Why Hire a Managed Service Provider?

As noted in our first Managed Services article Managed Services means the on-going monitoring, managing and preventive maintenance of your technology systems for a flat monthly rate.

Ironclad Tech Services looks at technology systems to include workstations, mobile devices, servers, network components, backups, IT security, cloud services, BDR (backup and disaster recovery), password management, cloud services, communications, collaboration, websites, as well as physical security systems.

What are some of the Advantages of Managed Services?

The items noted here is not an all inclusive list but does show the main advantages of Managed Services.

• Proactive Approach – Instead of reacting to problems as they arise a proactive approach allows technology issues to be prevented or addressed before they become interruptions to your business. Reacting to technology problems, negatively affects your business in many ways including the direct costs as well as costs associated with down time.
• Increase Operational Efficiency – Managed Services is a preventive approach to managing your business technology. With fewer interruptions to your business technology your staff will have more time to focus on the tasks at hand.
• Minimize Downtime – Since managed services is focused on preventing problems and not just repairing them after they occur a business will experience fewer interruptions.
• Faster Response Times – with Managed Services businesses receive help desk services as well as on-going monitoring of technology systems. On-going monitoring of technology systems allows issues to be identified and addressed, many times, prior to them being noticed by the business.
• Predictable IT Costs – The costs associated with reacting to problems is much greater than preventing them. The pricing structure for managed services is based on a monthly fee, this allows operational costs to be more predictable.
• Reduce Labor Costs – Hiring, training and retaining internal technology staff is expensive. With managed services the Managed Service provider becomes your internal technology department without the cost of hiring full-time staff.
• On-Going Support – A managed service model provides your business with on-going support. A Managed Service Provider can assist you and your business with day to day technology issues as well as assisting you in evaluating and planning for future technology needs.
• Focus on your business – With managed services you can focus on running your business and not your technology.
• Reduce Risk and Improve Security – Regularly maintained business technology systems including networks, servers, workstations, and laptops limit your exposure to vulnerabilities and security threats.
• Vendor Management – How much time do you take dealing with a technology vendor when dealing with an issue? It is more effective for the business to allow the managed service provider to deal with the technology vendor directly. How much is your time worth?
• Future Technology – With a proactive approach the managed service provider can assist the business in forecasting future technology needs. Technology can then be evaluated and planned for instead of reacting as issues come up.
• Recover Quicker from Disasters – No amount of preventive maintenance can avoid all technology issues. If all else fails and a disaster does occur downtime can be limited with proactive solutions in place that are recommended and provided by the managed service provider.

Now this is not an all inclusive list but does highlight some of the business benefits that can be experienced by a business that hires the right Managed Service Provider.