IT operations have become an integral part of business ecosystems today. Regardless of their size and scale, organizations need to have proper IT infrastructure, applications and processes in place. In addition to ensuring seamless operations, the system supports a business during its evolutionary stages and gives it a competitive advantage as well. The biggest question that organizations often face when it comes to the implementation of these systems is whether they should have an in-house IT team or outsource the services of a managed service provider (MSP).
Certainly, there is strong evidence favoring the second alternative. The fact that a large number of businesses are already embracing this approach says enough about its efficacy. Managed service providers offer scalability, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness for businesses struggling with IT barriers. If you are still wondering whether you should collaborate with a managed service provider, here are some indications that suggest you must do it sooner rather than later.
You have no IT strategy
Every business requires a long-term IT plan to stay relevant and competitive. The strategy needs to extend beyond the daily mundane tasks and focus on growth objectives. You may have a team of specialists to look after the everyday operations but they may not be capable of planning for the long run. Basically, you will need better infrastructure, along with the integration of custom-built software solutions to give your business tech revamp. Further, the strategy has to include tactics to manage risks and reduce the chances of security breaches and data loss. If you cannot trust your in-house team to handle the same, collaborating with a managed service partner makes sense.
You are understaffed
You will need to outsource if your in-house team does not have specialized skills. But the reason could be as simple as not having enough manpower. Even basic IT maintenance can be a lot of work. It can sap your IT department’s energy, particularly when you have a small team to manage the needs of a big workforce. Hiring an MSP definitely is a smart decision if you want to leave your resources free to handle strategic endeavors and in-house projects rather than be occupied with mundane tasks.
You are serious about cost savings
Relying constantly on your internal team to manage the system can translate into the major cost. It may even lead to wastage of time and resources if they do not have specific skills and experience to handle complex issues. Why not just switch to managed service providers that offer predictable pricing and experience extensive cost savings? Every single dollar spent on their services often turns out to be worthwhile because you end up saving in more than one way. Whether it is infrastructure planning or set up, maintenance, upgrades, security or data recovery, they cover all these aspects and do it cost-effectively as well.
You cannot seem to keep up with security demand
Cybersecurity is paramount for businesses these days, considering the importance of data privacy and the growing number of security incidents. If you are not confident enough about facing these threats, it is time to outsource an MSP right now. They offer 24/7 management and monitoring for your system and applications. Further, they also provide access to the latest anti-virus software and ensure that all the firewalls and applications are updated. So your security risks will be reduced to practically negligible.
You experience downtime more often than expected
Downtime is one of the biggest concerns for any organization because it causes a loss of revenues. Your team stays idle and there is wastage of man-hours. Further, there are availability issues during outages, which lead to returning customers and lost sales. Obviously, you would not want it to happen at all. If you experience downtime more often than expected, it is time to hand over your IT system to a managed service provider. With their experience and strategy, they will ensure that downtime never happens.
Your efficiency is not impressive
Are your employees complaining about your IT networks? Is your helpdesk flooded with unattended requests? Are the users not happy about your communication services? These signs indicate a lag in your performance and efficiency. Partnering with an MSP is the best approach because you will have specialists at work for clearing these bottlenecks and getting your system back on its feet.
You may be tempted to leave your IT requirements to your in-house team just to save up some dollars. But this is the last thing that you should do because you may end up with bigger issues that will take more time and money to be resolved. An MSP, conversely, gives you the confidence, flexibility, and scalability to operate seamlessly and supplement your staff as needed.
