5 IT Headaches Managed Services Can Cure
October 2nd, 2024 | 5 min. read
Technology is the foundation of modern businesses for just about every company. Whether you're a small startup or a growing enterprise, having a reliable IT system is crucial to keeping everything running smoothly.
But as essential as they are, IT systems often face problems that can disrupt workflow, costing time and money. Many businesses struggle with these challenges daily, from sudden network outages to complex security threats.
Fortunately, managed IT services offer solutions to help businesses avoid these common issues.
Managed IT Outsourcing: Conquering Your Toughest Tech Problems
By outsourcing IT support to a team of professionals, companies can focus on their work without worrying about technology disruptions.
Let's explore five common IT problems businesses face and how managed IT services solve them effectively.
1. Downtime Due to Network Failures
Network outages can happen to any business, and the results can be devastating when they do. Imagine your internet connection dropping during a crucial video conference or your servers going offline just as your team is wrapping up a big project.
Downtime is more than an inconvenience; it halts productivity, frustrates customers, and costs businesses money.
How It Affects Businesses: Studies show that IT downtime costs businesses an average of $5,600 per minute. For smaller companies, even a short network failure can mean a loss in revenue, missed deadlines, and dissatisfied customers.
The Managed Services Solution: Managed IT services solve this problem by offering proactive network monitoring. Instead of waiting for something to break, managed service providers (MSPs) continuously monitor your network to detect and fix potential issues before they cause disruptions.
This proactive approach reduces downtime, meaning your business stays productive and avoids costly outages.
2. Data Security and Cyber Threats
Cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges businesses face today. Hackers constantly find new ways to breach security systems and steal sensitive data.
The threat is real, and it's growing, from ransomware attacks to phishing schemes. Small and medium-sized businesses are especially vulnerable because they often need more resources for comprehensive IT security.
How It Affects Businesses: According to a Verizon report, 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, and 60% of small businesses close their doors within six months of a data breach. A single cyberattack can lead to financial loss and damage a company's reputation beyond repair.
The Managed Services Solution: Managed IT services provide multi-layered security solutions to protect your business from cyber threats. This includes firewall management, encryption, and regular security audits to ensure your systems are always safe.
Managed services also provide employee training to prevent common cyber threats, such as phishing scams, ensuring that everyone in your organization is well-prepared.
Regular monitoring and updates ensure your business stays ahead of emerging cyber risks.
3. Inconsistent Software Updates and Patching
One of the most overlooked IT problems is failing to keep software updated. You’ve likely clicked "remind me later" on a software update notification because it seemed like a hassle at the moment.
However, outdated software is a significant security risk. Hackers often exploit weaknesses in old software to access systems and cause damage.
How It Affects Businesses: Updating software can keep your system running, but it can also make it less efficient and more challenging for your team.
More importantly, outdated software leaves your business vulnerable to security breaches, which can lead to data theft or loss. Due to strict data privacy laws, companies in industries like healthcare or finance are particularly at risk.
The Managed Services Solution: Managed IT services handle automatic updates and patching, ensuring your software is always current. This eliminates security risks and ensures your team can access the latest tools and features.
Managed IT services automate this process, saving your business time and effort while keeping your system safe and running smoothly.
4. IT Support Response Times Are Too Slow
When something goes wrong with your IT system, you need support quickly. But too often, businesses wait hours—or even days—for their IT team to respond to urgent issues.
Whether it’s a slow computer, a broken printer, or a crashed server, delays in IT support can bring your business to a standstill.
How It Affects Businesses: Slow IT response times lead to frustrated employees, delayed projects, and missed opportunities.
If your sales team can't access their CRM system or your accounting team can't send out invoices because of a technical issue, productivity grinds to a halt. Over time, slow IT response can hurt customer satisfaction and damage your bottom line.
The Managed Services Solution: Managed IT services offer quick, reliable IT support through dedicated help desks and remote troubleshooting. With defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs), you’re guaranteed a fast response time, ensuring issues are fixed quickly.
Whether it’s a minor software glitch or a major system failure, MSPs work efficiently to get your business back up and running with minimal disruption.
5. Lack of Scalability and Flexibility in IT Infrastructure
As businesses grow, their IT needs grow too. Unfortunately, many companies find that their IT infrastructure can’t keep up with the demands of a larger workforce or an expanded customer base.
Scaling up your IT systems can be expensive and complicated, especially if you're trying to do it all in-house.
How It Affects Businesses: A rigid IT infrastructure can prevent your company from scaling up effectively. This could mean slow systems, inefficient workflows, or even the inability to take on new business.
With a flexible IT system, your company can adapt to changing market demands, putting it at a disadvantage compared to competitors who can quickly scale their operations.
The Managed Services Solution: Managed IT services can help your business build scalable and flexible IT infrastructure that grows with you. Whether cloud-based solutions, virtualization, or new software implementation, managed services provide the tools you need to expand without the hassle.
Outsourcing your IT needs to a professional team ensures that your technology can scale up seamlessly as your business grows.
Why AIS is Your Go-To Partner for Managed IT Solutions
At AIS, we’ve spent years helping businesses overcome these common IT challenges. We understand that every company is different, so we offer customized IT solutions tailored to your unique needs.
Whether it’s cybersecurity, cloud solutions, or quick response times, we provide end-to-end IT management so you can focus on growing your business.
With a team of experienced IT professionals and state-of-the-art technology, AIS is equipped to handle any IT problem—big or small.
Our proactive approach ensures that issues are identified and solved before they can disrupt your operations, helping you avoid costly downtime and data breaches. We care for your IT so you can focus on what you do best.
Final Thoughts: Managed IT Support Is Your Best Solution
Every business faces IT problems, but they don’t have to slow you down. You can avoid these common challenges with managed IT services, stay productive, and secure your data.
Managed IT services give you the tools you need to keep your business running smoothly, from reducing downtime to building a scalable IT infrastructure.
At AIS, we’re here to help you overcome any IT hurdle. Contact us today to learn how we can provide the IT support you need to succeed.
A true southerner from Atlanta, Georgia, Marissa has always had a strong passion for writing and storytelling. She moved out west in 2018 where she became an expert on all things business technology-related as the Content Producer at AIS. Coupled with her knowledge of SEO best practices, she's been integral in catapulting AIS to the digital forefront of the industry. In her free time, she enjoys sipping wine and hanging out with her rescue-dog, WIllow. Basically, she loves wine and dogs, but not whiny dogs.