Modern businesses rely on technology more than ever nowadays. However, maintaining and monitoring your own IT infrastructure, ensuring your cyber security protocols are always met, and keeping up with software updates can be overwhelming – particularly when you have so many other important business tasks to implement.
Understanding what is a managed IT service is key to your business success, as these services can take the hard work out of your hands, allowing you to focus on other more important business matters. For example, if you’re searching for managed SD-WAN providers, you will not have to spend your own time and resources managing your SD-WAN plan.
At M247, we’re a managed IT service provider, offering a vast range of solutions for our clients. Our specialist connectivity packages can be tailored and scaled to your every need, ensuring you get the exact services you require for your business.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help your company grow, please get in touch with our expert team today.
What Is a Managed IT Service?
In layman’s terms, the phrase ‘managed IT service’ refers to the practice of outsourcing certain IT tasks and responsibilities to a third-party provider, usually known as a managed service provider (MSP). An MSP will proactively manage your IT operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly while also preventing potential issues from arising before they disrupt your business operations.
The managed services definition covers a wide range of IT functions and solutions, including:
- 24/7 network monitoring
- Data backup and recovery
- Cloud management
- Other IT services
Your MSP will be responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and securing the IT systems and processes you’ve included in your package, which enables your employees to work on other things. This approach to business continuity allows your organisation to focus on its core business functions, whilst still gaining the benefit of expert external IT support.
By using a managed IT service company like M247, you can reduce your business downtime, enhance your overall cyber security protection, and improve your overall efficiency as an organisation, showing that there are many benefits to these services. Most managed service providers work on a proactive basis too, which means they can identify and fix potential problems before they even become an issue.
Managed IT services also ensure that you don’t need to hire and rely on an in-house IT team that may struggle with complex issues. Instead, your business will benefit from round-the-clock support with a set SLA (service level agreement), the latest in cutting-edge technology, and a spectrum of specialised expertise.
We hope that this in-depth managed services definition has helped you to understand why these solutions can be so useful for modern businesses and organisations.
How Do Managed IT Services Work?
Naturally, every situation and business is different, which means that the managed IT service package you’re offered with one provider might differ from those provided by another company. However, some things usually stay the same.
Managed IT services typically operate on a subscription-based model – you’ll typically pay a fixed retainer fee each month for continuous IT support. Most providers use a proactive approach to IT, differing greatly from the traditional break-fix model, in which your IT support is only implemented when an issue arises. Instead, a good MSP should offer proactive ongoing maintenance, real-time monitoring, and strategic IT planning, stopping problems in their tracks before they’ve even started.
Whatever services you decide to implement into your package, they’ll usually be managed remotely by your MSP team, using advanced monitoring tools and software to detect and resolve issues before they escalate. On-site support can also be provided by some operators when needed, which can ensure your business receives comprehensive IT assistance around the clock, regardless of your location or the time of day.
However, if you require something specific like on-site support, it’s best to check if your provider can offer this first, before committing to a contract. For example, if you’re searching for managed WAN services, you need to ensure your chosen provider can offer these solutions.
Ultimately, the managed IT services model offers a great deal of scalability and flexibility for modern organisations, allowing them to expand and reduce their IT support based on their evolving needs and seasonal changes.
Managed Services Examples: What Do They Usually Cover?
As we’ve briefly touched upon above, the scope of managed IT services can vary dramatically, depending on your chosen provider and the specific needs of your business. There is a wide range of services that can be included within your package, with each one usually being completely scalable to your organisation.
Here are some common managed IT services examples:
Network and Infrastructure Management
One of the main tasks your managed service provider can do for you is to monitor and maintain your network and your infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and improved security for both your hardware and software. This service will usually include managing your servers, routers, switches, and data storage solutions, as well as offering managed colocation services and the use of data centres (if required).
At M247, we use a proactive approach to help us identify potential issues before they become a problem, helping businesses avoid costly downtime and connectivity problems.
Cyber Security Solutions
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, cyber threats are sadly on the rise, so it’s never been more important to implement managed cyber security services into your business. These solutions can implement a selection of security measures for you to safeguard your all-important business data., including:
- Antivirus software
- Intrusion detection
- Vulnerability assessments
If necessary, we can also provide employee training on the best security practices for your team, reducing the risk of phishing attacks, data breaches and other threat actors from having an effect.
Cloud Computing Services
The cloud is an important piece of office software used by most organisations in the present day. Managed cloud services provide businesses with a highly scalable and secure cloud infrastructure, which often includes cloud storage, virtual desktops, and an array of disaster recovery solutions.
Our cloud-based services also allow for remote access, facilitating a much more flexible and efficient work environment for your team.
Full Help Desk Support
Another service you should get included in your package is full help desk support, with 24/7 technical support usually offered by most MSPs to minimise the risk of disruptions.
Your employees will also receive much-needed assistance with software troubleshooting, hardware malfunctions, and system errors, ensuring productivity always remains high.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Regular data backups and disaster recovery planning are essential, ensuring your business can recover critical information in case data breaches, system failures, or natural disasters occur.
A good managed service provider should be able to offer secure, off-site storage solutions and automated backup scheduling to protect all your valuable business data.
Software Updates and Patch Management
Ensuring your software and applications are up to date is essential for the safe running of your business, reducing vulnerabilities and improving your system efficiency. These features may include things like operating system updates, security patches, and tools that optimise your performance.
Compliance and Regulatory Support
If your business operates in regulated industries (such as the healthcare or finance sectors), a managed service provider is essential for ensuring compliance with industry standards and data protection laws like GDPR. Not only will this help you comply with the law, but you can also avoid potentially hefty fines.
