Now more than ever, business organisations are using technology for a variety of reasons: maintaining operational efficiency, keeping cybersecurity threats at bay, harnessing the value of data, adapting to the evolving workforce, and many more. This means that companies have to ensure that their IT systems and equipment are working as they should at all times.

As technology requirements grow however, the task of keeping everything together—from IT infrastructure to applications to end user devices, is challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises. Most businesses barely have the budget for a dedicated tech personnel, let alone an entire IT team. The good thing is that even if you don’t have a dedicated IT department, you can benefit from the technical expertise and services of one with the help of a managed service provider.

What is a Managed Service Provider?

A Managed Service Provider or MSP is an outsourced third-party company whose services are acquired to perform a defined set of responsibilities for its customers. In the IT industry, the offerings of a managed IT service provider generally include network, infrastructure, security management, and application services.

After an evaluation of a client company’s IT requirements, the MSP may also recommend technologies and services suitable for that company, and may even include specific hardware and software applications as part of their service packages. IT services given by an MSP may be rendered at the client’s location or delivered remotely.

Some common IT functions and projects typically outsourced to MSPs include:

1. Network administration
2. Data centre management
3. Data backup and recovery management
4. Application and software deployment
5. Network security
6. Mobility management
7. IT support

Considering the importance of these services, it’s not surprising that the MSP industry is a rapidly growing one, with the global managed services market valued at USD 161.37 billion in 2021. In the UK, a report indicates that 83 percent of small and medium enterprises use some form of managed service, or IT services London for London-based businesses.

Top 6 Reasons to Use IT Managed Services

A reliable managed IT service provider can offer a number of benefits to businesses. Here are 6 key reasons why you should try managed services:

1. Drives cost savings. The assurance of lower costs is a major benefit of MSP services. Compared to having your own inhouse IT team (a luxury only the largest enterprises can afford) or acquiring break/fix maintenance services each time an equipment breaks down, the services of an MSP would come out significantly cheaper.

   Managed IT services are also priced at fixed monthly rates which can help you plan your IT operating expenses well. Most MSPs offer a set of services and a service level agreement (SLA) for a particular price point. This would allow you to choose the services that you would need the most, while making sure that the costs are well within budget.

2. Ensures better security. Outsourcing your network security management to a trusted IT services London provider, i.e. for UK businesses, helps guarantee that security threats are being monitored by a provider that has the expertise and tools needed for the job.

   MSPs specialising in IT security are also well-versed with compliance requirements, and therefore security standards mandated in regulations such as PCI DSS and GDPR are properly addressed.

3. Boosts scalability. With most companies today maximising e-commerce and given how fast technologies evolve, businesses would sometimes need to scale up their IT resources at a moment’s notice. If your organisation does not have an in-house IT personnel ready to do this, you could lose valuable business opportunities.

   MSP services however, can capably handle scaling of networks and hardware resources which usually require manpower and equipment. They can even proactively evaluate your IT environment and recommend system enhancements to help you better prepare for potential opportunities.

4. Reduces downtime. Issues like equipment breakdown, computer malfunctions, and even power outages can cause significant downtime, which in turn, leads to a breakdown in customer services. Managed IT support services can help prevent this by ensuring that system problems are addressed right away and backup measures are in place.

   MSP services can also be called on to create and implement when needed a business disaster recovery plan (BCDR). This would allow your company to resume operations more quickly after natural calamities or any other disasters that could cause prolonged downtime.

5. Offers a wide range of IT expertise. IT services London, or anywhere else for that matter, are not only limited to regular and routinary functions such as data backup or help desk support. There may be times when your organisation would need to acquire and deploy a new technology or launch a software development project. Without the talent and technical knowledge in-house, you may have to shelve these plans indefinitely.

   An MSP could provide specialised services to help set IT projects in motion. This means you don’t have to have many full time IT employees with different skill sets because you can outsource what you need when you need it from a reliable MSP.

6. Offers a single point of contact for many vendors. If you have data centres with equipment sourced from multiple suppliers, maintaining these hardware pieces especially beyond their warranty period can be expensive and tedious. By having an MSP handle the upkeep of your equipment, you would only need to contact one supplier for any maintenance needs, simplifying the process as well as keeping costs low.

Focus on Your Core Business

IT applications and services would only grow more complex in the coming years. Make things simple by outsourcing your technology needs to a managed services provider. This way, you let the experts do their job while you carry on with yours.