We need to have a conversation about why you should invest in managed IT services, so grab your vanilla-pumpkin-spice latte and let’s get crackin’.
OK, I’m Listening. What’s Managed IT, Though?
Managed IT services are IT services you buy rather than take care of in-house. A Managed Service Provider (MSP) will handle your IT infrastructure, support, and procedures for you so that you can focus on the thing you’re actually in business for. You’ll pay a flat monthly fee, depending on the level and breadth of services you’d like, and there’s usually a service level agreement that clarifies your MSP’s responsibilities and responsiveness.
The good MSPs will work hand-in-slippery-hand with you to create the blend of IT services that’s right for you.
Already Got IT People? You Still Need Managed IT
You might be thinking, “We don’t need managed IT services because we got Dave and Kira doing it.” But we bet Dave and Kira would sell their souls for a bit of managed IT support, because they’re human and tend to enjoy weekends, vacations, and not having a stress rash from constantly monitoring your infrastructure. Managed IT can free up Dave and Kira from the endless and distracting IT tasks so they can focus on the strategic stuff that’ll actually make the business more profitable and mature (and have weekends free to go surfing or whatever it is they do). And, if overworked and overwhelmed Dave and Kira up and leave, you’re screwed without a managed IT firm to fall back on for help. Outsourced IT services mean never having to put the time, money, effort, and teeth-gnashing into recruitment.
4 Legit Reasons to Invest in Managed IT Services
We’re an MSP and this is our blog, so it stands to reason we’re biased as fudgecookies. Yes, of course you should invest in managed IT services, preferably with us so we can be friends (we think we are pretty fun friends to have, but again, biased as fudgecookies). But, we’re also embarrassingly honest (ask any of our lovely clients), so here’s our take on the advantages of managed IT over in-house support. By the way, we’re not dissing in-house people – often we work with in-house heroes to reduce their workload and help them focus on strategic tasks that grow the business.
1. Breadth of Services and Expertise
Behind the shiny facade of your MSP’s website sits a team of professional, experienced humans that, between them, usually have a scary range of IT expertise and experience. This means you’ll have access to know-how that your in-house team may not have and might be drooling for. Your MSP’s smörgåsbord could include:
- 24/7 monitoring and managing of your IT infrastructure to prevent breaches and outages.
- Managed cloud services, including backups, storage, servers, and analytics.
- Managed data security, including malware and virus protection, cloud single sign on, DNS and web filtering, and phishing training.
- Handling user accounts and lost password fun.
- Fleet management: your favorite and ours–mobile device management, including laptop logistics as well as automated onboarding and offboarding.
- A helpdesk for troubleshooting, preferably a friendly and responsive one. (Like ours).
- IT strategy consulting.
- Special projects, such as network installations and office moves, or gap remediation if you’re shooting for cyber compliance accreditation.
You’ll also find MSPs who specialize in IT for businesses in different industries and sectors or at different stages of growth, e.g., start-ups. You’ll feel heard and they will complete you. So much so that you might even want to buy them a ring.
2. All the Tools
A decent MSP will bristle with all the licenses, tools, set-ups, and thingamajigs all ready to deploy to get you up and running quickly. Updates and upgrades are super-easy and you’ll get the benefits of new tech stuff as it develops. You won’t have to evaluate the four dozen vendors in every technology domain, pore over licensing agreements and technical manuals, and then fret about how to keep the tools running once they’re operational: Your MSP already knows how to do this utilizing best practices, and can get it done starting Day One.
3. Time and Cost Savings
MSP services are especially cuddly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) because SMBs can enjoy up-to-the-nanosecond IT services and tech without paying out big bucks for capital infrastructure and ongoing maintenance. And, with an outsourced IT team, they’ll:
- Save you money on salaries, benefits, and training costs.
- Eliminate the need for real estate to house an in-house team.
- Free up line management and HR people who might otherwise get roped into the IT fray.
MSP costs are usually charged at a flat fee per month, perhaps per user or per service, but it’ll be easy to understand, easy to budget for, and also flexible. A flat monthly fee usually comes out as a lot less than the costs of hiring in-house IT pros, paying their annual wages and benefits, and licensing all the infrastructure tools required for them to do their jobs: Your MSP’s flat fee provides all of these things pre-baked, not half-baked.
4. Speed and Scalability
If you’re pole-vaulting up the Series XYZ funding levels like a mountain goat on crack, you’ll likely need a kiloton of new hires with lashings of SOC 2 compliance, like, last week. This is when you fall on your scabby knees and thank the gods of venture capitalism that you hired a good MSP, because they’ll sort it for you. Scalability is not an issue when you need to onboard everyone in Oregon, because automated onboarding is an MSP thing and it scales. Whether you’re scaling up, down, or sideways, you’ll have the flexibility without the panic. MSPs future-proof your IT requirements, whatever the future throws at you.
And you’re not stuck with your MSP. If they suck, it’s easy to get rid of them, especially if they offer month-to-month contracts like we do.
Is It Time to Stick Your Toe Into Managed IT Services?
Probably not literally, but maybe figuratively. The entire Ignition team (including Cyan’s dog Dax) is shouting “YES” to investing in managed IT services, and not just because more clients for us means we can afford Dax’s fancy treats. It’s because we’ll have another business to make cry happy tears. And, spoiler alert, with us you’re not getting a one-size-fits-all-that-really-fits-nobody service (super common in this industry) because we sweat bamboo shoots to properly understand your business and where you want IT to take it.
So, take our slippery hand and discover how our ever-so-good-even-though-we-say-it-ourselves managed IT services can help your business fly higher, faster, and further. We mean it, though. Call us.
Ignition is Silicon Valley’s best (and friendliest) IT security, compliance, and support team. Contact us today–chatting about IT support and cybersecurity is our favorite thing to do!