In difficult times, managed services can help businesses remain agile, efficient, and resilient
We live in times of economic uncertainty, hampering consumer spending habits and making it more difficult for businesses to thrive.
One important way for businesses to remain agile, efficient, and resilient in this digital age is to get the support of a managed IT services provider that can help them to:
- Keep costs contained and regular
- Provide greater security
- Take the load off in-house staff
- Stay compliant with regulations
- Future-proof your business
With the right managed IT services, you can gain a competitive edge that can make all the difference in how your organization thrives and survives.
What Are Managed Services?
Managed services involve a third-party contractor handling specific IT services for customers, usually for a predictable monthly fee. With the managed services provider (MSP) looking after different technological needs, companies are freed from this burden and can focus on their core business needs.
Managed Services Solutions can include:
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance
- Helpdesk and support services
- Remote IT service
- Strategic consulting and optimization
- Operational supports
- Incident triage and escalation
- Data backup and recovery
- Increased security
- And much more
Why Managed Services Are Crucial in an Uncertain Economy
In turbulent times, businesses require technology that they can depend on to keep them operating safely at peak efficiency. A good managed services partner can help you achieve:
Flexibility and scalability
The proper IT infrastructure can help you adapt quickly to changing business needs, scaling up and down according to need. This flexibility comes at a reasonable cost and is a powerful method for future-proofing your business as new technologies, staff, and locations are added. The best solutions allow companies to capitalize on their existing resources while providing technologies that enable next-generation internet and IoT.
Cost efficiency
A good MSP can help business leaders deliver cost-effective solutions that increase business value while staying on top of innovative technologies. They can help reduce operational costs by eliminating the need for extensive in-house teams. Monthly subscriptions for IT services also make costs predictable, which is essential for financial planning.
Risk mitigation
Businesses are threatened by a growing number of cyber threats employing technology such as artificial intelligence (AI). It is an absolute necessity to have an MSP who stays on top of advances to provide clients with complete protection and peace of mind. As well, proactive monitoring of business systems helps prevent disruptions and downtime, which lead to productivity losses, financial setbacks, and strained relations with customers.
A focus on core business
Freed from the onus of managing their IT infrastructure, a company’s internal teams can focus on strategic initiatives on core business functions. Rather than getting bogged down by technical issues, businesses can achieve improved productivity and greater growth.
How Managed Services Future-Proof Your Business
The time to start thinking about your future is now. Managed IT services can do this by:
Enhancing business continuity
Data backup and recovery services make businesses safer and more resilient, responding quickly and effectively to unplanned interruptions.
Enabling technology adoption
Businesses receive expert guidance on implementing emerging technologies, such as AI, machine learning (ML), cloud computing, hybrid computing, post-quantum cryptography, and others. MSPs provide a seamless integration of tools and platforms to boost efficiency.
Supporting hybrid work environments
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in remote and hybrid working arrangements. MSPs must ensure that remote workers and distributed work teams are seamlessly incorporated into company network arrangements, with strong security precautions to combat cyber threats. MSPs can also integrate a company’s legacy technology with a state-of-the-art cloud solution that draws on the strengths of both infrastructures.
Driving innovation
A good MSP isn’t merely a technological partner. They provide strategic consulting to identify growth opportunities and leverage data and analytics for informed decision-making. Technology has become a cornerstone for many organizations’ success. So, it is imperative to have a partner versed in the latest innovations, with a track record of implementing them for clients from the same business sector.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Managed Services Provider
When looking for an MSP that is a good fit, you want one with a track record of successful partnerships with similar businesses. Check their credentials, case studies, and testimonials to ensure their claims are backed by solid evidence of industry-specific knowledge and certifications.
After that, assess their service offerings. For example, do they have transparent pricing models? Are they flexible and willing to customize services to your business needs? Do you have choices for both comprehensive and specialized solutions?
Does the MSP offer a service level agreement (SLA) that spells out their responsibilities to you? This would include response times, incident resolution times, system uptimes, escalation procedures, communication channels, performance metrics, and more.
Steps to Get Started with Managed Services
To get the full benefit of working with an MSP, you should assess your business needs. This includes identifying pain points and areas for improvement and prioritizing critical functions for outsourcing.
You can leverage NRI’s expertise in managed IT services to ensure seamless integration and ongoing support. We can help you boost efficiency, save money, expand capabilities, and ensure compliance with solutions that come with metrics to review performance.
Contact NRI to learn more about tailored managed services solutions for your business. In uncertain times, it’s good to have a partner you can rely on.
