Managed IT support solutions are increasingly popular with businesses of all sizes, but how do you know if you need one?
Here are seven telltale signs.
1. Your IT Spending is Inconsistent
Canadian IT spending increases year on year, encompassing enterprise software, devices, IT services, and more. Upgrading equipment, paying for emergency repairs, experimenting with new software, and other IT investments can all add up.
As a result, your IT spending may be inconsistent and unpredictable. And you could end up paying more to keep your infrastructure functioning smoothly than you need to.
One of the chief benefits of managed IT support services is that you’ll pay a set fee each month (or year) for a solutions package tailored to your needs. This helps prevent you from overspending and ensures you have access to essential services without worrying about costs.
Read more about how to keep cloud costs under control.
2. You Experience Frequent Technological Failures that Disrupt Productivity
If your IT infrastructure is poorly configured, outdated, or generally ineffective, you’re more likely to experience technological issues. Such as?
- Crashes
- Insufficient memory
- Slow performance
- Difficulties using specific software or devices
Any of these and other issues can negatively affect your productivity, and your employees can only work at their best when they have the right tools. But a managed IT support provider will empower your team with hardware and software that does exactly what you need it to. This can improve worker productivity and enable them to achieve more in less time.
3. Your Security is Weak and Leaves You Vulnerable to Attack
Effective cybersecurity is no longer an option: every business, regardless of size, must implement the latest solutions to reduce their risk of becoming a cybercrime victim. It’s estimated that around 78% of Canadian companies have been affected by successful cyber attacks within just one year, with ransomware recognized as one of the most common threats.
But researching, finding, and setting up the best cybersecurity software can be tough without expert guidance. Exploring your options, understanding how they work, and monitoring their performance after implementation is a time-consuming, often complex process.
That’s why some business owners end up without the high-quality security precautions they need to operate safely. And that can leave you vulnerable to a cyber-attack that leads to data loss, downtime, reduced revenue, and possible reputation damage.
Fortunately, a managed IT support service provider will have the time, knowledge, and resources to add the most effective cybersecurity solutions to your IT infrastructure. You can focus on running your business with valuable peace of mind while the professionals keep you safe.
4. You Have No In-House IT Experts and Have to Fix Everything Yourself
You may have no room in your budget to hire a full-time IT specialist (or a team of them), or perhaps your current technician is preparing to leave your business. In any case, being without an in-house expert to maintain your infrastructure, install updates, and handle countless other technical tasks can cause problems.
You and your employees will need to resolve IT issues as they appear. That’s not ideal, unless you’re all trained and experienced in the complexities of information technology. This means you’ll spend less time on your core tasks as you try to keep your systems running smoothly.
However, a managed IT support team will do this for you at a fixed rate without the overheads that employing a full-time in-house specialist brings. You can always reach out to your provider for guidance, remote assistance, or on-site help in an emergency.
5. You Struggle to Keep Up with Compliance and Updates
If you fail to keep up with compliance requirements, you could violate rules and regulations without realizing. And you may face a substantial penalty if you’re caught out.
However, monitoring your compliance obligations and changing rules, and understanding what you need to do to align with them can be difficult. Especially if they’re revised frequently.
It’s a similar situation with software updates: brands release new versions of programs often to incorporate new features and functions. For example, security patches will reinforce the software against potential attacks and provide a safer user experience. But you may be unaware of when new updates are available or overlook them entirely. And that’s a risk.
When you work with a managed IT service provider, they’ll take care of compliance and updates for you. Your business will consistently comply with the latest regulations and utilize the most up-to-date versions of all software.
6. You Lack Reliable Data Backup and Recovery
Losing data through a cyber-attack, power outage, or hardware failure can be catastrophic. You could lose months of hard work and invaluable client information without warning. But if you have a solid data backup and recovery plan, you’ll be able to restore your lost files easily.
This will help you avoid costly downtime and allow for business continuity. Just access that critical data again and get back to work in no time. A managed IT service team will set up the right data backup for you (whether that’s cloud-based, on-premises, or a hybrid model) to protect you against unforeseen disasters.
7. You Spend More Time Than Ever Dealing with IT Issues
If you spend more and more hours trying to solve IT problems each week, managed services could be just what you need to get back on track. Your technicians may be overwhelmed by colleagues’ requests for help with the smallest tasks, and you could be left to face highly technical issues that interfere with your own duties as a business owner or manager.
Sounds familiar? Work with a reputable provider of managed services instead, and you’ll have more time to commit to your essential goals.
GenX Solutions offers dedicated managed IT solutions at highly competitive prices. We’ll create bespoke packages based on our in-depth understanding of your company and business objectives.
Get in touch with our specialists today to find out how we can help you succeed!