Datalyst Blog
IT Services for Eastern Massachusetts Businesses - Finding IT Solutions That Add Value
We know we don’t need to introduce the concept of IT services to business owners. Most of you likely have a contact or work with a business that provides technical support when you need it. If you are like most businesses, you probably try to ignore some of the smaller IT-related issues, to avoid spending a lot of time and money. It’s almost as if your current relationship with IT and the results you get from it aren’t providing enough value to justify the costs, right?
We hear you. Let’s discuss the alternatives.
IT Services for Eastern Massachusetts Businesses
First, we’ve all been burned by vendors and third-parties at some point or another. From larger corporations who don’t bother to understand your business, to smaller businesses that just don’t have the time to provide a service properly, there are a lot of horror stories about bad IT.
For many businesses, technology has sort of become this “necessary evil.” It’s an expense, and a costly one. Adding in the costs of paying someone to manage it only exacerbates this, especially when that technology doesn’t seem to be doing anything to actually increase your profits or capabilities.
But this identifies the problem! In reality, technology is one of the best tools to drive business forward, but with a combination of lackluster support and decision-makers sticking to the status quo, IT devolves into an expense instead of a profit center.
That’s where managed IT services come into play.
BIG BOLD DISCLAIMER!
When we say managed IT services, we really mean it. In the IT industry, however, computer support companies will generally toss around this buzzword and try to get you to sign a monthly contract for tech support, but it doesn’t always equate to actual managed IT services. It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet and only being allowed to fill your plate once.
Let’s take a look at what managed IT services really are, and how they can be a game changer when it comes to bringing value to your bottom line.
What are the Benefits of Managed IT Services?
We Can Save Your Business Money
One of the main reasons businesses turn to managed IT services is cost savings. By outsourcing their IT needs, businesses can save on the cost of hiring and training an in-house IT team. Managed IT services also offer predictable monthly fees, making it easier for businesses to budget and plan for their technology expenses.
Additionally, managed IT services can help businesses save on the cost of downtime. With proactive monitoring and maintenance, managed IT services can prevent and quickly resolve any technology issues, minimizing the impact on business operations.
It’s also just a matter of working with an expert who knows how to prevent overspending on technology. Sure, your kid’s college laptop might cost $2500, but your sales team probably doesn’t need that kind of hardware. That new line-of-business application might require a server to install it on, but it probably doesn’t require its own dedicated hardware like they imply in their onboarding. There are a lot of simple ways that you can reduce how much you spend, and while you might end up paying more for a good managed IT provider, the instances where they can save you money combined with the additional value they can bring makes it well worth the expense in most cases.
Gain Access to Expertise and Resources Without Hiring In-House Experts
Managed IT services provide businesses with access to a team of experts who have a wide range of knowledge and experience in various areas of technology. This means businesses can benefit from the latest and most advanced tech solutions without having to invest in expensive equipment or training.
Managed IT service providers also have access to resources and tools that may not be available to businesses on their own. This can include specialized software, security measures, and disaster recovery plans.
At Datalyst, for example, we’ve spent huge amounts of money and time on our stack of tools that help us be as effective as possible—from extremely complex enterprise IT management tools, cybersecurity utilities, certifications, and training—you name it. We use software that most smaller businesses simply can’t budget for themselves, and we essentially split that cost up across all our clients so that it ends up being bundled into the service. That way, virtually any business can benefit from enterprise-level IT without having to pay enterprise-level prices.
Focus on Your Objectives, We’ll Handle the Technology
By outsourcing their IT needs, businesses can free up their time and resources to focus on their core business functions. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency, as well as improved customer satisfaction.
With managed IT services handling all technology-related tasks, businesses can focus on growing their business and achieving their goals without worrying about IT issues.
A perfectly good example is standard Windows updates. Every few weeks, almost every PC on your network will normally start bugging your end users to run an update and reboot. This process usually doesn’t take very long, but it can take at least a few minutes, and sometimes longer. Either way, it interrupts their day, and it puts the responsibility on them to stop what they are doing and take care of their computer.
Some employees will put it off, meaning the PC won’t get important security updates in a timely manner, and other employees will just run it and take a break, without making sure that the update doesn’t cause a compatibility issue.
It’s simply more effective to have this handled without the end user getting involved. That’s why large corporations have internal IT departments—they know leaving this sort of thing to an end user isn’t worth it, especially when that end user has other things to focus on.
Scalability and Flexibility
Managed IT services offer businesses the flexibility to scale their services up or down as needed. This is especially beneficial for businesses with fluctuating technology needs or those experiencing growth. With managed IT services, businesses can easily add or remove services as their needs change, without the hassle of hiring or firing employees.
That’s where we run into some of the so-called managed IT providers that have very strict pricing tiers, and try to stick your business into one of their pre-made buckets. That’s fine for pricing out antivirus and basic services, but each and every business will have unique needs. Every industry has specific needs, too, and not allowing for that kind of flexibility will result in lackluster service.
What Does a Managed IT Provider Offer?
As far as services, at least in our case, the sky's the limit. We offer a wide range of services to meet the unique needs of each business. Some of the most common services include:
IT Support
IT support is a crucial service offered by managed IT services. This includes troubleshooting and resolving any technology issues that may arise, as well as providing ongoing maintenance and updates to keep systems running smoothly.
With 24/7 support, businesses can rest assured that their technology needs will be taken care of at any time of day.
Learn more about our services here
Cybersecurity
In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses. We offer comprehensive security solutions to protect businesses from cyber threats and data breaches. This can include firewalls, antivirus software, and regular security audits.
Managed IT services also provide disaster recovery plans to ensure that businesses can quickly recover from any data loss or system failure.
Cloud Services
Cloud services have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Managed IT services offer businesses access to cloud storage and computing, allowing them to store and access data and applications remotely.
This not only provides businesses with more flexibility and accessibility, but it also reduces the need for expensive on-site servers and equipment.
The cloud brings countless benefits to businesses of all sizes.
Tech Solutions and Consulting
Managed IT services can also provide businesses with tech solutions and consulting services. This can include implementing new software or systems, as well as providing guidance and recommendations for technology upgrades and improvements.
With their expertise and knowledge, managed IT services can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions about their technology needs.
Schedule a free IT consultation!
Who Can Benefit from Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services can benefit businesses of all sizes and industries. However, they are particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to hire and maintain an in-house IT team. We can work with businesses that already have IT staff, too. Whether you need someone to help with a complex IT project or you need a team to handle the everyday maintenance while your IT staff covers the more complex projects, we can help bolster your IT department.
Managed IT services can also benefit businesses that are experiencing growth or those with fluctuating technology needs. With their flexibility and scalability, managed IT services can adapt to the changing needs of businesses and help them achieve their goals.
Most importantly, we can help businesses who know there’s value in their technology but just haven’t been able to get as much out of it as they should be. We love helping small businesses grow and get more done, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (774) 213-9701 to set up a free consultation!
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