Do I Need Managed IT Support If My Network Is Operating Well?

You may have heard of managed IT and have a general understanding of the benefits it provides. You may think it sounds like a good idea, but may be wondering whether it is worth switching when your IT network seems to be operating fine.

The thing is, that many IT issues aren’t readily visible until it’s too late and your network is jammed or your business is crippled.

At Kelser Corporation, we understand your need to weigh the cost with the benefit. Many people wonder whether they should make the switch when things appear to be running smoothly. Since we hear this question from potential customers, I'm writing this article to answer it.

First though, a favor. Please don’t assume that because Kelser is a managed IT support provider, this article is designed to convince you to buy our services. 

The truth is, that while we are proud of the comprehensive managed IT support we provide for our customers, at Kelser we don’t believe in the hard sell, but rather in providing honest information you need to make the decision that’s best for you.

This is just one of the ways we do things a little differently at Kelser. You see, we believe in our offering, and we also believe there is enough business to go around.

Most importantly, we believe it is critical that you get the right IT support provider for you.

If you sign up with the wrong provider, it’s not good for your business and it shortchanges you from having a proactive, productive, long-term relationship with your provider, which can lead to inefficiencies and delays in service. 

Having said all that, let’s get to the question at hand.

Why Consider Managed IT Support If Your IT Seems To Be Operating Well?   

There are a number of reasons that people tell us they invest in managed IT support. Whether customers are looking to supplement their in-house team or need full external support, here are a few of the reasons they’ve cited for partnering with an external IT support provider:

1. Monitoring, Managing Updates & Patching

There is a difference between assuming things are operating safely and efficiently and knowing that is the case. 

It’s kind of like going to the doctor for preventive care. You may be feeling fine, but there could be something going on in your body that you don’t know about. Or, you may be having mild symptoms that, when treated, can prevent the condition from growing worse.

With managed IT support, your networks, servers and devices are continuously monitored, managed, and updated with the latest patches, keeping things operating efficiently and securely.

2. Diverse IT Experts

When you partner with a managed IT support provider, your infrastructure benefits from having a full complement of IT professionals looking after it.

Let’s face it, unless you work for a huge company, you likely don’t have the financial resources to support a full IT staff despite the fact that infrastructures of all sizes need the same elements of care.

And, when you have limited IT resources responding to all of the daily fires in your organization, it’s inevitable that something will slip through the cracks.

With managed IT support, you have access to all the specialists you need without the expensive price tag.

And, for one constant monthly fee, you get a proactive team of experts (including a virtual chief information officer, technical alignment manager, service delivery manager, and technical solutions architect) keeping track of everything IT, so you can focus on what you do best…running your business!

3. Security Awareness Training For Employees

Another reason customers give us for making the switch to managed IT support is the security awareness training that is included in the monthly fee. Did you know that 88 percent of data breaches are the result of human error?

Regular security awareness training gives your employees the tools they need to recognize and report cybersecurity issues before they become a bigger problem.

Do your employees know what social engineering is? Could they recognize a phishing attempt? Would they know what to do if someone pretending to be from your IT team called and asked for their username and password to “fix” a fake issue on your network?

With regular security awareness training that keeps issues like these (and other recent threats) top of mind, your employees can become a human firewall for your organization keeping threats at bay.

4. Strategic Planning & Budgeting

With managed IT support, you have a partner that evaluates the latest technology advancements and recommends those that are most closely aligned with your business strategy and goals.

A managed IT support provider also proactively helps you plan and budget for technology upgrades including device and server replacements. 

5. Continuity Of Care

With an average turnover rate of more than 13 percent in IT, staffing issues can be a major headache for small businesses. Who wants to hire and train someone just to have them leave within a short period of time?

With a managed IT provider, you have continuity of care and, if someone leaves your provider’s team, the care your network receives is seamlessly transitioned to another well trained and prepared person on the staff of the managed IT support provider. 

No hiccups. No lapse in service. Your organization continues with business as usual.

How Do You Decide If Managed IT Support Is Right For Your Business?

After reading this article, you have a better understanding of the advantages that managed IT support can provide even when things on your network appear to be operating well. 

While we know that managed IT isn’t the right solution for everyone, we also know that there are many business leaders who don’t fully understand the tangible and intangible advantages of managed IT support.

When evaluating whether managed IT support is the right solution for you, consider whether having a team to manage, monitor, and patch your networks, servers, and devices is a worthwhile investment. Think about the benefits your organization could realize from having access to a full complement of IT experts.

Evaluate the advantage of providing cybersecurity awareness training for your employees and the inherent value that provides.

Decide whether your business would benefit from having a team to help you plan and budget so that your business has the technology infrastructure it needs to position you for success today and into the future.

At this point, you may be wondering how much managed IT costs and what it includes. Read this article which answers both of those questions:  How Much Does Managed IT Cost? What's Usually Included?

Is managed IT right for you? Click on the button below to learn more.