Business disruptions, whether caused by a simple malfunctioning scanner or a severe cyber attack, can be costly. During these downtimes, your employees are unable to work, and your data may fall into the wrong hands. Despite these issues, you still need to cover your overhead costs, and your reputation could suffer from frustrated customers.
When your business has these problems, outsourced IT support can help you resolve them. Yet they also offer year-round services which may offer your company other advantages.
This blog will define these services and explore the advantages your business may receive from them.
What Are Outsourced IT Support Services?
In business, these are technical services your company can receive from third-party IT experts. They help support your technology system on a day-to-day basis to fix any issues you may have. They can supplement an already existing IT department. Alternatively, you can fully rely on these third-party services to help with your technology.
More specifically, they may offer support with the following tasks:
- Fix Bugs
- Troubleshoot Systems
- Install Software
- Configure Technology
- Fix Hardware
- Maintain Networks
The Advantages of IT Outsourcing
Businesses rely on these services because they bring the following benefits:
Increased Employee Productivity
An advantage of using these external services is that it can increase your staff’s productivity. Since these services can be constant, they’ll quickly notice your issue and resolve it. Therefore, your employees can return to work more quickly.
Furthermore, they can make systems more efficient by installing better software and resolving technical issues that cause lags. Then, your staff’s work speed may increase and they’ll make fewer mistakes.
Enhanced Safety
IT support outsourcing can help protect your business’ data and systems. These services will help you spot issues in your cyber security. Moreover, they can help you implement the cyber security strategies you have created and will respond when you’re under a cyber attack. According to reports, criminals direct over 4 in 10 cyber toward smaller businesses. This service is particularly beneficial since there’s such a high risk of this danger.
In addition, they’re well-versed in the compliance standards and regulations. Therefore, they’ll manage your sensitive data and technology systems properly.
Maintained Competitive Edge
Another benefit is the competitive edge they offer your business. Many businesses neither have an IT department nor use external services. Those businesses are more at risk of successful cyber attacks, will have longer downtime, and will have issues with their technologies.
Furthermore, according to reports, 59% of businesses have difficulty implementing new technology themselves. Therefore, if you outsource your IT support, you’ll have an advantage over them.
Additionally, these services will keep you aware of new technology, allowing you to stay up-to-date. Meanwhile, if you don’t use them, you might keep inefficient software implemented when there is better software available.
Reduced Cost
Once you have outsourced IT support , you might notice a reduction in overall costs. The major cost reduction you’ll make is in the salary for the personnel you would have otherwise hired in your IT department. For a larger company, these costs may be equal, but for medium and small businesses fully outsourcing is usually cheaper than hiring full-time IT experts. This is partly because they offer cheaper packages than an IT department that bases their prices on the number of users. Plus, they may be available during longer hours.
More broadly, these services affect different parts of your business. Therefore, they can help reduce hidden costs in these other areas. For example, they can save you labour costs by minimising a lack of productivity due to a malfunctioning printer or frustratingly buggy software.
Enhanced Core Operations Focus
Your business may be able to focus on your core operations when you use these services. As you use these services, they’ll take over a variety of technology system tasks. Then, your employees will be free to work on the tasks needed for your business to run. Otherwise, you may have to sacrifice part of your labour force to resolve technology issues that may take longer if they’re not IT experts.
Access to IT Expertise
Another outsourcing benefit is the access you’ll gain to IT expertise. Since there is a shortage of IT experts, finding them takes time. In addition, you’ll need to spend more on salary to outcompete other businesses that are hiring experts for similar positions. Moreover, you’ll need to account for other benefits you offer them and those they legally have access to. Then, you’ll have to train them to maintain their education of the latest technology. Taken together, these difficulties will limit the quality and number of experts you can hire.
Meanwhile, you can easily find experts when you seek these services. Plus, you can narrow down your search to ensure that you find IT professionals with expertise in the specific systems, software, and processes you have. So, they’ll be ready to answer common questions with little to no delay and resolve issues your system will likely have.
Improved Communication Systems
Lastly, this service gives you the advantage of a better communication system. This third-party support service will help you implement, configure, troubleshoot, update, and fix your communication system.
Additionally, they can help you consolidate your communication onto one platform. This can help your staff have easier access to contact information and messages. Therefore, they can work from different devices, work remotely, and collaborate with others.
Conclusion
Now you know that using outsourced IT support offers a variety of benefits to your business. By taking over many technology tasks, your employees can focus on their core operations. Moreover, these services enhance your operations by optimising your technology systems, protecting your business from cyber-attacks, and quickly troubleshooting any issues.
While you can use these services to supplement your IT department, fully outsourcing may be more cost-effective for small to medium-sized businesses. It also helps reduce hidden costs associated with downtime. Therefore, consider outsourcing IT support as you plan your business’s structure.