Unless your business is in IT, you probably didn’t start it expecting to spend your day fixing computer problems. For many smaller businesses, IT issues can be disruptive and they may not have the resources to be able to employ a technician in-house to solve them.
Outsourcing your support so that you have someone you can call on for a range of different IT issues is, therefore, going to help you focus on your core business, but there are other benefits to be had from outsourcing too.
Improved Security
These days all businesses are at risk from cybersecurity threats, not just the larger ones. Attackers know that smaller organisations can’t afford to spend as much on securing their systems and they can, therefore, be specifically targeted.
A misconfigured server or out of date security program could leave your business vulnerable, so turning to an outsourced support team can ensure that you have access to security expertise that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. There’s a worldwide shortage of cybersecurity talent which means that people with the right skills are expensive to recruit and difficult to retain.
Not only that, but attacks are becoming more sophisticated and so keeping up with the security ‘arms race’ is ever more complex. Having experts you can rely on offers you additional peace of mind.
Greater expertise
A good IT support company will have people who are experienced in a wide range of systems. This means that they should be able to solve most day-to-day problems and that they will know where to turn should they encounter something that needs more expert knowledge.
Having extra expertise available when it’s needed helps ensure a better service. For you, this means that issues will be resolved faster and with less downtime, helping to keep your business on track. Even if you do have an in-house technician or two, outsourcing can be a useful supplement to your team, providing backup, reassurance and extra knowledge, as well as cover for holidays and sickness.
Disaster planning
We are increasingly reliant on our IT systems and while we don’t like to think of the effects of a fire, flood or cyber attack that could wipe out our servers, it’s important to plan for the worst. Here again, an outsourced support team can help you to ensure that your data is backed up and to get your business back on track as soon as possible following a disaster.
Cost control
Aside from the technical issues, one of the biggest benefits to outsourcing your IT support is the greater control that it gives you over your costs. With an in-house IT team, you not only have to recruit and pay someone, but you also need to make sure that their skills are kept up to date. You then have the costs associated with repairing and replacing equipment as needed.
With outsourcing, you have a controllable monthly expense and your service level agreement should give you a clear picture as to any extras you may need to pay for, such as in the event of equipment failure. This gives you better control over your financial planning and means that you won’t get any unexpected expenses.
It helps your productivity too, because the faster IT problems are resolved, the less time you will lose, allowing staff to focus on their primary roles.
Ultimately this brings us back to the point we made at the start. Outsourcing IT support allows you to concentrate on your core business and making sure your products and services are as good as you can make them, without having to worry about your systems.
If you are looking to outsource or already have an IT provider, then give Cloudworks a call. We are specialists in cloud technologies, cyber-security and support. In addition, we continuously monitor our clients IT cloud infrastructure to ensure they are secure and protected against the latest threats. Give us a call to find out more and we will find the best strategy and solution to fit your business.
Call us on 0115 824 8244 or email info@cloudworks.co.uk