What Are Managed IT Services?
No modern company can hope to expand and thrive without a robust IT department. IT fuels growth as it helps businesses collect data, manage clients, improve services, expand web presence, and more. Your operations depend on IT more than you know. Whether you’re a startup or a large company, you need to invest in IT. However, rather than hiring several expensive IT professionals, you may want to consider managed IT services.
With managed IT, you get the benefits of a full team of IT experts without the enormous investment that this usually calls for. In lieu of large monthly salaries, you pay a monthly fee to the managed services provider. Can a third party really provide the same level of quality as an in-house IT department? Thanks to modern remote technology and our expertise at Cyber Command, the answer is absolutely yes. In fact, we can do even better.
What Are Managed IT Services?
IT Services That Businesses Need
Regardless of the type of business you run, there are a few basic IT needs that every company has. At minimum, your staff needs the right software to carry out business operations. That may be as a subscription to Microsoft Office software, now known as Microsoft 365. Other companies may need specialized software for their industry, like Adobe products for creative designers. Even industrial companies that manufacture components rely on CAD software to operate.
The software you use dictates the kind of hardware you’ll need in the office. Company data also needs to be stored somewhere. Furthermore, protecting that data is vital as laws have tightened regarding data security worldwide. You also need an IT department that can help your business plan into the future and scale as your company does. Managed IT services can do all of this and more.
Software
Your productivity is directly impacted by the software you choose. Almost every business needs a basic office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and a presentation making program. We typically recommend Microsoft 365 as you get those essential programs and a lot more. You’ll also get Teams for video conferencing. OneNote is a powerful tool for taking notes on tablet PCs and brainstorming with your team. Outlook keeps your team connected via a powerful email solution.
If you’ve been using open-source software like Open Office to save money, you’ll appreciate the productivity gains from switching to a more professional solution like Microsoft 365. If you’re reliant on Google Drive, Microsoft’s OneDrive integrates better with Windows computers. You’ll find your workflow moves faster with the right tools. In addition, you get access to all the mobile versions so you can work on the go.
Hardware
A common mistake we find with many companies, especially smaller ones, is spending the bare minimum on PCs for the office. Although you have to respect your budget and cashflow, there are affordable financing options from wholesalers that can help you upgrade your office. Nothing is more frustrating for your staff than having slow computers. Every wasted second waiting for a file to open or for a change to manifest on the monitor is lost productivity.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you have to buy top-of-the-line machines for every worker. Choose computers that have the horsepower necessary for each assignment. A video editor will need a much more powerful PC than an accountant does. If you provide laptops for your employees, you should likewise evaluate what kind of work they do remotely. Your managed services provider can recommend the right equipment for each position in the company and make sure that everyone has the power they need.
Storage
Your data needs to reside somewhere. Unfortunately, many companies have disorganized data scattered across several devices. If your employees save data on their computers instead of a central location, you run the risk of losing data or having it taken outside of the company’s secure network. If you’ve never configured a company server before, don’t worry. We can help you get the right components and set up an environment that ensures data safety.
However, cloud storage is also an interesting solution to consider. As companies like Amazon and Microsoft’s Azure have expanded their data centers, cloud storage has become extremely affordable. You only pay for what you use, and it can all be linked to your office through high-speed internet connections. You avoid the large up-front cost of building a server and get the advantages of the latest technology. Ask your managed services provider which solution works best for your business.
Tech Planning
Technology advances at a remarkable pace. As computer parts continue to shrink and become more power efficient, your equipment can quickly become obsolete. While you don’t always need to have the latest technology to be a competitive company, it’s important to plan ahead. You should have an eye on emerging technology that could benefit your business so that you’re ready to implement it when it launches. Knowing what’s coming next helps you allocate resources to your IT budget as well.
This is an area where many in-house IT teams falter. They become too busy focusing on problem solving and maintenance. There’s no time for them to look forward. With a managed IT provider, you have a whole team of people by your side. Our IT staff loves technology and is constantly reading up on the next great thing about to hit the market. We can see further into the future and help you draft a roadmap to plan your upgrades.
Cyber Security
Cyber security is paramount today. Cyber attacks have become more common and more sophisticated. Furthermore, governments are starting to hold companies accountable for cyber security failures. For example, California’s CCPA law allows consumers to sue a company if their data is lost due to a cyber attack. Similarly, if you do business in Europe, you’re expected to adhere to the GDPR, which imposes strict rules on how you can collect data and how you must protect it.
Do you have protocols in place if a cyber attack happens? Do you employees know how to spot suspicious emails? You likely have an emergency plan in place in case of a fire. A cyber attack is no different. You need to be ready to respond in the event of a cyber crisis. We can prepare your team to handle any situation through training and drills. We’ll also be monitoring your company 24/7 to alert you and begin defensive actions.
Tech Support
No matter how perfect your IT system is, something will eventually go wrong. This is where managed IT services shine the brightest. Your IT staff may not always be available when you need them. They could be attending to another issue, or simply out to lunch. You might not have IT staff on every shift. Downtime is lost productivity and profit. With managed services, you get a speedy response to every issue so you can keep running at full speed.
Our tech support team at Cyber Command picks up 93% of calls instantly. At most, you’ll get a response back in 15 minutes or less if we can’t pick up the phone. Your problems can be solved remotely so you can get back to business quickly.
How Managed IT Services Work
All of the services we’ve mentioned are included in a standard managed IT services package. In addition, we monitor your company across several levels. We can make sure you’re compliant with data privacy laws, track emails to keep potentially dangerous phishing scams at bay, help you backup and recover your data in the event of hardware failure, and much more. We personalize our services based on what your company needs.
We take the time to get to know your company before recommending services. The process starts with a Technology Strategy Session, where we learn about your pain points and help you develop a roadmap for the future. Since switching to managed services may involve new software or small changes to certain processes, we’ll help onboard your staff as well.
Co-Managed Options Available
What if you already have an IT department? We’re not looking to hand out pink slips to your dedicated team. However, it’s unrealistic to expect a small IT department to handle so many tasks, especially as your business grows. Complement your IT department with a co-managed IT arrangement. We love working with IT experts in our clients’ organizations. Your staff can still provide valuable support on the ground while we work to protect your company behind the scenes.
Monthly Payments, Consistent Results
You’ll find that switching to managed IT gives you much more IT capacity at a fraction of the cost of expanding your IT department the traditional way. You get unsurpassed reliability and a whole team of experts for a low monthly payment. Most importantly, you have peace of mind knowing that your systems will stay up and your business will hum along smoothly.
Schedule a Technology Strategy Session with Cyber Command today so we can learn more about your company and help you find the perfect IT solution.
