The top 8 reasons. to outsource your IT. to a managed services provider

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1 The top 8 reasons to outsource your IT to a managed services provider

2 INTRODUCTION The way we work is changing. Where once we had in-house IT teams looking after every aspect of IT operations, the cloud is now driving a shift to outsourced IT. The pressure on IT teams is considerable, and many small or medium businesses are now turning to cloud-based tools to keep up with the rapidly-changing IT environment. Cloud-based tools like Office 365 and Skype for Business are some ways businesses have moved to the cloud. These tools are managed off-site, and someone else is responsible for maintenance and upgrades. You get all of the benefits, but none of the inconvenience or expense. services offer another strategy for getting outstanding results in the cloud. Just as cloud-based tools make it easier to work innovatively, quickly and costeffectively, managed IT makes it easier to concentrate on what you do best. With outsourced IT specialists proactively maintaining your IT environment and infrastructure, managed IT services are worth considering. If information technology isn t your core business, there s probably someone else who can navigate the complex and dynamic environment better than you can and deliver the results you need for less. In this ebook we ll: explain how managed IT services and the cloud can go hand-in-hand describe how managed IT services can save you time and money outline the top reasons for outsourcing your IT give you some tips on what to look for in a service provider. What the cloud has taught us about outsourcing Cloud computing has changed the rules of the IT game. While the days of storing information on a hard drive or local server are not quite over, the cloud now uses the internet to give us convenient, on-demand access to data and programs. With shared cloud resources like networks, servers, storage and services, we can get access to the information we need with little management effort. Most organisations have now adopted some degree of cloud services as part of their IT setup. Smart businesses are capitalising on the relatively low cost of outsourcing in return for a system that is high-performing, accessible, scalable and available. If you re keen to avoid upfront infrastructure costs, interested in getting your computer applications running faster and more efficiently, and want to stop spending time managing and maintaining your IT systems, then moving your IT from in-house to an outsourced arrangement makes sense. With little investment, you can drive innovation, reduce IT costs and save money. And as a bonus, you ll find yourself with more time to invest in growing your business.

3 What exactly is managed IT? Since the spike in the uptake of cloud computing, organisations have had to change the way they work. In simple terms, there are two key options when it comes to IT infrastructure: 1. look after all aspects of your IT in-house 2. outsource to a managed IT service supplier. Internal management of all aspects of IT for a small to medium business can be challenging. Perhaps you need more IT people than you can afford, or your small team is always flat out. There may be little time or budget for professional development, or you may not even have a dedicated IT team. If this sounds familiar, you can reap enormous benefits from investing in managed IT. is a smart way to make experts manage, monitor and administer your IT system and ensure its high performance. Outsourcing your IT services can deliver: complete fixed-cost IT management and support experienced dedicated helpdesk personnel proactive and automated incident management intelligent monitoring systems for all servers and desktop computer systems security and tracking of mobile devices asset and health reporting, including security audits and updates.

4 How managed IT and the cloud fit together If you re already working with cloud-based tools like Office 365, where you outsource the day-to-day functions to a vendor, you ll know the payoffs include increased efficiency, improved processes and cost savings. services are similar. By outsourcing these you gain greater security, availability and performance. Working hand-in-hand with your cloud strategy and your internal IT team, managed IT services can make it easier for your expanding business to keep up with growth and still be cost-effective. Just as the cloud is taking the place of hard drives and local storage, outsourced IT arrangements are now becoming the smart choice.

5 01 reduces your risk The days of finding a breach after it s happened, or discovering a computer virus after it s crippled your server are over. With managed IT services, your system is always monitored for even the slightest irregularity. Skilled specialists identify and mitigate issues before they become problematic. means that you: no longer need to rely on limited internal resources to maintain your IT infrastructure can count on regular data backups, installation of software patches and upgrades benefit from several layers of cover for security, connectivity and power know that your data, applications and servers are highly secure and available can say goodbye to maintaining hardware, managing a data centre or monitoring applications profit from minimal service interruptions and guaranteed uptime of your servers and networks can rely on proactive and automated incident management through constant monitoring. brings you peace of mind 02 Your IT person has taken a week s unscheduled leave. You have a report due tomorrow, and you discover that all the data you need to finalise the report seems to have vanished from your PC. You ask a few of the techy people in the office if they can help, but no one has any success. If you ve ever been in this situation, you ll know how important it is to be able to turn to experts who can help you sort out your IT glitches quickly. You can have peace of mind that an outsourced arrangement can fill the gaps in your business and supplement the existing knowledge of your team. services offer: a team of technical experts with a variety of broad, relevant skills continuity no concerns about staff moving on and taking their expertise with them expertise in prompt and professional handling of issues up to date knowledge of the latest developments and industry best practice.

