6 Signs It May Be Time to Switch to Managed IT Services
As your business grows and evolves, it becomes essential to strive for enhanced back-office efficiencies. It also becomes more important to take steps to protect all that you’ve worked so hard to build. One of the best ways to do both is by working with a managed information technology service provider.
Managed IT services can help protect your company’s technological infrastructure, but how do you know if your business is ready to commit to these services? Following are six signs it may be time to switch to managed IT services.
#1 – Your internal staff can’t keep up with your technology needs.
If you’re like many business owners, you wore many hats in the early stages of starting your company, including in-house tech support. As you began hiring new employees, you may have been more focused on finding support for key business functions, rather than back-office support.
Information technology is one of those back-office responsibilities that quickly becomes a burden for many business owners. Even if you have in-house employees to handle technology, they may be overwhelmed and struggle to keep up on the latest trends and developments, which can put your business at risk.
A managed IT service provider can free up your employees to focus on more essential tasks while offering around-the-clock tech support and the latest security features.
#2 – You’re worried about cybersecurity risks.
Speaking of security features, did you know that in 2023, 41% of small businesses fell victim to a cyberattack? That’s up from 38% in 2022 and almost double 2021’s rate of 22%.[1] If you’re not taking steps to protect your business, you could be putting it at risk.
Managed IT service providers offer advanced intrusion detection, employee training and regular security audits to help lower your risk of falling victim to cyberattacks and data breaches.
#3 – You don’t have a disaster recovery plan in place.
Have you considered what would happen to your company, your employees and your customers in the event of a hardware crash, cyberattack or security breach? Do you have a plan in place to recover lost data and quickly reboot your systems? If not, it may be time to enlist the support of a managed IT provider to develop a disaster recovery plan, coordinate off-site data backups and implement blockchain technologies and encryption.
#4 – You struggle to budget for IT expenses.
If your IT expenses fluctuate from month to month, it can be difficult to budget and track your costs. Managed IT service providers typically charge a monthly rate for their services, which can help you avoid unexpected expenses and maintain control over your budget.
#5 – Your employees require additional IT support.
With more employees working flexible hours, around-the-clock IT support has become essential for many companies. Managed IT service providers typically provide 24/7 support to keep your business up and running.
#6 – You experience frequent technical issues.
Your business shouldn’t have to deal with regular technical issues, such as slow systems, frequent downtime and persistent glitches. Not only are these issues irritating but they can negatively impact both employee productivity and customer satisfaction.
The proactive monitoring and support offered by a managed IT provider can help ensure your systems run smoothly and efficiently. As a result, your business may experience fewer disruptions, leading to increased productivity and an improved customer experience.
