managed service provider Archives

May 22, 2017April 27, 2018

Does Outsourcing the Help Desk Make Sense?

Does Outsourcing the Help Desk Make Sense? A Few Quick Tests to Decide…

Working on a task with great efficiency is satisfying. At the end of the day, you know you got a ton accomplished – and it feels rewarding. But nothing makes a person hit a wall faster than technology challenges. Hours and even days of work can be lost in a matter of seconds.

Most companies have a strategy for handling these technical challenges, whether it’s an in-house expert at a small company or an entire team at a large firm. Managing that help desk function, however, can lead to over stressed and overworked employees who are constantly fielding urgent emails and phone calls.

But does outsourcing your IT help desk truly make sense for your organization? Here are a few quick tests to find out.

Efficiency: Do you need more of it?

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of outsourcing the IT help desk function is greater efficiency. When staff get stuck on IT challenges, their productivity grinds to a halt. The state of flow in which they were completing tasks smoothly and easily is quickly disrupted. And only when that technology is up and running will they reach that stride again.

A team that specializes in IT help desk support can get your team up and running faster and minimize downtime. In addition, if your business runs on a traditional 9-to-5 schedule, you may not have help desk support available during non-peak hours. With the rise in people working remotely and in various time zones, this may be problematic when employees need off-hours support. But a partner specializing in the IT help desk function can provide that uninterrupted support.

Specialization: Do you need specific skills, but acquiring that talent is expensive?

Finding the right talent with the precise skills that you need can be difficult, not to mention the challenge of providing competitive compensation and the ongoing investment in training.

Working with a help desk partner shifts those responsibilities and costs away from your pocketbook. The partner handles all the recruiting, hiring, training and ongoing investment in skills, allowing you to get access to the skills you need and stay current with evolving technology trends.

Refocusing: Do you want more time to focus on the core business?

Handling all aspects of IT in-house can spread a company’s resources thin. Using an IT help desk partner, however, can allow for the refocusing of valuable resources and time on business-critical tasks and projects.

As a result, your in-house IT team is relieved of demanding and urgent help desk matters, and can focus on tasks that tie in more closely to your core business, supporting exciting new projects and opportunities.

Do you have questions about the benefits of working with an MSP? If so, we can help. For more information, visit InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.

April 13, 2017April 27, 2018

The Five-Point Checklist for Selecting a Managed Services Provider

The managed services industry is growing at a rapid rate. In fact, it’s expected to grow from roughly $145 billion in 2016 to over $242 billion by 2021.

For those shopping for MSP services, this means one thing: They have more choice than ever before. But how can you be certain that you’re making the right choice?

Here are five factors to consider when selecting your next MSP:

They Ask the Right Questions

An MSP can’t help your business unless they truly invest time to understand your business. What are your goals? What role does technology play in those goals? What challenges are you currently facing? These are just a few of the questions that potential managed services providers should be asking.

The right provider will give you detailed information about what they offer, but they’ll also spend equal amounts of time getting to know your business. Without truly understanding your organization, they can’t manage any part of your IT infrastructure.

Proactive, Technology-Focused Approach

The right managed services provider should go much further than the “break it and fix it” approach and instead implement a proactive approach that minimizes downtime and allows for continual improvement.

For example, what proactive actions do they take to keep the IT infrastructure running smoothly and avoid downtime? How can they help make proactive recommendations for software and upgrades that will proactively prevent potential IT challenges in the future? These factors are key to the success of your business.

Around-the-Clock Support

One reason why small- to medium-sized businesses look to partner with MSPs is that providing 24/7 internal support is tough. Employees are stretched thin already, and this adds another layer of stress. In contrast, a good MSP often provides 24-hour support, 365 days a year.

As a result, your staff can get speedy access to help at any time and keep your infrastructure up and running without fail.

Industry-Specialized Expertise

The right MSP for your company is one who has expertise working in your specific industry. When the support team understands your industry, they can be more proactive than the average MSP. They understand the challenges that other clients in your industry face and can make proactive recommendations that will save money and time long-term.

Great Track Record

What is the MSP’s client retention record? How long do they retain current employees? Do they have high turnover? These are just a few factors that help prove or disprove the track record of an MSP. The right partner should have a solid client and employee retention record and be able to provide the expertise it takes to keep your business running smoothly.

Do you have questions about the benefits of working with an MSP? If so, we can help. For more information, visit InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.

November 27, 2016April 27, 2018

Managed IT Services Benefit Small Businesses

Small businesses face many challenges — among these: maximizing each and every dollar that they spend. Small businesses must keep customers happy while ensuring that employees are maximizing resources and efficiency.

Some small businesses think that managed service providers (MSPs) are only for large businesses, but this isn’t the case. In fact, MSPs can be valuable resources for small businesses that want to grow and thrive in the future.

What are the major benefits of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) for small businesses?

Here are five (5) major benefits of MSPs for small businesses:

Minimized downtime. The cost of downtime is high. In fact, IDC reports the price tag at $137 to $427 per minute. When downtime occurs, business becomes paralyzed; even worse, if customers are adversely affected, the effects could be long-lasting. Working with an MSP allows you to handle issues quickly, and identify and prevent issues before they occur.

Reduced labor costs. Tapping into the required IT skills can be time- consuming and costly. But when using an MSP, you can tap into the exact skills you need quickly, easily and at a fraction of the cost of employing a full-time staff member.

Proactive IT planning. MSPs understand your IT infrastructure inside and out. As a result, they can assist with solving complex challenges and coming up with the right solutions quickly and easily.

Higher ongoing efficiency. Employees are slowed down by technology challenges, which are expensive for small businesses. Small businesses that are working with an MSP provider can focus on what matters most — their core business. The MSP provider handles any glitches and technology challenges quietly in the background.

The ability to control costs. MSPs allow you to pay for only what you use. As a result, you can ensure that costs are predictable and consistent.

Moving Forward with Greater Efficiency

The services that MSPs provide for small businesses aren’t one-size-fits-all. They are tailor-made to fit the unique challenges that small businesses face. If you have questions about the benefits of MSPs for small businesses, we can help. For more information, contact InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.