay and is growing at an incredible rate. From smart homes to smart cities, IoT is changing the way we live and transforming industries a little more every day.

Organizations now use IoT to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Innovative and disruptive business models and differentiated customer experiences are now easily accessible thanks to IoT.

To maximize the business benefits of IoT technology, organizations must understand that the vast amounts of data they will collect must be streamlined, managed IT services; otherwise it will be useless. The demand for IoT products is increasing, which means that the amount of data produced will increase at an exponential rate.

Almost no current IT infrastructure is designed to handle this data flow. Instead of fighting for an upgrade with the risk of being left behind, let the IOT Managed Service Managers experience handle the details.

 Industrial IoT solutions

 ExterNetworks Industrial Services enable organizations to deploy smart factory technology and stay ahead. We work with leading solution providers to provide enterprises with autonomous systems that seamlessly integrate into legacy protocols such as:

• MODBUS
• BACnet
• SNMP

This means that factories do not have to worry about loss of productivity or knowledge. Our IIoT services allow administrators to tailor automation to their business needs with options to:

• Remote monitoring
• Real-time analysis
• Immediate reactions
• Diagnosis and correction
• Inventory management

Smart retail

Retailers can track everything from pedestrian traffic to inventory and customer experience to better understand how to influence consumer behavior and increase brand loyalty.

Adding functionality and monitoring essential data points in real time can give your store the boost it needs to stay relevant and competitive in today's IoT shopping arena.

 Connected buildings

Smart buildings open up a whole new world of infrastructure potential for commercial and residential spaces. Operational technology leaders can use a single scanning platform to monitor and control multiple buildings individually.

• Save energy
• Increase efficiency
• Increase security
• Increase your productivity
• Improves occupant comfort
• Keep the number of occupants updated

 Live software support

 Live or OTA firmware updates can save your organization time, money, and headaches. Our OTA updates can reach companies with the most restrictive memory and bandwidth limits.

Our OTA software support can dramatically reduce response times while improving product quality and user experience. This service can help reduce the high costs of after-sales service and strengthen the brand guarantee.

 IoT security

 The current state of hyperconnectivity brings its own unique set of network devices, capabilities, and protocols, which can lead to complex security issues. The ExterNetworks team is familiar with all the latest security and operational technologies, including modern identity management and advanced encryption techniques to help you create a secure and connected system.

The Top 10 Benefits Of Outsourcing IT Through Managed Services

  Outsourcing of IT services through managed IT services can bring immediate benefits.

 1. Control IT costs

 Outsourcing converts IT fixed costs into variable costs and allows you to have an effective budget. In other words, you only pay for what you use when you need it.

 2. Reduce labor costs

 Hiring and training IT staff can be very expensive, and temporary workers don't always meet your expectations. Outsourcing allows you to focus your employees where you need them most.

 3. Trained, experienced, qualified, certified.

 How do you ensure that an employee is qualified if they are not IT trained? Certifications like Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) are important, but they are also experienced.

 4. Qualified has no immediate experience

 Few problems are new to top IT service companies experiencing multiple related issues. An internal IT employee leads an isolated existence, no matter how much he trains. We would all prefer to be an experienced doctor; The same applies to IT.

5. Increase efficiency and competitiveness.

 Businesses that attempt to do all IT services in-house may have much more time to research, develop, and implement, increasing costs and ultimately passing it on to customers.

 6. Deploy new technology quickly

A high-quality outsourced IT services organization has the resources to start new projects right away. Working internally on the same project can take weeks or months to hire the right people, train them, and provide the necessary support. For most deployments, high-quality IT companies initially have years of experience to save time and money.

7. Focus on your core business

Organizations have limited resources and each manager has limited time and attention. Outsourcing can help your company focus on its core business and not be distracted by complex IT decisions.

8. Reduce risk

Every business investment carries a certain risk. Markets, competition, government regulations, financial conditions, and technologies are changing very rapidly. Outsourcing providers assume and control a large portion of this risk for you with industry-specific knowledge, in particular security and compliance issues. In general, they can make much better decisions about how to avoid risks in their areas of expertise.

9. Level the playing field

Most small companies cannot afford to use the internal support services of large companies. Outsourcing can help small companies act "big" by giving them access to similar technologies and expertise that large companies have. An independent cost structure and economies of scale managed by third parties can give your business a competitive advantage.

