An IT Support Blog from London

IT support as we know it today looks so vastly different from the traditional break/fix model that businesses used in the past. Several factors have contributed to this evolution: cloud environments, remote workforces, and a steadily increasing array of devices and applications. In addition, organisational leaders and users now have higher expectations when it comes to resolving tech issues. For example, system downtime should be minimised and password resets shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

In today's fast-paced business environment, enterprises of all sizes depend heavily on their IT systems to maintain operations. When these systems fail, the impact is immediately felt—and costly to boot. Recent studies show that the cost of IT downtime is currently estimated at about $9,000 per minute for large enterprises. While smaller companies may face lower direct costs, the relative impact on operations is still something that your business may not be able to handle.

The reality is that organisations can't afford IT disruptions, and this has highlighted the need for efficient and reliable IT support services. Recognising the challenge, many companies are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative solution. AI is revolutionising IT support services by automating repetitive tasks, accelerating problem resolution, and delivering personalised support.

Gone are the days when IT support was just considered a convenience. Today, it’s a lifeline for most organisations. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) especially, quick resolution of tech issues, timely software updates, and prompt response to network troubles are no longer optional. These are essential for keeping things running smoothly. Reliable IT support ensures that employees stay productive, systems remain secure, and businesses adapt to an increasingly digital world.

But here’s the catch, though. Most small enterprises don’t have the resources for a full in-house IT team. That’s where remote IT support services, usually contracted through managed services providers, can come in and provide valuable tech expertise. In this blog post, we dive in and discuss how you can ensure your remote support strategy can contribute most effectively to your success.

Technology is the backbone of your business – but it’s also increasingly complex. From cloud vendors through to AI tools, many businesses lack the knowledge to fully support their internal IT systems, and to manage vendor relations.

That’s why companies turn to a group of internal and external experts to help them keep their IT in tip top shape.

The brunt of COVID19 has come and gone, but some adaptive approaches implemented at the height of the pandemic remain in its aftermath. Responding to employees’ preference of working from anywhere, many organisations are continuing remote work and/or hybrid work arrangements for suitable roles and duties. Remote IT support for instance, is one service that can be performed optimally with the right tools and solutions. 

Whether for IT support or other departments, the remote work setup has been a welcome move for many employees. But it has also opened up many challenges for IT teams, particularly in the area of cyber security. To address these concerns, enterprises have turned to a proven reliable solution for secure remote work: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI. VDI allows offsite employees to access a virtual desktop environment hosted on a centralised server. This is a more secure alternative than storing data on individual devices, thus keeping sensitive information off personal laptops and desktops.

The sweeping adoption of technology has paved the way for the rapid escalation of cyber threats. From small businesses to large corporations, no organisation is immune to the dangers of IT security attacks. In the UK alone, there have been 9,478 publicly disclosed data breach incidents involving almost thirty-six million records from January to April of this year. Cybercrimes like these could result in devastating financial losses and reputational damage. They could even target critical infrastructure and endanger a country’s key utility systems.

And make no mistake; cyber criminals are continuing to refine their tactics in order to gain larger financial rewards. This is why all aspects of a company’s operations should be equipped with the right defences to combat against evolving threats. Traditional IT support, for one, is not enough to prevent attacks, especially given threat actors’ advanced methods of exploiting vulnerabilities. Instead, a more holistic approach—integrating IT support with cybersecurity—is essential to create a robust first line of defence.

Remote work, once a niche concept, exploded in popularity in recent years; and with a particularly big bang after COVID 19. Many of the technological advancements such as email and the internet have been around for decades, but we’ve seen a substantial acceleration in recent years which finally took away many of the biggest hurdles.

While this shift offers flexibility and very many benefits to both employers and employees, it's not without its hurdles. Remote working is popular with employees, but employers often grapple with maintaining productivity. Ensuring data security, and fostering collaboration are also concerns.

Businesses are constantly seeking ways to improve efficiency and elevate the customer experience, and in this regard, artificial intelligence has proven to be transformative. Integrating AI technologies in chatbots, for instance, has allowed organisations to offer instantaneous, round-the-clock assistance to customers. And with predictive analytics, hardware issues are anticipated and resolved before they have a chance to escalate.

It’s certainly not going to stop there. As AI continues to advance, its integration into IT support will continue to set new standards for IT service delivery. In this blog post, we explore five crucial ways where AI technologies are bringing more value to enterprises by offering seamless, secure, and highly-personalised customer support.

Here the benefits of leveraging AI solutions in your organisation’s processes, IT environment, and tech support systems:

From customer communication to internal operations, IT systems are the backbone of business success. But like any essential tool, your IT infrastructure requires regular maintenance to avoid costly malfunctions. Neglecting IT maintenance is like ignoring the oil change in your car – you’ll get away with it for a while, but disaster looms.

Today, the average cost of a single data breach can easily be into the millions (USD 4.45mn on average, according to IBM) – and unplanned downtime can set businesses back thousands of pounds per hour. These are the risks companies face when they ignore the importance of regular IT maintenance.

IT maintenance is just like preventative healthcare for your technology: regular checkups and upkeep help you stay ahead of major breakdowns and ensure smooth operations. Let’s take a look at why regular IT maintenance matters for your business.

Technology is propelling business innovation forward in ways never seen before. For instance,  enterprises are experiencing firsthand the many uses of artificial intelligence. AI today is no longer a futuristic concept but a practical solution that is proving to be valuable in many aspects of corporate operations, particularly in the area of IT support.

Given the huge strides AI has taken in recent years, it’s no surprise that its tangible benefits are felt across IT support in various industries. Artificial intelligence applications are gradually reinventing the way support services are delivered. They automate routine tasks, provide predictive insights, streamline help desk processes, tailor fit user engagements based on past interactions, and more.