Most in-house IT departments these days juggle numerous tasks
simultaneously, which are all important and urgent. Dealing with routine work
such as storage and technical support along with handling strategic
responsibilities can be a daunting job. That is why many businesses are opting for
a managed services provider (MSP) to
meet their IT needs. Doing so enables their in-house IT team to focus on
strategic tasks by handing over operational tasks to a third party. Another
benefit of employing a managed services
provider for a business is the saved cost of staff training, equipment, and new
recruits. Instead, you are just presented with a monthly bill by your services
provider. It also results in predictable monthly IT costs for your business
with little to no variation.
If you have just come across the term ‘managed services’ and
are wondering what it includes, let’s take a look at what’s it’s all about.
Networks & Infrastructure
Third party service providers can manage your business
network and infrastructure in a couple of ways. One method that they can use is
performing maintenance and backups remotely by maintaining virtual servers.
Another method is to retain or rent servers in their personal data centers for
your business network and infrastructure. Ultimately, the size of your
organization and the amount of data that needs to be stored determine which option
works.
One of the major benefits of such an arrangement is that it
reduces the charges associated with the possession and operation of a data
center. As an alternative, you just employ an MSP and work out a service level
agreement. Managed storage backup, managed hosting, LANs, and WANs, are all
included in this kind of service.
Security
This means outsourcing the cybersecurity model of your
business to a third party. It usually includes an antivirus, security
reporting, system monitoring, etc. Most of these solutions are installed and
monitored remotely, however, some providers also set up a physical fixture in
your systems.
Communication Services
Managed communication refers to the merging of the various
forms of corporate communication into a single service. Also known as unified
communication, it integrates email, chat, voice, video, etc. so that your
employees can communicate easily. It eliminates the need to log on to several
applications, instead combining various communication forms on one IP network. This
could also refer to utilizing a managed call center.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
With this managed service, a provider offers applications
using the cloud and serves as the intermediary between business and developer. The
company may be able to go through the software developer but going via the
service provider is beneficial. The benefit of having software as a managed
service is getting the latest updates with no additional charges. Additionally,
your business also gets a customer service experience that is tailored to its
individual requirements. It is possible that the service provider also happens
to be the SaaS provider in some instances. Alternatively, the service resells
the software and helps with its installation and integration into a company’s systems.
Support Services
Support services happen to be one of the commonly managed
services nowadays. They include helpdesk tasks such as support tickets for IT problems
and troubleshooting requirements. The managed
services provider caters to daily IT issues including software updates and password
reset when providing support services. These services include most devices like
mobiles, tablets, printers, etc. A few also offer hands-on support, if
required.
Data Analytics
When data analytics is handed to them, service providers
assist clients in applying efficient business practices by recording, observing
and studying data. This is the new trend in business intelligence that is
enabling clients to achieve their targets. It is a useful way for businesses to
get their operations looked at by fresh eyes and get innovative solutions.
Print Services
With managed print services, providers are able to remotely
monitor, update, and manage the document management infrastructure of your
business. It is often required for organizations having intricate file
management requirements. It eases the burden of sorting out document management
problems from your in-house IT department.
Wireless and Mobile Computing
This managed service offers a wireless facility to your
organization while eliminating the hassle of charges and implementation within
the company. In addition, a company can use this service to set up internal
networks. It goes a long way in saving time and cost of an organization in
setting up wireless networks.
In conclusion, every
organization needs IT for its daily tasks as well as IT support to ensure
smooth operations. Fortunately, it is easy to find a managed services provider nowadays as they are many operating in
the market currently.
So, if your business is struggling with IT issues ranging
from troubleshooting to performance drops, you should consider getting managed
services. There are various options for you to choose from, and they happen to
be quite flexible and affordable.
