Outsourcing managed IT services - what are the pros and cons?

Reduced labor & infrastructure costs:

Outsourcing IT to managed service providers helps businesses save on hiring and training IT professionals, as well as infrastructure expenses. By leveraging the experience and existing resources of the provider, organizations can significantly reduce upfront and ongoing costs.

No nasty surprises:

Managing IT assets in-house can lead to unexpected costs, but managed service providers offer arrangements with fixed monthly costs. This eliminates the worry of unpredictable expenses and provides financial stability.

Compliance made easy:

Staying compliant with ever-changing laws and regulations can be challenging, especially for organizations operating in multiple territories. Managed service providers specialize in navigating privacy and security regulations, ensuring businesses remain compliant and avoid legal complications and fines.

Scalability:

Outsourcing managed services allows businesses to easily scale their infrastructure and personnel according to their evolving needs. The burden of managing the expense of ramping up or down is shifted to the managed service provider.

Focus on core objectives:

By offloading mundane IT maintenance and repair activities to a managed services provider, internal IT teams can focus on strategic business activities that drive growth and innovation.

24/7 support:

Managed service providers offer round-the-clock support, relieving businesses from the need to maintain an expensive internal support team. The shared service provision further reduces cost burdens.

Leveraging latest technologies:

Keeping up with rapidly evolving technologies can be costly, requiring continuous hiring and training. Managed service providers stay up to date with the latest technologies and bring the necessary expertise to implement and manage them efficiently.

Proaction not reaction:

Managed service providers proactively monitor and maintain systems remotely, using remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools. This approach allows them to identify and address issues before they escalate, minimizing downtime and maximizing system availability.

Staying competitive:

Outsourcing IT needs to a managed services provider enables small and mid-size enterprises to access the same level of technical support and expertise as their larger counterparts. This levels the playing field and enhances their competitive position.

Should you outsource your IT to a Managed Services Provider?

If you are considering outsourcing your IT needs, here’s a checklist to help you make an informed decision:

  • Are you currently dealing with IT infrastructure issues?
  • Do you find yourself frequently dealing with these issues?
  • Is your in-house IT team struggling to effectively resolve these issues?
  • Have these issues impacted your clients or business operations?
  • How often do you seek external help to address IT issues?
  • What are the costs associated with external service providers compared to a managed services provider?
  • Do you have the time and resources to focus on IT management while also managing your core business?

If you answered yes to multiple questions above, it’s clear that partnering with a managed services provider is a logical choice for your organization.