Every office needs information technology (IT) for their operations. A catch-all term, IT refers to everything from your employees’ computers, to systems such as wifi, video conferencing, file sharing, software, email, and remote access.

Despite their reliance on technology, most small and medium sized businesses don’t have dedicated IT departments. Often IT management and troubleshooting falls to operations, engineering, or otherwise tech-savvy staff––usually an office manager, software developer, or salesperson––even though it’s not in their job description.

If your company doesn’t have a dedicated person or systems to troubleshoot IT issues, monitor network security, and manage IT inventory, working with a managed IT provider could be a great solution for your office. Third party IT management companies can take care of all these services, giving small and medium size business access to an IT expert without bringing an entire IT department in-house.

How managed IT helps your business 

Having a managed IT provider reduces the amount of time your employees spend on day-to-day IT tasks. Working with an experienced IT specialist can provide your office with major benefits, including:

– Lower costs: IT failures cost money—more than $55,000 per year in lost revenue for small companies and over $91,000 for medium companies. Security breaches can also be costly, as the average cyber attack costs a company $117,000, and 60% of those who have been targeted by a cyber attack go out of business. In addition to preventing lost revenue due to IT or security failure, working with a managed IT company can also provide you significant discounts on hardware and networking equipment.

– Save time: The average US worker spends more than 91 hours a year on IT-related issues. When experts are dedicated to addressing employee requests, your staff can focus on their jobs and be more productive.

– Optimize for remote work: While you might think you need an in-house IT support staff, 90% of IT issues can be fixed remotely. In addition to saving space that would be needed for on-site IT staff and equipment, having a managed IT provider will ensure you have equal IT support coverage for remote workers.

Proactively working with a reliable partner for your IT needs can enable your office to stay ahead of any potential issues. When they do occur, your provider will be able to address them easily and cost-effectively because they will already be familiar with your office setup.

How to choose the right managed IT provider for your business

When evaluating providers, be proactive about asking how they can accommodate your company’s hiring plans, office relocations or build-outs, and remote workers. Before signing a contract, conduct an office walk through with your potential service provider so they understand your space and needs.

Typically, providers charge for managed IT on a per person, per month model. Other pricing options are also available––for example, smaller companies who don’t have consistent IT needs may opt for month-to-month support instead. If you’re not sure which model is best for your business, we offer a free IT consultation with one of our experts.

If your business is growing fast, you may want to invest in an in-house IT team after you reach 200 employees to save on operational costs. If you need help finding qualified professionals, we can help you with your search.