Tag Archives: #In-HouseIT

Debunking 7 Myths About Managed IT Services – Part 1

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Team of diverse managed IT services provider working in an office and using computers to attend to tasks.

How well do you understand the benefits of Managed IT Services?

Managed IT, sometimes called a Managed Service Provider or MSP, is an outsourced team who help to manage our business’s technical aspects. An MSP team traditionally helps to build and maintain your software stack, servers, and cybersecurity among a myriad of other computer-related duties that they can take on. Managed IT teams are great at stepping in wherever a business needs more IT support, whether that’s becoming your entire IT department or taking on the overflow IT work that has overwhelmed in-house IT.

However, because managed IT tasks are so custom-tailored to the needs of each client, it’s also easy for misconceptions and myths to form. One company’s experience with a managed IT service likely won’t mirror another’s, even if the two businesses are in the same industry and of similar size. After all, the behind-the-scenes tech-stack of software, hardware, and workflow choices are unique to each and every business.

As managed IT providers ourselves, we’re here to help clear up some of the confusion floating around the business water cooler and debunk a few managed IT myths. Many of the top-seven MSP myths are paired as opposites of each other to point out how contradictory these industry assumptions really are.

Myth 1: Managed IT is Only for Startups and Stop-Gap

The first myth is that managed IT is only for teams who are desperate for an IT team, like startups and emergency stop-gap measures. It’s true that startups often benefit from the full-service approach of an MPS, where all the business-tech bases are already covered from network security to software and app integration. It’s also true that businesses experiencing a technical emergency have rescued deadlines and recovered from hacks by temporarily bringing a managed IT onboard. However, the benefits of working with an MSP go beyond filling a vital gap in your workflow. MSPs also offer a great deal of benefit to medium and large businesses, and provide steady support services to stable businesses that aren’t in a technical tail-spin.

Myth 2: Managed IT is an Expensive Luxury

On the flip-side of the myth that managed IT is only for startups is the myth that MSPs are an expensive luxury. This is often accompanied with the assumption that only large enterprises can really benefit from outsourcing to a managed IT team.  The idea is that all managed IT services cost a similar amount, which is too high for normal businesses to reasonably invest in.

In truth, managed IT services very widely in style and pricing. Some large MSPs are geared to cater primarily to large enterprises, but most are actually focused on small to medium businesses who are looking to optimize costs. This means that most managed IT services are priced to be practical and particularly to save money for smaller businesses.

Myth 3: You Don’t Need Managed IT if You Have In-House IT

Managed IT and in-house IT are not directly interchangeable. In many businesses, the two groups work together and split duties based on what makes the most sense. For example, your in-house IT may focus on day-to-day server maintenance and inter-office tech support while the managed IT team takes on the time-consuming projects like reconfiguring your tech-stack after an update. This leaves your in-house team free to take care of business-as-usual without getting overwhelmed by the occasional large projects or big-picture oversights.

If you have an in-house IT team, they might be the most enthusiastic about hiring an MSP as recipients for their back-log and overflow of technical tasks. Outsourcing can lead to the man-power needed for both backlogged maintenance tasks and special projects.

Stay tuned for part two on debunking the myths about IT Managed Services or if you would like to discuss more ahead of time, Contact us today!

3 Myths About Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

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An IT team hard at work

Let us answer your burning questions about Managed Service Providers.

There are many factors to consider when you are preparing to choose a Managed Service Provider (MSP). We want you to be fully informed when the time comes for you to choose an MSP. Here are some of the common myths we have heard about Managed Service Providers.

Myth 1: Bigger Means Better

When it comes to IT services, bigger does not always mean that you will get better services. Businesses and organizations that are evaluating IT service providers for the first time often find themselves in interesting situations. Some workplaces find themselves assigning IT work to an employee who does not specialize in IT work.

On the other hand, there are businesses and organizations who hire a third-party to come in on an hourly basis. Unfortunately, these businesses and organizations will ultimately realize their current strategies are not working the way they intended. The strategies will not be sufficient enough when you have an IT emergency.

Companies like yours will generally ask questions about the size of an MSP in order to determine how much support they may be able to offer when a need arises. Unfortunately, the size of the business and the number of employees they have will not be able to help you determine an accurate response time.

It will not matter how large the MSP is, if the Managed Service Provider has a heavy workload, there is no guarantee that your needs will be met when you need support the most. Instead, you should ask an MSP about their procedures and policies that will help you determine how fast their response time is.

Myth 2: In-House IT Is The Better Option

We know that many businesses and organizations will feel that having their own IT staff and support system will be better than a Managed Service Provider. However, Managed Service Providers will have the ability to serve a variety of needs and roles within a company. If you hire someone to take on the maintenance, management, and troubleshooting, and they are not experts in those fields, that move could have a negative impact on your business.

A time may come when your IT person may not be able to respond to the IT needs on time. If you do not have someone available to address your needs, a major disruption could occur that will result in downtime that could prove costly to your business. Having someone in-house does not always mean you will have a fast and efficient resolution to your needs.

We are not stating that you should not have someone available to handle your IT needs, but you can also have a Managed Service Provider available to help fill in the gaps.

Myth 3: Every MSP Is The Same

Unfortunately, many people believe that all MSPs are the same, regardless of their size. When some business and organizations hear one thing about an MSP, they assume that all MSPs will provide the same services in the same manner. This is not true.

It is important to perform your research and obtain a clear view of the MSP you are considering. When you find an MSP that offers the services you need, you will have a better opportunity to determine if that MSP will be a good match for your business. You will need an MSP that performs prompt services and offers the support you will need.

When seeking an MSP, you will need a provider who will become your partner and support system. If you are looking for an MSP that will provide you with the services you need, please do not hesitate to contact SystemsNet today for more information.