In 2020, the global managed services market was worth an estimated $223 billion. Come 2025; experts project this to grow to a staggering $329.1 billion.
Those figures prove how big the information technology (IT) support market has become. One of the top contributors to this growing demand is the rise in e-commerce and remote work. More educational institution also relies on IT and HP support services to deploy virtual classrooms.
If you’re a business owner, you may be wondering if outsourcing IT services is a smart idea. Yes, it definitely is, and we’re here to tell you all about their top benefits. Read on to discover just how managed IT services can help your business flourish and succeed.
Table of Contents
1. A Team of IT Professionals at Your Disposal
Most providers of dedicated managed IT services are teams comprised of IT professionals. Thus, hiring a dedicated IT support company means you have access to multiple experts. These experts, in turn, specialize in different areas, from installation to disaster recovery.
Dedicated IT support firms employ IT technicians and computer and network repair experts. They have systems administrators, hardware and software engineers, and cybersecurity experts. Some even have website developers, data scientists, and app developers!
So hiring a dedicated IT support company gives you access to a more extensive knowledge base. Think of them as your one-stop shop for everything IT, be it for network installation or PC repairs. You can even request them to develop specific apps or software for your business.
By contrast, creating an in-house IT team means you have to hire different IT experts. Depending on your needs, you may have to employ several of at least 21 different IT workers. Some of these include IT support specialists, computer programmers, and system administrators.
2. Lower Hiring Costs
The cost of managed IT support services depends on the services included in the contract. In most cases, providers charge on a per-head, per-project, or per-month basis. You’d pay only for the services rendered and the number of users who received such services.
Suppose you only need services to protect your business from cybersecurity risks. Let’s also say that your entire team consists of 10 members whom you’d want to safeguard. In this case, you’d only pay for the services given by an IT security support firm to 10 users.
By contrast, hiring an in-house IT team means paying their salaries regardless of the work they do. Now, keep in mind that the median salary of a computer user support specialist in the US is more than $52,000 a year. On the other hand, the median wage for a computer network specialist is over $65,000 a year.
That means you’d shell out at least $117,000 a year on just the salaries of these two in-office IT workers! That’s why in-house IT teams are often impractical for SMBs. Managed IT support services may be a better choice, as they’re flexible and scalable.
3. Reduce IT-Related Downtimes
A report found that almost one in four SMBs have already experienced being offline. More than a third of these businesses revealed that they lost customers due to IT downtime. The majority of these organizations also lost at least $10,000 because of IT issues.
An IT support firm can help you keep downtimes at bay with preventative maintenance. These include updating outdated infrastructures, aging technology, and dated software. The IT pros will also tell you if you have old hardware that requires replacement ASAP.
You can also expect your IT team to provide real-time monitoring of IT equipment and networks. Today’s managed IT service providers can catch potential issues remotely. Thanks to this, they can carry out the steps to prevent your IT system from breaking in the first place.
4. Safeguard Your Assets From Cyber Crimes
Experts estimate cybercrime damages to reach $6 trillion in 2021 and $10.5 trillion in 2025. What’s more, businesses victimized by cybercriminals can expect to lose customers. Nearly six in 10 consumers say they’re likely to avoid victimized companies.
Regardless of the size of your business, it’s in the crosshair of cybercriminals. They don’t discriminate; they target anyone with a digital presence. That includes the smallest organizations, even micro-businesses.
Businesses that get hit by cybercrimes may also face legal liabilities. This can occur if the crime’s effects extend to their clients, such as in the case of data breaches. Their affected clients can then sue them, and businesses can lose if they were in any way negligent.
One of the smartest ways to protect your business and assets is to hire cybersecurity pros. They’ll look for IT vulnerabilities that can put your assets at a security risk. From there, they can deploy appropriate measures to safeguard your business and clients.
5. Fewer IT Troubles Equate to More Efficient Operation
When any part of your IT system breaks down, it creates a domino effect affecting your entire team. For example, if one of your business PCs breaks down, those who use that PC will be unable to work. At the very least, members may turn in their work late, and if that’s part of a project, the whole project can get delayed.
Now, keep in mind that a world-class IT support team doesn’t only fix what’s broken; they prevent IT troubles. The IT experts’ job is to enable your team to work without impediment. By keeping your IT system in tip-top condition, your team can focus on doing outstanding work.
6. Reduced Work-Related Stress
In the US alone, more than four in five workers experience work-related stress. Employers, in turn, lose about $300 billion a year due to workplace stress.
Defective equipment, which includes faulty IT systems, is a top cause of work stress. Think about it: if your PC won’t run or connect to the internet, won’t that make you feel stressed? It likely will, as it can bring your productivity down and also impact your other tasks.
That’s why, in a way, having a reliable IT support team can ease some of these workplace stresses. So, do yourself and your employees a favor by ensuring they can work without encountering IT woes.
Start Reaping the Benefits of IT Support Services Today
As you can see, IT support services bring a lot to the table, from lower costs to greater productivity. They also have the added benefit of helping reduce workplace stress. All these can then help contribute to your business’ increased profitability.
So, as early as today, start looking for a reputable managed IT service provider.
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