For most, if not all, businesses or organizations, the key to being successful is profitability. Properly budgeting and spending resources is a major aspect of an organization’s ability to be profitable. All organizations have budgets to spend and areas where they can invest in growing and functioning better.
However, there are also other ways to grow a business or make them function better. Outsourced IT management is a fantastic way for businesses to save money and improve efficiency.
By choosing to outsource, a company brings in a third party to handle the operations and perform tasks in their area of expertise. Having a well-versed company in the area of need makes the process much easier and, in the long run, can save a company a lot of money.
One of the most popular areas for outsourcing is Information Technology (IT). IT support is incredibly important in a modern working environment with so much work being done through computers. IT Support teams are used to analyze, troubleshoot, and evaluate organizations’ technology issues.
This can be anything from choosing the right computer setup for an organization to cyber security measures and 24/7 health and security monitoring of a network. Having a paid IT support team on site can be unrealistic for a small business.
Outsourcing with an IT management service has become increasingly popular due to the resources it takes for a company to manage an internal IT department. An outsourced IT support service allows a small business 24/7 IT support for any issues that may arise and also reduces the risk of security breaches.
This can be incredibly important for businesses like law firms and healthcare providers dealing with clients’ personal data. Choosing to outsource IT support can not only give better support and protection for a small business but can also reduce costs.
Reduced overhead costs
The main reason for most small businesses to choose an outsourced IT service is to save money. Outsourcing allows you to plan your IT budget effectively and to only pay for what you use and when you need it. The hiring and training for an in-house IT team can be very expensive and time-consuming.
You can avoid HR costs, bonuses, and insurance when you outsource. Outsourcing to a managed service provider (MSP) can free up resources monetarily in terms of being able to hire staff in other areas of need for the business to run more efficiently.
You do not have to purchase expensive hardware and software or pay for full-time staff when you outsource your IT needs. MSPs typically have a standard pricing model, which means you only pay for what you need.
For a small business, having money to spend elsewhere within the business can be a massive benefit. Another crucial aspect of outsourcing IT is gaining a wider range of expertise and resources. For small business owners, being able to save money while gaining expertise and resources is a win-win.
Improved efficiency and productivity
Choosing to outsource your IT management needs will provide better efficiency and productivity for your small business. When you outsource to an external service, you are able to take nearly all of the burden off of yourself and your company. This allows for more focus on the core business and personnel to be used in better areas of need.
An IT management service will be available 24/7 to offer consistent support. They will also be able to respond faster to any issues, reducing downtime and limiting the impact of a potential security breach.
A small business can focus on things that matter more to its direct business by having a faster, more efficient IT program. The freeing up of resources and time by using an IT management service will allow for a small business to be more competitive within its area of business which should help lead to overall growth.
Enhanced security and compliance
A managed IT service team can also significantly impact cyber security and compliance with government regulations.
Small businesses can be extremely vulnerable to cyber security attacks due to their lack of IT infrastructure. Not having the proper security measures in place gives attackers an easier target to chase after. A business with insufficient IT management will also see longer downtimes and greater losses due to a security breach.
Having an outsourced IT management service gives you a better overall defense against security threats. It also will have 24/7 coverage of the network, which provides quicker response to any issues or breaches that may happen.
Protecting sensitive data is important not only from a business perspective but also from regulatory aspects. Making sure your business complies with HIPAA and GDPR regulations is important and can be better accomplished with an outsourced IT service.
Flexibility and Scalability
Most small businesses have an ever-evolving work volume and coverage needs. What you needed one year you might not need the next, or you might need additional IT infrastructure needs that you never had before. This plays perfectly into one of the best advantages of outsourcing which is work can be done through an “as-needed” basis.
Outsourcing IT management allows businesses to quickly scale up with an already trained and functional staff that can handle the increased coverage needed. The same goes for scaling down decreasing the coverage that is needed.
Another benefit is the quick adaptability the outsourced firm can deliver. They can adjust to the needs of the company incredibly quickly. There is no training and no adjustment period needed because the outscored MSP is already familiar with the software and technology they are using.
By outsourcing, you can eliminate any additional cost that would come with making changes within your IT infrastructure. There will also be far less of an adjustment period. The IT management solution that you have working for you will be able to shift with your needs with little or no additional cost to the business.
Conclusion
Outsourcing your IT needs is a good way to deliver cost savings to a small business. There are also many other benefits of outsourcing, such as scalability, flexibility, increased efficiency, and enhanced business security and compliance aspects.
When outsourcing the IT needs of the company, you will end up paying less overall than an in-house team and will very likely achieve a higher level of technical support. Also, you will give the business more resources and time to focus on core business areas, helping to give the company an edge over the competition.
If your business is in the need of better IT assistance, looking to focus resources and attention on more important areas, or looking to save money, then outsourcing your IT needs is a very smart idea. Click here for an EVERNET guide to IT maintenance.
Now’s a great time to learn how to make outsourcing your IT needs work for you. When you partner with EVERNET, we help you learn how to utilize your IT department properly. Let’s schedule a discovery call and see how we can help you work smarter, not harder.
Eric is a Business IT cybersecurity advisor, consultant, manager, integrator, and protector who founded EVERNET in 2007. Eric co-hosts a podcast called “Finance and Technology Insights by Brian & Eric” on YouTube. Eric is a regular contributor to the EVERNET blog, writing about the latest technology news and providing his expertise in cyber security prevention and management.
