Signs Your Business Could Benefit From A Managed IT Service
A reliable and effective IT system is now essential for all businesses to stay competitive and profitable. However, as the world of digital and cyber technology evolves at a rapid pace, it can be difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to manage their IT systems in-house.
Outdated or inefficient IT can disrupt productivity, impact customer satisfaction, and leave the business vulnerable to cyber attacks. Here are some of the key signs that your business in Leeds is in need of IT support.
You have frequent IT downtime
If your day to day operations are frequently disrupted by unplanned downtime, then this is a red flag that your IT infrastructure needs to be assessed by experts. Downtime can be caused by a range of factors, from issues with the software, server crashes, configuration errors, or connectivity issues.
If left unaddressed, the constant disruption will eat into productivity and profitability, affect staff morale and lead to more frequent errors, damage the business reputation and increase the risk of security breaches.
A managed IT service provider will carry out a thorough assessment of your existing infrastructure, identify any issues and make recommendations to address them. They will also provide a continuous ongoing monitoring and support service, so any issues will be proactively dealt with before they have a chance to escalate.
You are concerned about cyber security
The threat of cyberattacks grows daily, as global digitalisation gathers pace and it is increasingly difficult to keep up with the latest defences. Cybercriminals are able to develop viruses and malware so fast that they can exploit weaknesses in IT systems before the developers or vendors are aware of them or have had time to issue a patch or fix.
This can be a daunting task for in-house IT technicians to manage, particularly in small to medium sized businesses where they may have multiple job roles. It is no longer enough to rely on automated software security updates as the scale and complexity of cyberattacks intensifies.
A managed IT service provider will be able to review your current system for any vulnerabilities, including carrying out simulated cyber attacks. They will implement the latest and most advanced security measures including firewalls and endpoint protection, and continuously monitor your systems to detect and deal with any potential issues promptly.
Your In-house team is lacking specialist knowledge or stretched too thin
As a small to medium sized business, you will know that every staff member counts and often IT management is a secondary job role alongside other duties. Even if you do have a dedicated IT team, the increasing complexity of digital technology means that they may lack expertise in certain areas, such as the cloud or network security.
A managed IT service provider will have a team of experienced professionals on hand who pride themselves on keeping up to date with the latest technologies, and will have a more diverse skillset. They can provide the expertise to take on a big project, or oversee the daily management of the systems, freeing up your staff for other duties.
Your hardware and software is outdated
Outdated hardware can cause a range of problems, from sluggish performance to frequent crashes, incompatibility with newer technology, and heightened security risks. Out of date software can also leave your system vulnerable to cyber attacks and slow down productivity.
A managed service provider will carry out an audit of your current hardware and software and make recommendations for any maintenance or upgrades that may be required. If necessary, they will oversee the integration of the newer technology with the rest of the system and suggest any specialist software that might be appropriate for your sector.
