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Whether you’re a business executive or a seasoned IT pro, working with a managed services consultant can make your job easier. When effectively executed, a Managed Service (MS) is like gaining the capability of an IT Department with the expertise of experienced professionals to offer focused application operations to the company’s business application users.

What does a managed IT services consultant do, and how can they benefit your company? This article will tackle what managed IT services are and how consultants can help your business grow.

What are Managed IT Services?

What does a managed IT services consultant do?

Managed IT services are any information technology service and support managed by an outside consultant through cloud-based software. They often provide round-the-clock system monitoring, proactive support, and prompt troubleshooting and repair services—often before the in-house team realizes an issue.

Examples of managed IT support services include:

•              Monitoring and managing your network remotely.

•              Providing managed video conferencing options.

•              Other teamwork tools.

They also involve server maintenance, cloud storage, handling virtual machines, and various cybersecurity strategies and approaches.

Having one consultant manage all such services can lessen costs and increase your peace of mind that the systems will work when needed.

What Does a Managed IT Services Consultant Do?

A managed IT services consultant can help with a wide variety of services. Your business should choose services based on assessing your existing processes and identifying weak points and areas where ROI would benefit your company.

Some services that are well-known among businesses include:

• Cloud Managed Services and Cloud Migration. Many older firms partner with MSPs to move functionality and data from legacy systems to the cloud, allowing for real-time access to information and a more agile workflow.

• Managed IT Support. Help Desk services offer support for staff around the clock and can often save employees time and frustration, resulting in greater productivity. This also offers internal staff more space to concentrate on higher-priority projects.

A managed IT services consultant can help with a wide variety of services

• Data Backup and Cybersecurity. Cybersecurity can include monitoring, installing protection and antivirus software, training staff, and monitoring networks.

• Managed Infrastructure and Networks. Managed network and infrastructure services offer companies a secure environment. This typically saves resources and physical space, as servers and equipment are outside the physical office.

• Regulatory Compliance. With more stringent compliance requirements in technology and specific industries, numerous MSPs specialize in keeping companies up to date and offering services that satisfy regulatory needs.

Benefits Of Managed IT Services

Let’s explore the myriad benefits of working with managed services consultants.

A Holistic Approach Simplifies Operations

With management, monitoring, data storage, and security (to name just a few) under a single roof, there’s no finger-pointing or blame once something goes awry. Your managed IT solutions consultant and support team will rectify the problem.

Centralized Servers And Applications Improve Stability And Security

Your apps and data are handled remotely with managed services, often in a virtual server environment. These facilities often observe international standards for security and control. If a natural disaster, flood, or fire strikes your workspace, your data will be safe and secure in a remote facility. Managed service consultants have standards established to let you retain business continuity in case something goes awry off-site or in your office.

Round-The-Clock Service Offers Peace Of Mind

Imagine this scenario: It’s around midnight, and you are putting the final touches on an important presentation when suddenly the server goes down. Your in-house IT team has been home for hours, but your managed service provider consultant is on the job. Using managed IT support services, there is a high likelihood the network would not fail because the managed IT services consultant would notice a problem before you did.

Trained Managed IT Service Consultants Can Fill Roles Your In-House Staff Can’t

Modern IT infrastructure and software applications usually require unique, specialized skill sets.

Learning new skills only once is necessary when using new software. You can invest lots of money and time training your in-house staff each time you roll out a new program or let your managed services consultant take charge of the situation.

In-House IT Staff Can Concentrate On Innovation

Through the nuts and bolts of daily operations running on autopilot, due to your managed IT service consultant, your IT team can concentrate on your business’s core competencies and the creative ideas that’ll keep it at the top of your industry.

Managed IT Support Companies Can Help Ensure Compliance

Compliance standards and rules help protect individual rights, from consumer to financial data security and privacy. Compliance is crucial for business owners in the retail, e-commerce, education, healthcare, financial services, and legal industries, especially in avoiding fines and growing their customer base. Managed IT services can remove the burden of compliance. Trained consultants can ensure your technology systems follow national and international rules and regulations.

Stable Costs Lessen Cash Flow Burdens

Managed IT services include low start-up costs and steady monthly payments, making budgeting your IT expenses easier.

Centralized Management Streamlines Remote Or Flexible Working Arrangement

The centralized control of your IT services helps cut infrastructure costs and ensures every employee has a consistent technology experience. Whether employees are in your main office, a branch office, working from home, or logging in from somewhere else, they get the same security and speed as they were on-site.

Scalability Helps Control Costs And Conserve Resources

It’s easy to boost your managed IT services as your business requires growth. With pay-as-you-go service plans, you can increase managed IT solutions during your busiest season and then scale back down when necessary. Future-proof services help keep you at the cutting edge of your industry. Your managed IT service consultant continuously trains, trains, and you upgrade systems to ensure that they are technology systems. You benefit from their expertise and investments to remain at the technology’s cutting edge without paying for training or upgrades.

Optimize Operating Expenses

Recruiting, upskilling, training, and retaining IT resources in-house significantly add to the IT management bill. Working with a managed services consultant can bring down IT costs by a large margin. Providing a team of skilled resources eliminates the cost of hiring and training IT staff while delivering access to all the skills needed to enable effective IT management anytime, anywhere. Since skills are available on a scalable basis, you can customize the services to meet your needs and optimize your operating expenses.

How To Select A Managed IT Service Provider

Selecting a managed IT service provider is a unique process for each company

Selecting a managed IT service provider is a unique process for each company. You’ll want to browse prospective MSPs based on their skill set and reputation. Hiring a managed services consultant will be a bit like employing an in-house employee. You want a business that has services that match your needs. They should offer the customer care and expertise to help your company reach its goals.

If you’re searching for consultants to create a backup and disaster recovery plan, you’ll look at companies specializing in those fields. You can narrow it down to MSPs that work extensively in your industry. You may need 24/7 support or want to work with an MSP who can come to your place. Many MSPs work remotely, so using a hybrid model might be costly and narrow down your options.

Is My Business A Great Fit For An IT Managed Service Provider?

Hiring a seasoned Managed Service Provider (MSP) is  a top priority

Working with a managed IT services consultant can benefit most companies, and it’s important to recognize that trying to manage all facets of IT in-house can drain internal resources.

If your IT team has too much on its plate and can’t focus on new projects, you should consider outsourcing some of their workload. Additionally, you should bring in an external firm to evaluate your systems and processes to determine any weaknesses from a neutral perspective. If there are cybersecurity problems that you can’t fix internally, consider hiring a seasoned Managed Service Provider (MSP) a top priority. Data breaches can be very expensive, and downtime can severely affect operations.

Companies embracing digital transformation need a robust IT infrastructure to support their staff, improve customer experiences, and stay ahead of competitors. managed IT services, offered by a skilled managed IT services provider like us here at Down to Earth Technology, let companies concentrate on their key goals, access the necessary expertise, control operating costs, scale without issues, and steer clear of expensive downtimes – all while offering trustworthy IT services, guaranteeing around-the-clock security and compliance, and maximizing returns from IT investments.