 10. Compliance and security

Is your firewall up to date? Do you have a DMZ installed? Check your workstations and servers? Has your company implemented PCI security standards and is working to maintain them? For example, companies have more options than ever to be successful with many payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, gift vouchers, electronic checks, and bank transfers, to name just a few. However, these forms of transaction also require due diligence. By outsourcing a qualified Managed Services company that is familiar with PCI compliance standards, you can be assured that your company will minimize the risks associated with maintaining customer information, credit card numbers, confidential competitive information, and more.

5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Managed IT Service Provider

 By partnering with a managed IT service provider or managed service provider (MSP) for a subset of IT, you can free up your internal IT staff for more strategic projects. Building a strong and strategic partnership with MSP is essential to receive practical and actionable IT advice, strategies and plans.

Here Are Five Ways You Can Get the Most from Managed IT Services

1. Show MSP as a partner, not an alternative

While companies are increasingly relying on external providers for some of their IT needs, MSPs tend to complement rather than replace internal IT. Approach your relationship like a partnership. Rather than replacing IT staff, MSP acts as an extension of the current IT staff and allows internal IT staff to focus on more strategic projects.

2. Establish a clear role

Providers need to know what is expected of them and vice versa. For a successful partnership with MSP, it is important to know who is taking on which role or task. If you have an in-house IT department that works with MSP, a specific reporting structure is required to avoid redundant requirements and tasks that can result in poor performance.

3. Resist the urge to bargain for managed IT services

Companies are familiar with managed services and have teamed up with MSP to work on elements of their IT requirements as part of their collaboration with internal IT. According to a report by CompTIA, the MSP market is in a commercialization due to oversupply. [1] Some MSPs try to seduce you with rock-bottom prices. A bargain MSP can save you money at first, but choosing a provider based solely on price can add to your business's costs in the long run. Look for MSPs who can help you understand your company and achieve your business goals with their services. Request a case study or discuss with existing customers to get a better idea of​​their offering.

4. Rely on their expertise

MSP has the expertise to help you align your technology with your business goals and create agile and scalable solutions that grow with your business. A clear understanding of what you can do with MSP and a habit of asking questions about the services used by other MSP clients is key to getting the most out of MSP. To take full advantage of MSP, schedule regular meetings to keep up with the latest industry trends and gather insights to develop your strategic IT goals and plans.

5. Aggressive, unresponsive

To get the most out of MSP, you need to adjust your budget as your IT goals and usage patterns change. Build sustainable and proactive relationships with MSPs and use MSP expertise to evaluate existing systems, servers and workstations. Rely on their strategic advice to plan future IT projects more efficiently.

7 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Managed IT Services

  What is a Managed IT Service?

Put simply, with Managed IT Services, companies can manage IT operations by leaving everything to the service provider. This external service provider is also known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

Why Managed IT Service?

As more companies adopt managed services, it is easier to determine the benefits of managed services. Traditionally, IT-related machine or network maintenance was only performed using "troubleshooting methods". This meant that if something broke, the company would bring in a maintenance professional and hopefully fix the problem.

By handing over IT operations to a trustworthy MSP, the provider is responsible for managing, monitoring or solving problems with selected IT systems and functions. This enables companies to concentrate on their core business processes without being disrupted by IT problems.

Why do you need to worry about managed IT services?

Established and expanding companies need good technology in order to survive effectively in the market. However, maintaining large IT resources on-site to cope with the increasingly complex IT environment is not an easy task for small businesses. You rely on a functioning IT infrastructure that runs continuously and often adapts to tight budgets.

In addition to security, alerts, patch management and data backup, MSP offers a range of options for client devices such as servers, desktops, storage systems, notebooks, networks and individual applications. MSPs typically offer subscription-based pricing options. This allows companies to save money and choose the right package for their needs. MSP is a hassle-free addition to the IT department.

MSPs have been around for a long time and their adoption rate is relatively low despite some of the obvious advantages of managed IT services. According to a study by the IT industry group CompTIA, only three in ten companies implemented MSPs in 2016 to meet their IT requirements. The main reason it is a company is not entirely happy with its implementation. There is a lot of information available about the benefits of managed services, but some companies waste IT resources and others use only a small fraction of their capabilities. There are seven key points to keep in mind before and during the provision of managed services:

1). When choosing an MSP, first consider your needs.

Many MSPs offer a variety of services that can be confusing when choosing the right service. Would you like to support certain functions like storage, desktop administration, help desk services etc.? Do you need servicing and maintenance of server hardware, operating system or middleware? When you first have a clear understanding of your specific needs, you can decide which MSP or subscription package is best for your needs.