If you choose to sign up with an innovative managed service provider like M247, you’ll get a well-managed IT environment that covers each of the solutions mentioned above.
The Benefits of Using Managed IT Services
Now that you understand more about what a managed IT service is, you likely want to find out more about the main benefits it can provide your business.
Outsourcing your IT management offers the savvy business owner several tangible advantages:
1. Cost Savings
One of the biggest benefits of using a managed IT service provider is cost efficiency. Whilst you will have to pay your monthly subscription fees, your business can reduce any expenses related to hiring, training, and maintaining an in-house IT team. Your IT costs are also predictable, due to the subscription-based pricing model used.
2. Proactive Maintenance
Instead of waiting for things to go wrong, MSPs take a proactive approach to data management. This allows them to identify and resolve potential issues before they cause significant disruptions, reducing downtime and productivity losses.
3. Enhanced Security
With cyber attacks becoming more sophisticated in recent years, having a dedicated IT security team for your business is essential. Managed service providers can offer robust cyber security solutions, ensuring all your data remains protected from malware, ransomware, and other types of cyber threats.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
If you run a small business, there’s a good chance you’ll want to scale in the near future. Managed IT services offer flexible solutions for businesses looking to grow, able to easily scale up or down based on your unique business requirements.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re expanding your operations or implementing new technologies either, as we can provide the necessary support for you regardless.
5. Access to Expertise
Another major benefit of using an MSP is that your organisation can take advantage of the knowledge and experience of a team of IT professionals who are experts at what they do. Your business will receive specialised assistance for complex technical challenges, without the hassle of having to train up an in-house team.
6. Improved Productivity
Productivity is a key part of any business, but it can be difficult to keep your team productive if they have too many tasks to juggle. If you have a reliable service provider handling your IT tasks, your employees can focus on your core business operations without worrying about IT-related disruptions.
7. Business Continuity
Business continuity planning is extremely important for modern organisations, and having a strong IT infrastructure is crucial for these tasks. Your managed service provider can provide backup and disaster recovery solutions, ensuring your company can recover quickly if unforeseen events like cyberattacks or hardware failures occur.
You can find out more about the other benefits of managed IT services here.
Is a Managed IT Service Right for Your Business?
We hope now that you understand how important a managed IT provider can be for your organisation. However, if you’re still weighing up whether you need one for your business, this next section may be of use.
A managed IT service can be a valuable solution for businesses of all sizes, but determining if it’s the right fit for your organisation requires careful consideration before committing. If your business often experiences IT issues like slow systems, network outages or other technical issues, a managed IT service could be ideal, helping you to prevent these disruptions.
Regardless of whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, integrating managed IT services into your business can provide significant value if your company lacks the resources to maintain an in-house IT team. This point is particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses – particularly if they don’t have the budget available to hire a specialised IT team.
Another deciding factor for your business may be based on how much your organisation is predicted to grow in the near future. Scaling your company can be difficult, whether that includes expanding your team, opening up new offices, or increasing customer demand. You need to be able to keep on top of everything, and your IT infrastructure must keep up with the pace. Using a managed IT service can help you scale your business effectively, able to adapt easily to your changing needs.
To determine whether a managed IT services provider like M247 is right for your business, you should start by assessing your current IT capabilities, as well as your business goals and pain points. If you’d like to improve your IT capabilities or you’ve found your business suffering from a selection of particular IT challenges (like frequent downtime or regular cyber attacks), your MSP could provide the full support and expertise your business needs to operate. If you specifically require something like managed wi-fi services, you should seek out a company that offers those solutions.
How Do I Choose the Right Managed IT Provider?
Once you’ve decided you’d like to hire a managed IT provider, it’s time to choose which company is right for your business needs. Selecting the right MSP is crucial for maximising the benefits of these connectivity solutions, with the team at M247 being experts in the field.
Here are some key factors to consider:
- Service offerings available: First, you should ensure your chosen provider offers the exact solutions you require. Some MSPs specialise in certain industries or focus on particular IT functions, so it’s important to check this first.
- Experience and expertise: You should also look for providers with proven industry experience and technical certifications. A managed service provider with a strong track record is more likely to handle complex IT challenges better than a brand-new company.
- Opportunities to scale: If your business will need to scale in the near future, you should choose a provider capable of growing with your business. A flexible MSP should be able to adjust its services as your IT requirements evolve.
- Cyber security standards: Cyber security threats are constantly evolving, so you should always verify that your preferred provider follows the best cybersecurity practices surrounding data protection, encryption, and compliance with industry regulations.
- Support availability and response times: A reliable managed service provider should have fast response times and offer 24/7 support., like the team at M247. You should check out their service level agreements (SLAs) in their terms of use to find out more about your desired provider’s response times.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. However, if you decide to work with M247, we can help you to future-proof your business operations, reduce risks, and allow you to focus on growing your company whilst we do the hard work.
Hire M247 for All Your IT Needs
Hopefully, you should now have a much greater understanding of what managed IT services are, as well as whether they’re right for your business at this time. Essentially, they’re a strategic partnership of sorts between your organisation and a team of IT experts, providing a multitude of benefits for your business.
If you’re looking to streamline your IT operations and scale your company up, a managed IT service might be just the solution you need at the moment. As technology continues to evolve, we expect to see these solutions becoming even more important, so you can ensure your business stays ahead by adopting a reliable managed IT service provider.
At M247, we’re a dedicated team of IT professionals who have been working in the field for many years. We can tailor your plan to your every need too – just get in touch with us to see how it all works!
