With the majority of a business’s data housed digitally, it’s no wonder that managed IT services are becoming popular. 59 percent of IT services have transitioned from traditional break-fix model to managed services. SMBs are finding managed IT services to be a necessity as their business and their data output increases.

A managed IT service provider takes control of a business’ IT, including cloud services, cybersecurity, and network maintenance, that the business may not have available staff or expertise to handle. By choosing an MSP over an in-house department, you are trusting that company with your data and resources. With that in mind, it’s difficult to decide whether contracting services is worth the risk.

Pros of Managed IT Services

Monitoring and Disaster Recovery

Managed IT services are monitoring your system 24 hours a day. Hardware, applications, security and the internet are constantly and consistently watched. That way, the MSP is aware if there are any abnormalities or issues. Their team can get ahead of the problem and remedy it, either preventing issues altogether or fixing them in an efficient manner. On average, it takes companies over 200 days to detect a security breach.Conversely, an MSP will be vigilant with cyber threats so that your data and network always stay safe and secure.

MSPs are prepared for disaster recovery and constantly monitor those systems as well. If any catastrophe strikes your business, it will be up and running faster with an MSP. Even if a disaster were to strike the MSPs, they are monitoring constantly for issues that can be eradicated and have back-ups for instances of natural disaster. With 140,000 hard drives in the US crashing every week, you have peace of mind knowing that MSPs are prepared.

New Technology & Knowledgeable MSP Technicians

When you have a contract with an MSP, your technology is continuously monitored. While an in-house IT department may not have the budget or the training time to set aside for the latest technology, an MSP can easily implement technology to help move your business forward. A flat (unchanging) monthly amount ensures your network operating systems are up-to-date and running smoothly.

An MSP is made up of engineers who are able to customize their services that meets your specific needs, taking into consideration everything that touches your network. The MSP keeps up with cutting-edge IT, ultimately helping improve or maintain productivity (no down-times) within budget and timeframe. In-house IT departments generally cannot leverage the same skill-sets available to an MSP; they need more resources (time, money) to be able to stay abreast of new technologies, keeping current with how to leverage those technologies for your company’s efficiencies and improvements. Meanwhile, an MSP staff comes fully trained and knowledgeable,with no disruptions to your business. Neteffect Technologies’ Help Desk services will provide your company reliable support, thorough communication, and increased productivity, resulting in an increase in the bottom line. It’s not just the IT department that benefits by using an MSP. The entire organization can ”feel” when the technology is keeping the operation performing optimally, just as they know when they do not have the skill-sets and resources necessary and have to suffer from down-time and/or lack of disaster recovery back-ups that work in a short time-frame.

Managed IT Services Lower Cost

Building your own in-house IT department can be extremely costly. In addition, there are the added costs of IT staff that goes beyond salaries, such as maintenance of certificates, continual training to keep up with the latest technology advances, and don’t forget about the office space that staffing requires. When budgeting for an IT staff, a business owner must also consider the expenses of monitoring, disaster recovery, and a ticketing system, not to mention the costs of a downtime in the event of a failure.

An MSP, on the other hand, provides the security of continual monitoring, the knowledge base of multi-system trained engineers, all the while significantly reducing the possibility of network downtime, therefore saving your business money that might otherwise be lost. MSPs can work with your budget to get you what you need. You are paying one monthly bill, and there won’t be any unexpected technology updates or training sessions to pay for.

Easy Deployment and Scalability

Managed IT Services alleviate the need to hire, train, and house internal resources. There is no staff to hire or train, and no maintenance team needed. MSPs are scalable. If there is a busy time of year where more bandwidth is needed, or perhaps you need to scale down because of market and/or productivity slow downs, you can fluctuate your system accordingly. This way your budget is kept in line and your network is able to grow with your company.

Cons of Managed IT Services

Trusting the Reliability of a Managed Service Provider

Maybe you are afraid of being left out of the loop on your own business. Smart business owners and IT Managers vet their prospective Managed Services Provider. Start with their website. Does it look professional. Do they have a social following? Do they have a BBB rating? Ask potential providers for references, and make sure to call the references with detailed questions. With proper research of managed service providers, you can find an MSP that understands your business, communicates well with you, and has a strong, reputable background to alleviate your fears.

Less Flexibility in Service

You may find that with some MSPs, their specific offerings are not a good fit for your specific needs. This can result in paying for something that isn’t ideal for your business. Consider asking prospective providers specific questions when making your decision. Ask them about their response time, what they monitor on your network, and make certain they provide proactive support and familiarize yourself with their different levels of services available.

Take time to look over different service providers and what they offer. MSPs, such as neteffect technologies, customize comprehensive solutions for your specific business. They strategize along with you to most efficiently solve any obstacle you encounter. There are many advantages to using a managed service provider. They are budget-friendly, constantly monitoring your system and easy to scale. With 60 percent of companies going out of business after a data disaster, MSPs can keep your business on track and running.