As a small business owner, you’re probably used to handling day-to-day operations on your own. However, outsourcing repetitive tasks can give you more free time to work on growing your business. One area where outsourcing can be particularly helpful is IT. Even if you have an IT department in-house, they might not have the manpower to handle everything during busy periods. Managed IT services are a cost-effective way to outsource some or all of your IT needs. Here are some of the ways that managed IT services can benefit small businesses. 

What are managed IT services?

Managed IT services are provided by third party companies. They can be customized to suit your business’s needs – for example, you can outsource all of your IT needs or use managed IT services to supplement your existing IT department. Managed IT companies can provide assistance with routine tasks, but they can also help with complex security issues and offer support during emergencies. Some tasks that a managed IT provider might help with include remote monitoring, communications support, and security threat response, just to name a few. 

How can these services benefit small businesses?

Hiring managed IT services can give small businesses a huge advantage as they grow and develop. Here are some of the ways that managed IT services can benefit small businesses. 

1. Managed IT providers help keep your digital assets safe and secure. 

With today’s technology, so many aspects of your business can be conducted online. Because of this, it’s very important to make sure your website and servers are fully secure. This is where managed IT providers can be very helpful for a small business. If your digital security is compromised, it can cost you financially and even damage your reputation.

Not only do managed IT providers offer ongoing remote monitoring, but they can also help you set up your systems in a way that minimizes the risk of a security breach. This is particularly important if you have team members working remotely and potentially using unsecured internet connections. On top of that, your managed IT provider can also update your systems regularly to protect against new security threats. 

2. IT services are available 24/7. 

Even if you have an IT team in house, they aren’t going to be available all the time. Unfortunately, there are instances where you might need IT support outside of normal working hours. Managed IT companies are set up so that they can offer support at any time of day. This includes constant remote monitoring, which can catch potential security issues or technical problems before you do. You’ll also be able to contact your managed IT provider at any time if you need extra help or support. This is another benefit that is particularly helpful for remote teams that work in multiple time zones or have flexible schedules, as you won’t always be able to guarantee that the other party is online. 

3. Managed IT services keep your day-to-day operations running efficiently. 

When you’re working with a small team, your employees can get spread thin very quickly. It can be difficult just to keep up with important day-to-day tasks, leaving very little extra time for product development and innovation. Your managed IT team can take on some of the routine tasks that are holding you back from business growth.

This gives you and your team extra time to be creative and focus on moving forward, rather than getting stuck in the same routine every day. It also can reduce your team’s stress levels at work, knowing that you have a team on hand to help you if an emergency does come up. Your managed IT provider can help everyone get more done, without spreading your in-house team too thin. Not only will this help your business be more successful, but your team will also appreciate having a good work-life balance. 

4. IT companies can offer specialty services. 

These companies are very experienced and can help with many different types of technology. It can be hard to replicate this level of experience with a small team of people, no matter how talented they are. Some types of hardware or software require special certifications or training in order to use. Expanding your IT team with full-time employees to tackle these problems just isn’t realistic for many small businesses. Training programs for your existing team members can also be expensive.

Using these companies to handle your specialty tech needs is a much more cost-efficient option for many small businesses. You’ll have access to a wealth of specialized knowledge and skills when you need it. This can help you tackle new challenges and offer better service to your customers. 

5. Your managed IT provider can grow with you. 

One of the best things about these services is that they are scalable. If you’re working on a tight budget right now, you can outsource a few key services to keep your costs down. As your business grows, you can add on managed IT services as you see fit. Managed IT is very easy to adjust to fit your needs. A reliable provider will check in with you periodically to ensure that all of your technology needs are being met.

Small businesses in today’s market need to have a robust online presence and reliable internal technology, regardless of what industry you are in. Managed IT services are very accessible and relatively easy to set up, and they can help keep your business safe and productive. These services are particularly important for businesses that don’t have an in-house IT team. However, you can also use them as a supplemental resource even if you do have an in-house team.