Editor's note: This post was originally published on November 19, 2020 and has been revised for clarity and comprehensiveness.
Having an in-house IT team can be a great boon for your business. It's a lot like having doctors in the family; they already know your history, are available onsite, and provide solutions tailored to your unique needs. While that sounds amazing, many in-house IT teams are understaffed and underfunded. That can lead to significant downtime, inefficient systems, low team morale, and poor productivity.
Your IT team may need help to provide the right level of support for your business needs. That's where managed IT services come in. Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) allows your IT team to gain a strategic ally to help them shine. They can take over daily IT issues and routine maintenance tasks so your team can focus on IT projects that drive your business forward instead.
Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS) is an MSP that has helped countless IT teams thrive for over two decades. In this article, we'll dive into the seven ways managed IT services can support your internal IT department. After reading, you’ll be able to understand how an MSP can augment your team to deliver greater value to your business.
7 Ways Managed IT Supports Your IT Team
Here are the top ways managed IT services can support your in-house IT team:
1. Expertise to Fill Knowledge Gaps
In-house IT teams are often forced to be jacks of all trades because they need to deal with a myriad of technical issues on their own. The problem is that it’s impossible to be an expert in every aspect of technology.
MSPs bring specialized expertise across a range of areas like cybersecurity, compliance, and cloud services. With that, your team doesn’t have to figure everything out on their own. They’ll have access to certified specialists who can help them deliver better solutions faster. That’s because they can lean on this expertise to tackle complex challenges they might not have experience with. For example, they can help implement a cybersecurity framework or migrate to the cloud.
If you are curious how our team can be a “jack of all trades” when your team could struggle, it is because the size of our team allows us to hire specialists to fill in knowledge gaps and ensure all aspects of an organization’s IT are handled by a specialist.
2. 24/7 Monitoring and Support
IT emergencies don’t just happen during office hours. Whether it’s a server crash in the middle of the night or a ransomware attack during the weekend, your IT systems need round-the-clock attention. MSPs can monitor your systems 24/7, proactively identifying and resolving issues before they impact your business.
Your IT team can rest easy knowing the MSP has your back after hours. That frees them to focus on higher-value projects during the workday—without sacrificing their nights and weekends.
3. Scalability During High Demand
Big IT projects like system upgrades, migrations, or compliance audits can stretch your IT team to its limits. Managed IT services can step in to help when workloads increase. When your team is overwhelmed, MSPs can chip in by taking over time-consuming tasks like software patching or data migration. That way, your IT team can stay focused on strategic initiatives without worrying about falling behind on critical deadlines.
4. Access to Advanced Tools and Technology
Staying ahead of technology trends can be expensive. Thankfully, MSPs invest in cutting-edge tools for monitoring, reporting, and securing IT systems, and they make these tools available to your business. That means your team gains access to enterprise-grade solutions that may be cost-prohibitive for a single company to purchase outright, like automated threat detection tools.
Hiring an MSP equips your IT team with the tools they need to enhance efficiency and security without requiring additional budget.
5. Predictable Costs and Budget Efficiency
One of the most frustrating challenges for your IT team is navigating unexpected expenses—like emergency repairs or surprise licensing fees. MSPs operate on a predictable subscription model, providing a clear monthly cost for IT support and solutions. This virtually eliminates the guesswork from budgeting and ensures that IT spending aligns with your company’s financial goals.
6. Cybersecurity Reinforcement
Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and even the most vigilant IT teams can struggle to keep up. Some MSPs (like us) specialize in cybersecurity, providing services including real-time threat detection, vulnerability management, and proactive incident response to safeguard your organization. In other words, MSPs use advanced tools to identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks before they become serious issues. That way, your IT team can focus on innovation and strategic tasks without worrying about cyber threats disrupting operations.
7. Compliance Support
If you’ve ever had to meet compliance requirements before, you already know that it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re in an industry with strict compliance mandates like healthcare, finance, or government. MSPs can provide expert guidance and compliance solutions to ensure your organization meets requirements.
They can help your IT team implement and maintain framework requirements such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), and PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). They provide tools, processes, and documentation to help you meet regulatory requirements and prepare for audits. That not only reduces the stress on your IT team but also prevents the risk of costly fines and penalties from non-compliance.
Ready to Empower Your IT Team with Managed IT Services?
Your in-house IT team works hard to keep your business running, but even the most dedicated teams can use a helping hand. That’s where managed IT Services come in. By partnering with an MSP, you’re not just outsourcing tasks—you’re giving your IT team the tools, expertise, and breathing room they need to focus on what matters most.
Whether it’s tackling cybersecurity challenges, meeting compliance requirements, or managing day-to-day IT issues, managed IT services can fill in the gaps and take your team’s efforts to the next level.
If you’re ready to give your team the support they deserve and set your business up for success, schedule a meeting with our team at ITS today. Let’s talk about how we can work together to make IT easier for everyone. You can also check out the following articles to help you choose the right MSP: