How much more could you get done if four weeks from now you didn't have to devote internal resources to managing your network – security, backup, help desk, planning, and more. It's not a fantasy.
Managed IT Services.
Or Managed Network Services.
I know many of you reading this are hard-nosed business owners and leaders and these phrases are a little . . . fluffy – you probably think the same about the promise in the first sentence of this post.
In reality, managed IT is a well-recognized phrase to describe a bundle of outsourced IT management services that we – and many other companies – offer to businesses of all sizes (often via the cloud). But many of you look at it and wonder, “What the hell is that?” Followed closely by, “How does it work and what does it look like in reality?”
If you're new to this blog, you can get up to speed on managed services and why they're good for your business in the two blog posts listed below. Go ahead and read them. I'll wait.
- What Is Managed IT Services?
- The Joy of Outsourcing – Managed IT Services Will Improve Your Business and Your Work Days
Ready to go on?
Good.
Now that you have a good idea of the moving parts of managed IT services, here are the steps and timeline in a typical roll-out.
Managed IT Onboarding – Week 1
Two things happen in week 1. First, billing starts. Secondly, we present the implementation plan to the client. The plan is based on the information gathered before the contract is signed. There's a possible 3rd action as well, fix user issues collected during the week.
Managed IT Onboarding – Weeks 2 & 3
Users issues are collected and resolved weekly. New workstations and the server(s) are installed. Remote support information is continually gathered. Once new workstations are installed, agents are installed on all machines for remote monitoring. Security starts here as old endpoint (anti-virus and security software on laptops, PCs, etc.) security software is uninstalled and new software is installed.
Managed IT Onboarding – Week 4
Everyone in your business needs to understand the new service so a service desk orientation is scheduled for this week – how to submit and track help desk tickets, etc. Data protection is set up for unified threat management – firewall, Web content filtering, etc. Email, filtering, file sync, etc. are migrated and set up.
Once these tasks are set up, it's time to push the button and go live. Congrats, you no longer have to worry about managing your network or your help desk.
Go Live and Beyond
Immediately prior to flipping the switch and going live and continuing through the length of the engagement, your managed IT service provider will deploy critical security updates and patches and provide proactive maintenance of your software and hardware. Additional training can be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
The Virtual CIO and the Quarterly Review
Part of managed IT services is providing guidance for ensuring that your IT infrastructure never becomes outdated and is always capable of supporting your business goals. Your virtual CIO (VCIO) will meet with you every quarter to ensure that current needs are being met. More importantly, your VCIO will work with you to support your business' growth with additional managed IT resources as and when needed.
I hope this satisfies your curiosity about the “what happens” after you sign a managed IT services contract.
For more information on everything to do with Managed IT Services, check out our resource page, here.
Intrigued? Or at least interested? Download and read our free eBook by clicking the image below.
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