Top 10 benefits of managed IT services

The majority of modern organisations rely heavily on technology. It’s the backbone of every successful business – enabling them to streamline operations, enhance productivity and stay competitive. But with technology evolving so quickly, it’s easy to find yourself in a whirlwind trying to keep up with the pace of innovation. Managed service providers like ITVET provide a crucial strategic partnership to help you stay ahead of the technology curve.

Are you thinking about outsourcing your IT? This article explores the 10 benefits of managed IT services to help guide your decision.

IT managed services definition

IT managed services allow you to offload your IT tasks to a third-party vendor, known as a managed services provider (MSP), for a predictable monthly cost. MSPs offer the technical skills and expertise required to manage day-to-day IT operations. This covers a wide range of services from IT support and service desk delivery to cloud services, cyber security, communications, connectivity and more.

Why you need managed IT services

Having a robust IT infrastructure has become a strategic necessity. But with technology changing in the blink of an eye, relying on your in-house IT team may no longer be sufficient. Partnering with an MSP like ITVET could be a game changer for your business. Managed services enable companies to continuously optimise and maintain their IT infrastructure to ensure smooth business operations and gain a competitive advantage.  

According to PwC high-performing companies are 4.2 times more likely to use MSPs for strategic advantage. This enables them to accelerate their time to market and boost innovation to deliver significant revenue growth.  

Advantages of managed IT services

1. Cost efficiency

One of the key advantages of managed IT services is that it’s a cost-effective solution for all your IT needs.

• Cheaper than hiring a full-time team – Managed IT services are more cost effective than hiring, training and retaining an in-house IT team.
  
• Access to cost savings – MSPs can negotiate better deals with their partners and suppliers to help optimise your IT spending.
  
• Avoids costly downtime – MSPs offer proactive monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential issues, helping you avoid costly disruptions and unplanned expenses.
  
• Predictable budgeting – IT managed services offer predictable monthly costs, allowing businesses to budget more effectively. With a fixed monthly fee you have better cost control, allowing you to optimise your budget and allocate resources more effectively. This helps you to maintain financial stability and avoid unexpected financial burdens.

2. Single point of contact

Keeping track of multiple vendors can be challenging. MSPs converge all your IT services, giving you a single, reliable point of contact. They liaise with all third-party vendors on your behalf, streamlining communication and ensuring faster issue resolution times.

3. Minimise downtime

According to recent research, the average cost of downtime has grown to about £4,000 per minute. Managed services take a proactive approach with regular monitoring and maintenance of your systems to prevent issues before they disrupt your business. This helps minimise downtime to keep your business running smoothly and avoid significant financial setbacks.

4. Increase employee efficiency and productivity

In a new era of remote working, solid, functioning technology has become more important than ever. Utilising up-to-date technology that’s fully supported can increase employee productivity by a staggering 37%. Managed services can provide your business with a robust remote access architecture and ensure that your employees have the right set-up to enable them to work efficiently.

5. Enhance cyber security

A cyber breach can destroy your reputation overnight, causing a huge loss of revenue. For this reason, cyber security should be a top priority for every business regardless of size. But with cyber threats continuing to grow in complexity, managing cyber security in-house can be challenging.

IT teams are often spread too thinly and lack the resources to keep up with new threats while managing their day-to-day tasks. Managed IT services can take the weight off your IT team and help you stay ahead of threats. MSPs offer specialised expertise, industry-leading solutions and around-the-clock monitoring to keep your business safe and give you complete peace of mind.

6. Fill your skills gap

Keeping up with the latest technology can be tough. Your in-house team may lack the experience and expertise to meet all your IT needs. As new technology emerges it’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill the skills gap.

Swamped with the day-to-day demands of the role, in-house IT teams lack the time and resources to upskill. And the cost of hiring and training new employees is too high. The training alone is more than £1500 per employee! Then there’s the ongoing IT talent shortage to contend with.

Managed IT services are a great way to get the skills and expertise you need without the hassle of recruiting in-house specialists. There’s usually a degree of flexibility so you can add or remove specialists from your arrangement depending on your requirements.

Focus on core business goals

The responsibilities of the IT team are growing. Gone are the days when all they had to manage was hardware and software maintenance, troubleshooting and network management. Today’s IT teams are busier than ever with countless devices, cloud services, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and expanded remote access requirements.

IT teams can’t do it all. As your technology needs grow you might need to supplement your in-house team with managed IT services. This frees up your IT team from day-to-day IT tasks and enables them to focus on more strategic tasks aligned with your core business goals.

Access to the latest technology

Businesses struggling to keep up with the pace of technology innovation may find themselves with outdated hardware and software. This can lead to vulnerabilities and poor efficiency, opening the door to a host of issues.

With managed IT services, you have constant access to the latest technology, ensuring your IT infrastructure is always secure and optimised for performance. The cost of upgrades is rolled into your monthly MSP fee, so you don’t need to worry about your technology becoming outdated. On top of that ongoing maintenance and support are all included in your single, monthly cost.

Enhance scalability

As your technology needs evolve, you may need to scale your IT operations to keep up with the pace of change. Managed IT services enable you to scale quickly and efficiently to meet your needs. This unlocks endless opportunities, ensuring you stay secure and competitive.

Maintain compliance

Companies across all industries must comply with a range of data protection and privacy regulations and requirements. Equipped with expertise and knowledge of the regulatory landscape, MSPs can help businesses navigate these complex frameworks.

MSPs offer valuable support to help you achieve compliance with industry standards and best practices including GDPR, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials and more. They also provide ongoing monitoring and management to maintain compliance levels over time, helping you avoid legal penalties and reputational damage.

How much do managed IT services cost?

Managed IT services are tailored to your exact business needs and cost less than hiring an in-house team. The cost varies and depends on a range of factors such as the type of service, company size and the level of expertise you require. For more information on managed services pricing contact our team today for a free no obligation quote.

How to choose a managed services provider

• Service level agreements – Check the service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure they align with your business requirements.
  
• Cyber security practices – The managed services provider should prioritise cyber security and employ robust measures to protect your network, systems and data.
  
• Exceptional customer service – Customer service is a crucial aspect to consider as you need an MSP that’s reliable and responsive to ensure minimal disruption to your business.
  
• Quality assurance processes – Check that the MSP follows robust quality assurance processes to ensure the delivery of a consistent high-quality service.
  
• Proven track record – Every MSP will tell you they’re the best in the business. Don’t just take their word for it. Look at client testimonials and reviews to see what people say.

Unlock the benefits of managed IT services with ITVET

Leverage these 10 benefits of managed IT services with ITVET as your trusted tech partner. With our extensive expertise and tools, we can help make the most of your IT infrastructure, ensuring your business runs smoothly and efficiently.

Every business requires robust IT infrastructure, but keeping your IT estate running optimally is time-consuming. No company can go it alone. Successful businesses team up with managed service providers to close talent gaps and keep pace with innovation. Contact us today to find out more about our fully managed IT services.