6 03 is cost effective & timely Your time is limited. Your resources are scarce. You have little opportunity to pay full attention to your IT system. Outsourcing this to experts can cut your costs. They can do things outside your area of expertise more quickly and efficiently than you can, but exactly how does managed IT work? For a minimal initial cost and a predictable monthly or annual fee, managed IT services can cover your entire IT environment. You won t need to worry about maintenance, buying hardware or spending time attending to your infrastructure. With outsourced IT, you pay per user, not the number of full-time resources (plus leave, entitlements, training to keep skills current, etc.) you need. Some estimates claim you can save up to 30 per cent on IT costs by outsourcing. Offloading the management of your IT infrastructure to experienced managed services professionals lets you redirect your focus to running your business without dealing with IT interruptions and helps you stay focused on your primary business. means fewer new staff 04 By outsourcing IT management to an external vendor, you no longer need to invest in resources or additional training to support your IT system and applications, because someone else will be responsible for monitoring, managing and resolving them. It makes sense for you to outsource to a team with specialised skill sets and constant availability instead of trying to support these operations yourself. Hiring skilled IT staff is costly, but with managed IT, you can divest many IT operations. You ll save money and effort recruiting and training IT staff, and no longer have to deal with more than one service provider. With managed IT, you ll also get services that are difficult to achieve with a do-it-yourself model, including access to technical support and advice around the clock every day of the year and a single point of contact for everything related to your IT system.

7 05 results in increased productivity One of the great things about working in the cloud is that solutions can be customised to support your evolving needs. can be fully tailored to your requirements, and can be scaled as your organisation grows to support varying workloads and performance requirements. With fixed-cost per user managed IT, you can accurately manage and forecast your expenses and spend your time accelerating growth and expansion. If you re expanding quickly, changes can be made with short lead time if unexpected demand occurs. Your team will be more productive if they don t have to contend with regular computer glitches to interrupt their focus. You can say goodbye to people waiting idly for the IT team to come in and fix the problem that s caused the system to crash. lets people do their jobs well and spend less time resolving issues with technology. Because you can count on the availability of your IT network, there will be no downtime which can have a negative impact on productivity. makes things easy 06 Good managed IT services operate on a simple model that is all inclusive and user-based. It s not only the pricing model that s easy. A managed IT provider will make it easy when new employees join your business. They ll be able to hit the ground running with fully supported laptop or desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices and all the back-end infrastructure they need, such as servers, printers and network devices, will be ready. This pricing model also makes it easy for you to predict the likely cost of your IT support as you move forward, and simplify your planning and budgeting.

8 07 helps small organisations act big Before the days of the cloud, it was difficult for small to medium businesses to match the technology that larger corporations with six-figure IT budgets and large in-house IT teams could afford. The cost of continually upgrading was daunting, and the risk of your software or hardware becoming obsolete was real. now provides you with access to the best technologies and equipment on the market, similar to what the big players have. If you need upgrades or modifications, your provider can ensure this process is seamless, with no risk to your operations. With the latest technology at your fingertips, but with limited risk, you ll not only see benefits in your day to day operations but be better equipped to meet your long term goals. enhances compliance & security 08 If you have limited internal resources, you ll know that it can be a challenge to stay on top of the training you need to keep up with evolving technology. It s difficult for in-house IT services, which are often working under considerable pressure, to keep up with these changing requirements. Outsourcing your IT services ensures that your system is kept current and compliant with industry requirements and best practice. services give you assurance that your infrastructure is safe, regularly monitored, backed up and protected. You can be confident of the security of your system through the use of spam filters, firewalls, antivirus software, safety procedures and other threat management systems. A managed IT provider draws on and regularly tests established processes and procedures for meeting regulatory requirements. These functions are integrated holistically as part of the overall risk management approach to the business, giving you additional peace of mind.

9 In a Nutshell The cloud has opened up new opportunities to capitalise on the availability of reliable, easy to use, responsive IT services. The right managed IT service can make it easy for you to focus on what is important while they safely manage your IT operations. Perhaps you are still using an on-premise IT set-up or a hybrid model where you access some cloud-based services. Maybe you are ready to add more cloud services over time, or are looking for better ways of configuring your IT to meet your needs and goals. Wherever you are in your cloud journey, managed IT services will allow you to: CHOOSING AN IT PROVIDER If you re ready to consider moving from in-house IT support to an outsourced contractor, here are a few questions to keep in mind. Do they have local support staff? Do they have a presence in regions your business may grow into? Is their pricing model uncomplicated and fixed cost? Do they have a sound reputation for data integrity and security? Do they offer experienced, dedicated helpdesk personnel? reduce your expenditure and upfront costs cut labour costs eliminate downtime and technical issues enjoy flexible system upgrades and maintenance benefit from improved scalability access to the latest enterprise level technology boost productivity develop more accurate budgets future-proof your IT system.

10 what s next? You already know about the flexibility, operational benefits, increased efficiencies and substantial savings that the cloud computing can bring you. With leaders increasingly being called on to adapt and look to the future, managed IT services are one of the most powerful cloud-based tools that can help drive a forward-thinking IT strategy. If you re ready to refocus your IT strategy and make a real difference to your business, contact Professional Advantage on About us Professional Advantage is one of Australia s most awarded solutions providers, with over 20 years experience in helping organisations improve their business systems through industry leading software solutions. Our 250-strong team in 6 offices across Australia and internationally has successfully worked with over 1000 organisations. For more information Call: Visit: enquiries@pa.com.au Professional Advantage Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners. BM