Keeping up with new technology remains one of the biggest challenge organizations face. It’s not just a matter of staying abreast of the latest innovations. Organizations are struggling to choose and implement the kinds of IT solutions that create true competitive advantage.

That’s because the old 80-20 rule continues to dominate most IT shops. As much as 80 percent of IT resources are dedicated to managing and maintaining existing technology, while only 20 percent are used for strategic initiatives that boost productivity and revenue. Operational bottlenecks are causing many organizations to remain stagnant.

That’s why more and more organizations are adopting managed services, in which a service provider remotely manages the organization’s IT processes. Managed services include network monitoring, data backup management, server maintenance, security and patch management, tech support and other services.

A managed services provider (MSP) can help organizations optimize their IT environments. Benefits of this model include:

• More efficient operations. An MSP can help you streamline your IT processes, dramatically reduce maintenance and support costs, and remove layers of complexity in order to deliver critical services more quickly and effectively.
• Better use of in-house IT resources. Most organizations have limited IT budgets and personnel. Utilizing managed services allows these organizations to dedicate IT resources to strategic growth initiatives and outsource time-consuming, day-to-day tasks.
• Greater predictability. MSPs use automated tools that minimize human error. At the same time, best-in-class MSPs employ best practices to ensure that critical maintenance is performed regularly.
• Improved network resilience. Managed services can help detect and remediate problems before they cause downtime. Sophisticated security tools are closely monitored to help thwart cyberattacks, while remote backup and disaster recovery solutions can ensure access to mission-critical applications and services should disaster strike.
• Fewer compliance headaches. Industry regulations are constantly evolving and many requirements are becoming more stringent. An MSP can help ensure regulatory compliance by monitoring for events that could result in downtime or data loss.
• Faster implementation of new tools and services. An MSP typically has a level of expertise that few in-house IT departments can match, as well as the resources to evaluate the latest IT solutions. The MSP can serve as a “virtual CIO,” helping you to deploy new solutions quickly and ensure they’re aligned with your organization’s business processes and goals.
• Data for improved budgeting and decision-making. Based upon data gathered by remote monitoring and reporting tools, organizations can fine-tune their budgets and be prepared to ramp up or scale back services as business needs evolve.

To take full advantage of the benefits of managed services, IT should determine which tasks can be automated using remote tools. These tasks are ideal candidates for outsourcing to an MSP. Look for a provider who has extensive experience and offers a blend of managed and professional services that can be strategically combined to meet your specific business needs.

TechFirst is an enterprise-class managed services solution based upon industry best practices and IPC’s proven methodology. Let us help you assess the state of your IT operations and determine how managed services can deliver the most value to your organization.