Many businesses use managed IT services to handle their servers, mobile devices, computers, and supporting infrastructures. However, some operations get the managed IT model wrong, and this can negatively affect the expected value of the investment. You should think about what others get wrong so your organization can maximize the benefits of the managed model. Here are four items to put on a checklist and examine.
Pitting In-House Against Managed IT Solutions
People tend to think of problems as dichotomies. Good things go against bad ones. Dogs go against cats. In-house IT goes against outside solutions.
The managed approach isn't an either-or solution that precludes the use of in-house personnel. Companies should see in-house and managed IT solutions as a spectrum. Some firms will have heavy in-house departments that only need augmentation from a managed services provider on certain occasions. Other firms will have one in-house person who calls the managed IT services company if anything too big appears. Many organizations operate somewhere in the middle, and that's okay.
Lacking Overhead for Growth
Providers usually offer managed IT solutions on a contract basis. Some may offer pay-as-you-use services, but these tend to be less cost-effective than contract commitments. If you don't have a deal in place that accounts for your company's growth, you may see managed IT services expenses explode as your business starts needing more help.
When you enter into an agreement, consider how much support you're likely to require by the end of the contract's term. Make sure you have an arrangement offering a bit more than that projection so you can be sure unexpected growth doesn't catch you by surprise.
Not Matching Software Stacks
Every organization has a software stack. You have to make sure that you software is compatible. You want to know your managed IT services provider will have a team proficient in every element of the stack at your company. As your operation grows and changes, you should also verify the managed IT team can adapt and continue to provide needed support.
Using a Break-Fix Model
Much like maintaining a house, you can choose to take a preventative approach or just fix things as they break. The break-fix model can seem like a money-saver until something major happens. Businesses may spend thousands or even millions of dollars fixing issues on the fly. Using a managed IT solutions system, you can contract updates and upgrades for the foreseeable future to keep costs and technology headaches predictable.
For more info, contact a company that offers managed IT solutions.
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6 April 2022
About two years into my new business venture, it was obvious that the software I was using no longer met my needs. It still worked well enough, but my business was growing and I needed something with more features. That is where help from a local systems specialist made all the difference. After evaluating my operation, he was able to recommend new software that would work just fine on my network. Best of all, he handled the data transfer overnight. My team signed off the old software the night before and came in the next morning ready to work with the new program. If your business has outgrown the older software, get advice from a professional before buying anything. I'll tell you how going this route meant a seamless transition that allowed us to keep going without adversely affecting any of our customers.
