How Can an MSP Help With Your Company’s IT? [Updated]

Editor's note: This post was originally published on July 20, 2019 and has been revised for clarity and comprehensiveness.

Managing your technology is a full-time job, as anyone who has ever taken responsibility for an IT infrastructure would tell you. That usually isn’t a problem for large enterprises that have the resources to hire an entire team to do it for them. However, small to midsize businesses (SMBs) will often find it a challenge to keep their IT running smoothly and efficiently.  

Many SMBs just can’t keep up with having to manage, install, and monitor every part of their IT infrastructure. It’s an overwhelming task for small teams. The problem is that failing to do so can cause a wide range of tech issues. And, if your business is having IT trouble, everything slows down. Worse, your operations and productivity take the brunt of the hit. 

To prevent that outcome, you can outsource the task to a managed service provider (MSP). They can help your business keep your technology in tip-top shape, reducing downtime and issues. 

Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS) is an MSP that has provided quality managed services to SMBs for almost two decades. In this article, we’ll share how outsourcing to a reliable IT support company can help your business. 

What is an MSP?

When SMBs need help managing their technology, they can outsource it to a provider called an MSP. Hiring one is a lot like hiring an in-house IT department consisting of trained and certified experts. They will assume responsibility for the upkeep of all or portions of your IT infrastructure for a fixed monthly rate. 

5 Ways an IT Partner can Help

You might be asking yourself: why use a managed service provider when I can hire my own? There are a lot of ways an MSP can help your business. Check out the five powerful benefits of managed services: 

1. Provides Expert Guidance and Direction 

Technology is always changing. That is evident in the ever-growing number of services and solutions available. While it gives your business a lot of options, it also leaves you with too many choices, which can be staggering. Do you use Windows, OS X, or Linux as your operating? What about servers? Do you want cloud services? If so, which? Simply picking the right solution for your business requires an IT expert. 

IT partners know technology and will take the time to get to know your business needs and goals. From there, they can help pick and implement the best solutions that will support your current demands and provide the necessary IT platform on which you can stably expand your business.

2. Allows You to Focus on Your Core Business Function 

Anyone thrust into the role of managing technology will quickly realize that technology management and implementation is a full-time job. What this means in many small businesses is that someone has to give up time focusing on their main role to focus on the upkeep of their IT. That inevitably results in a loss of overall productivity. 

By outsourcing your IT, however, you and your employees can focus on core business functions without worrying about pressing technology issues and staying up-to-date with tech developments. That not only helps ensure your tech is in top shape, but it also boosts your productivity. 

3. Helps You Understand Technology So You Can Leverage It Effectively

New technology like the cloud, advanced databases, and web languages like HTML and CSS are simply too confusing to many. When people feel overwhelmed by technology, they won’t be able to use it in the best possible way, or worse, they will shy away from it. That means you are not tapping into your technology's full potential, which is a wasted investment. 

Many MSPs don’t just install and manage systems; they also take the time to ensure that your team is comfortable with them and understands how to use them. This increases overall tech buy-in and can, in turn, reduce wasted investments, saving you time and money in the long run. 

4. Enables You to Use the Latest Technology 

A common complaint of many who work in SMBs is that the technology systems in the company are too old or slow. That can be attributed to the fact that many businesses operate on thin margins and simply cannot afford to update systems or integrate new ones. 

A reliable IT partner offers their services to many different companies. Therefore, they need to ensure that they are using the latest technology. That’s because most of these services are offered online, which means they can pass along the features and updates to your business without you having to invest in new technology. 

Beyond that, many MSPs offer full-service solutions that include picking the best technology for your business. They can install systems based on your budget and also manage them, ensuring that systems remain up-to-date and fully support your business needs. 

5. Helps You Meet Compliance 

Many industries, like healthcare, education, finance, and real estate, require that businesses comply with strict regulations regarding technology and its use. Some governments even require that all businesses meet privacy regulations, making it difficult for businesses to know the requirements and if they are compliant. 

MSPs also operate in these industries, which requires them to meet compliance. That means they have in-depth knowledge of meeting strict standards and regulations. With that in mind, they can provide guidance and solutions to meet your compliance requirements. 

Need Help from an MSP? 

Let’s get this out of the way: you can manage your own technology. It’s definitely possible. However, it will also take a lot of time, effort, and resources. Those are all things that you could use to help grow your business. Instead, it’s all going into keeping your IT running smoothly. Fortunately, a reliable managed IT provider can take on all those tasks for you, allowing you to focus on more impactful ones that help move your business forward. 

ITS has provided countless SMBs with quality managed IT that has allowed them to maximize their technology. Find out how we can help you take advantage of the benefits of managed services by scheduling a free consultation. Or, you could check out the following resources below for more info: 

• Everything You Need to Know About Managed IT 
• Who is the Ideal Business for Managed-IT Services? 
• How to Choose the Best IT Service Provider? (Key Considerations)  
• eBook: 5 Big Ways IT Outsourcing Can Boost Your Company Productivity