Managed IT Services for Scalability (Grow Your Business Faster)

Using managed IT services is synonymous with growth, scalability, cost reduction and complex task management. Yes, it’s a great synonym, but that’s the way technology is, what it touches it improves. 

In this blog, you will learn how IT managed services support business growth, offer expert solutions, and allow your team to focus on core goals—making it easier to scale operations without worrying about IT problems.

Why Managed Services Has Become Go-To Solution for Businesses

Managed IT services includes preventative network monitoring to prevent downtime, better technology planning, and brings the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have a dedicated, well-rounded, and certified team of experts that are making your business a top priority. In today’s competitive market, businesses also need to be smarter about their IT services and support costs in order to maintain a manageable budget, thus maximizing budgets for efficient growth and increased profits.

This is the primary reason more decision makers are turning to the managed IT support services option. It is a partnership that adds value to your company, and frankly, just makes sense when you are trying to succeed in a competitive market. 

Gartner predicts IT services spending will grow 4.2% in 2017 with investments in “services optimization and innovation” driving growth in this market. Today’s businesses are hyper aware of economic challenges and this fuels the need to seek solutions for IT services that include solutions beyond day to day management and monitoring, but rather incorporate consultation for a technology roadmap and proper budgeting to accomplish the planned goals which will keep companies operating with technology and devices to maintain a competitive advantage for growth.

The broad list of IT services included with managed IT services combined with its predictable and scalable pricing has made this the go-to solution for today’s businesses to strategically optimize IT operations and technology based on the company’s growth plan.

How IT Managed Services Enable Business Growth

IT managed services support business growth by providing specialized knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and flexible solutions without the cost of a full-time in-house IT department. As businesses scale, IT requirements become more elaborate — from managing growing data volumes to protecting sensitive information and maintaining business continuity. 

Managed service providers (MSPs) smooth the path for many of these processes so corporations can stay fixated on their primary goals while handing over the responsibility of technology management to experts. 

MSPs allow for the rapid rollout of new tools, support for remote teams and systems remain running smoothly—all of which leads to improved productivity, increased customer satisfaction and rapid growth. Uninterrupted support and proactive monitoring help businesses remain agile and competitive in evolving markets.

Key Benefits of IT Managed Services for Scalability

If you are looking for scalability, then you need to sign up with a managed IT services provider. Here are the main benefits that will reinforce your business objectives.

Flexibility to Scale Resources On-Demand

Managing resources at will is the primary benefit. Managed IT services give you the perfect flexibility to manage seasonal peaks, new initiatives or growth without significant upfront investments.

Cost Predictability and Savings

If you like to manage resources at will, then predictable costs are your thing, and this is just another benefit of having an MSP. This means significant savings on hardware, software and IT staff.

Access to Latest Technology and Expertise

With the group of managed services, businesses get to take the benefit of advanced tools, cybersecurity solutions, & expert IT professionals. This ensures that technology does not lag and remains aligned with industry best practices, ultimately improving efficiency as a whole.

The aim of a managed services provider is to maintain your network with consistency, and streamline your company’s software management and technology planning.

Managed IT Services Fills in the Gaps to Alleviate Surprises

The goal of a managed services provider is to keep your network operating consistently, while optimizing your company’s software management and technology planning.  Managed IT support services fills in the gaps in IT operations and eliminate the surprises that can throw a wrench into a day’s business operations, meaning that you, as a leader in the company, can focus your attention on running the business and employees can remain engaged to accomplish the company’s growth strategy.

For example, let’s say you come into the office Monday to discover your network has been down all weekend. Suddenly you’re forced into a reactive position of hiring outside technicians who are unfamiliar with your company’s IT structure and its mission critical goals, which can spell disaster for productivity for the week.

One Financially Efficient, Scalable IT Services Solution

If we look at the full breadth of included services, you will see that you have one solution available to manage your IT support services needs that will improve your company’s scalability while continuing to provide budget efficiency via the managed services pricing model.

In the above examples, network monitoring, proper administration and a solid technology roadmap have been discussed, however these are only the tip of the iceberg in a solid managed IT support services plan. Proactive IT management includes regular network checkup visits, technology management and IT help desk support to keep your network infrastructure running optimally.

What should a solid managed IT support services package include? To truly assure that your networks will remain healthy and that your business productivity does not slow, the following should be inclusive:

1) Technology management via a centralized service for all of the following:

  • Network Security: includes all patch management, anti-spyware and anti-malware management as well as spam management.
  • Full optimization of desktops/laptops/mobile devices and coordination of all documentation
  • Email management
  • Voice services
  • Data backup administration

2) Network Administration through a dedicated network administrator that includes network monitoring, a customized technology checklist for your company that utilizes industry best practices and a complete service report review.

3) Technology consulting with your dedicated, knowledgeable Technology Account Manager along with the guidance of a fractional Chief Information Officer with a focus on the following:

  • Technology roadmap
  • Scheduled network checkup visits
  • Technology budgetary planning

4) An internal end-user IT support desk team.  Be sure that the MSP doesn’t use an outsourced ticketing system as you want your employees to have access 24/7 for fast resolution to IT needs. A quality MSP will offer an internal support desk team for the following services:

  • Help desk support and on-site support
  • Assistance in identifying and resolving problems 
  • Knowledge base education
  • Support for the client portal and for mobility

All of these things allow the scope of IT services management that will actually help improve productivity and keep that network spinning (less downtime!) and let you sleep well at night knowing that you are giving your company all the IT system management and maintenance it requires. Most importantly, sleep well at night without worrying about what the next big problem is that will surely rear its ugly head and how much it will cost.

With tailored managed IT support services, you’ll find your monthly costs will still be cheaper than hiring in-house staff members for all the skills provided. The value added you will inevitably have, will be far superior over hourly, break fix technicians, and with a much tighter cost!

Because of the importance of extensive IT management, your company should have an agile business solution, that allows your company’s scalability, not restricts it! Your monthly bill is based on how many employees you have due to the flat fee pricing model; thus, your pricing can grow or shrink based on the size management needed for your business.

How to Choose the Right Managed IT Service Provider

These are the aspects you have to take into account to guarantee a fluid IT operation and the success of your business in the long term.

Assess Experience and Industry Knowledge

You should look at the background. When choosing an MSP, the first thing to look at is their history of providing services to companies like yours, with challenges like yours and compliance factors… yes, like yours.

Review Service Offerings and SLAs

Confirm that the provider has services for a over a variety of areas—network management, cybersecurity, cloud support—and has clear Service Level Agreement (SLAs) that spell out performance and response times.

Check References and Support Capabilities

Check if they have client testimonials and case studies as well as 24/7 availability for help. A good MSP will provide 24/7 monitoring, remediation, and strategic IT consulting to help your business scale. 

Download our FREE Business Guide to Managed Services eBook for a comparison of IT management models and use the included checklist to assess your company’s current IT performance.