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One of the trickiest decisions facing a business is figuring out how to effectively meet your IT needs for today, tomorrow and the future.
Will outsourcing to a Managed IT provider, hiring in-house IT staff, or a combination of the two be best for your business? If you are struggling with this question, know that you are not alone.
The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this. The best approach is to find an IT solution that tackles your company's tech challenges in the most cost-effective way. From what I've seen, there are four common issues businesses face that suggest hiring a Managed IT provider could be the perfect fit. Let's dive into those!
- You Need a Better Cybersecurity Plan
- Specialized IT Staff is Hard to Hire
- IT Infrastructure and Applications Should be Updated on a Regular Basis
- Your IT Budget Needs More Predictable Costs
You Need a Better Cybersecurity Plan
Building, implementing and managing a complete cybersecurity plan needs to be a priority for every business owner who values their data, brand image and client trust. Similar to outsourcing legal, accounting or payroll services, cybersecurity requires expertise, tools and 24/7 monitoring to ensure an effective risk mitigation strategy.
A multilayered cybersecurity strategy is best. Tools like security awareness training, a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution, and Dark Web monitoring are essential. Advanced endpoint detection and a disaster recovery plan also play crucial roles. These tools need to work in concert with each other for the investments to reach their true value.
Specialized IT Staff is Hard to Hire
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computer and information technology employment will grow much faster than the average for all other occupations. Even more importantly, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations is currently $56,000 higher than the median salary for all other American jobs.
Many companies have difficulty hiring and retaining staff trained in specialized IT fields. For small- to medium-sized businesses, this pain can be even greater. Demand for workers in IT fields stem from a growing emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data and cybersecurity.
However, if you work with a Managed IT provider, they will handle those staffing issues for you by retaining a team of experts no SMB could afford to hire full-time. And because these experts serve multiple companies, they will likely have a broader range of experience than any in-house IT person.
IT Infrastructure and Applications Should be Updated on a Regular Basis
Here is a list of the most common software updates a company needs to run regularly:
- Operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android
- Advanced endpoint protection, antivirus and security software
- Browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox and Opera
- Server, PC and infrastructure hardware
- Applications that run your business, like Microsoft Office or Quick Books
Having a software update strategy is crucial to reduce your cybersecurity risk. Your strategy should include details on when you will check for updates, how the updates will be pushed out, who will be in charge of keeping your software up to date and where documentation will be kept after updates are completed.
Timely installation of software patches and bug fixes is crucial for a business and its cybersecurity health. Without this key step, your business could be vulnerable to known cyberthreats. Don’t take that chance.
Your IT Budget Needs More Predictable Costs
If you tend to overspend your IT budget, just to meet the needs of your business, working with a Managed IT provider may be the ideal solution.
Many businesses are using a “break-fix” model to estimate the financial amount of their IT needs. Using this model, service is called when systems malfunction. Initially, you may think that this is an economic model that will save money for your company. Sometimes it does, but typically only in the short run.
The reality is that waiting until something breaks before fixing it could be very costly. Oftentimes the original problem ends up being compounded. Sometimes, exponentially.
For example, without a cybersecurity plan that includes employee phishing attack awareness training and multi-factor authentication to access company data – you are putting your company at greater risk for a costly ransomware attack. Because to calculate the true cost of IT for this example, you’ll need to factor in more than just the cost of correcting the problem. Be sure to include the amount of operational time lost and the effect of stolen data on your business’s reputation.
A proactive approach focused on problem solving and prevention is best. And in my interactions with clients, I’ve seen this approach save money and allow for more predictable annual budgeting.
Is Your Business Ready for Managed IT?
Read to learn more about the difference between a “break-fix” IT model and a proactive problem solving approach? Download our infographic, Traditional IT vs. Technology Management and find out. We’ll show you a side-by-side comparison of the most critical areas of technology: IT strategy, security, solutions and support.