 

2). Choose your MSP carefully.

After evaluating your own IT needs and the needs of your MSPs, take the time to evaluate multiple MSPs before choosing one. Don't just compare costs. Most MSPs try to seduce you with solid deals, but be sure to read the details. Examine your business model. How stable are they? The time they were in business. You can also request case studies and discuss them with existing customers to get better ideas about the offering. Make sure they comply with the latest ITIL standards.

3). MSP is a partner to IT staff, not an alternative.

More and more companies are looking for external providers to meet their IT needs. It is important to note, however, that MSPs complement, rather than replace, existing IT teams. This doesn't mean you are wasting resources. By adopting MSP, internal IT staff can focus on more strategic projects and improve efficiency.

4). Build a relationship with the MSP.

Try to develop a sustainable and positive relationship with the MSP. Use your expertise to evaluate existing systems, servers and workstations. Most MSPs offer free advice or strategic advice to help you plan your future IT projects more efficiently.

5). MSP can act as a virtual CIO.

Leading MSPs leverage the latest technology and equipment to serve them. You do this to win the competition. For you, this means access to the latest developments in IT. To take full advantage of these benefits, schedule regular meetings with the MSP. This way you are always up to date with the latest industry trends.

6). Use MSP to develop a clear data protection and disaster recovery strategy.

If you've ever wondered if you need a data protection strategy, the answer is simple. Regardless of how sophisticated your security system is, how encrypted your files are, or how secure your storage space is, your data will eventually be compromised. There can be many reasons including human error, machine failure, virus attacks, hackers, and even natural disasters like hurricanes. Given the importance of data to the business, we need to make sure it's protected. Work with MSP to develop an intelligent data protection plan along with a disaster recovery strategy. Take this step by step, test the backup process and do a sample restore.

7). If you exceed the MSP, don't be afraid to move on.

Like most things in life, your business model needs to be continuously adjusted. Maybe MSPs that used to work well can no longer do this. This often happens when a company goes beyond MSP. If you notice recurring issues or problems from service providers, don't be afraid to make changes. While MSP is not a mechanic, it adds real value to the company and ensures that IT resources are in line with its business strategy.

With the right MSP, companies can save money and improve their revenue streams with a larger talent pool and better insights. Reliable managed service providers can be a strategic and tactical addition to IT staff. This is a dedicated IT department that makes it easy to redirect resources used to put out a "fire". To get a clear idea of ​​what a competent MSP looks like, download the free managed services checklist and start the process.

How To Get The Most Out Of Managed IT Services?

 Managed IT Service

Without bandwidth, staff or expertise, it is difficult for a company to manage its own IT services. Hiring a company or managed service provider helps with critical IT needs.

Without it, your company will lose valuable time and money, reducing productivity and focus. In this article, you will learn why managed IT services are so important and how they can help your business succeed.

What is a managed IT service?

Managed IT Services is a great service that combines unlimited flat rate support with your monthly payments. These services constantly monitor your company's IT, workstations and servers to protect them from external damage.

IT support helps busy companies focus on important tasks on their to-do list.

Why is support important?

To keep your business safe, it's important to have IT professionals on your team and back them up in the event of a problem. Experts know how to get their jobs done faster and how to deal with certain situations that other unqualified people may not be able to.

You don't have to hire a salary to provide assistance. In many cases, you will also have to pay for support training to speed up your team members. Outsourcing IT means hiring qualified specialists with solid knowledge.

With IT support, you also have a team of experts, not just one. You have more help at a lower cost.

What your team can do for you

There are many benefits to having a managed IT service support team. IT support constantly monitors the IT infrastructure. They have confirmed that they are protected from viruses, ransomware and malware.

Anything that attacks and tries to compromise the system will be stopped before it reaches the digital door. You think positively and try to identify the problem before it becomes a problem. There is less system interruption and downtime.

Another benefit is strategic planning. You consider what you should plan for your company's IT. They take into account the replacement of hardware or software, the time frame and the measures taken in the event of IT downtime.

This updates all systems to the latest version and increases the security of all workstations. This minimizes the risk of external viruses and computer crashes.

Provider selection

There are many managed service providers out there, but choosing one is not difficult. Make sure they suit your business needs. Think of cost as a factor, but don't make it the biggest factor.

If calling 24 hours a day is important to them, look for a company that offers it. The same applies to documentation and processing times. Choosing a vendor who is aggressive and interested in your business should be one of the deciding factors.