managed it services

The world of business has become more digitized in the previous decade. Most organizations use technologies like computer systems, inventory control systems, and productivity tools to streamline their operations. Many also have websites and use social media platforms to connect with consumers.

However, as entrepreneurs leverage technologies for their operations, they become prone to cyber threats. A recent study shows that every fourteen seconds, an organization becomes a victim of a ransomware attack. Meanwhile, 43% of these threats target startup companies. This data only shows that traditional cybersecurity practices aren’t enough for businesses anymore.

Consequently, most business owners now transfer their information technology needs to a more advanced alternative. Besides carrying out an in-house IT team, many opt for managed IT services for better protection. It’s an arrangement where a third-party provider like this it services NJ company takes over the day-to-day management of your company’s IT infrastructure.

Aside from security, research reveals that 50% of companies benefit from up to 24% of annual IT costs. With these trends in organizations, it’s evident that managed IT services are rapidly changing how businesses operate and manage their information technology environments.

So, now that you know how it has been evolving other companies, you must be aware of how it’ll shape the future of business and tech. That way, your company stays ahead of its competition by operating at peak performance with this modern practice. Here’s how:

1. Network Monitoring Strengthens Defenses

Network failure and slow traffic are both common causes of downtime in operations. A study shows that these are both costly since 91% of enterprises spend USD$300,000 per hour for a single rest, whereas half spend millions.

As such, you must invest in network monitoring to detect problems before they happen and prevent business disruptions. You can do this by leveraging managed IT by Spectrumwise because they can monitor your network for performance issues. This prevents outages and fluctuations that may cause bottlenecks and reduces the impact of downtime on your business operations.

2. Decentralized Systems Drive Digital Transformation

Decentralization is about taking a zero-trust approach when it comes to data storage. For instance, instead of using a single central database that can compromise the security of your company’s data, you can use multiple distributed databases to store customer and employee information. This allows users to control their data, which means there’ll be no need for security precautions or extra layers of protection like encryption. 

If one of the networks is compromised, other sections will continue to operate since they’re not affected by the attack. This gives businesses high cybersecurity resilience and makes them more secure than traditional systems.

With this in mind, companies take this opportunity to drive innovation toward their applications and systems. They do this with the help of managed IT services where they can manage all aspects, including infrastructure, applications, and operations. This ensures maximum business continuity for their consumers, even if a part of their network is compromised.

3. 24-Hour Helpdesk Support Upgrades Customer Service

Customer service is directly correlated to consumer satisfaction, encouraging brand loyalty. Research shows that 68% of clients are willing to spend more on additional products and services if a company offers good customer service. On the other hand, 65% of customers say that they shifted to another brand due to poor experience.

As such, entrepreneurs focus on delivering 24-hour customer support. However, it can be costly to do this if they must hire additional in-house staff to accommodate the needs of their clients. For instance, your company needs help with website maintenance, social media, and email management. Then, you’ll need to hire two new employees to provide this service that’ll work the night shift and during the weekends.

Aside from their salaries, you still pay for training and provide them with devices if you don’t want to adopt the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. Even after the training, you still must pay an additional amount for on-site technicians who keep up with tech updates and upgrades. Aside from that, you won’t be sure that they’ll stay in your company. A study even reveals that customer support agents only hold one job for a year, which reflects a turnover rate of 45%.

But by outsourcing managed IT services, you can avoid these expenses and save money and time spent on hiring and training new employees for your business. In other words, these experts deliver 24/7 support to ensure a positive consumer experience, encouraging brand loyalty. That way, your company can focus on core business activities rather than worrying about needing more expertise from your in-house IT team.

4. Artificial Intelligence Provides Data-Driven Decisions 

Data-driven decision management (DDDM) is an organization’s ability to leverage data to make sound decisions using artificial intelligence. Research shows that data-driven companies tend to have successful customer acquisition 23 times better than other brands that don’t. AI will be a critical factor in business success in the coming years, as it helps companies make better decisions.

A great way to ensure the success of this approach is through the help of managed IT services. For instance, they can boost the user experience (UX) on your website by using data analytics to analyze the purchasing behavior of online consumers. They may deliver those insights to your marketing team to identify new target markets or improve the checkout process. 

Another example is using predictive analysis to predict machine maintenance. This tells whether machinery requires repairs so you can schedule it right away or maybe it needs replacement to avoid downtime and higher costs later. This means that your IT infrastructure remains functional to continue operating without interruption.

5. Cloud Storage Management Facilitates Remote Workforce 

With the ever-rising trend in a remote work environment, managing files and data across multiple locations can be challenging. This is especially true if your staff carries sensitive data with hard copies. A study shows that around 140,000 hard drives experience data loss in the United States each week. This puts business information at risk of cyber threats while also disrupting operations.

A modern alternative to data storage is the cloud since it won’t require your team to store and manage their data. Instead, you can allocate storage space remotely and monitor it from anywhere through an intuitive interface. This is why 94% of all companies are already using cloud services.

However, this doesn’t mean your information is safe from cyber-attacks like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) or malicious insiders. This is why companies still need cloud storage management with the help of managed IT service providers. They automate the entire process by simplifying and managing your company’s data through its vast network of servers. Security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other advanced services, back these up. That way, your remote workers can access data on the cloud without compromising it. 

6. Identity And Access Management Secures Data 

Today’s companies must balance easy data access with information safety. If they cannot do so, they risk losing valuable sales prospects and employees. For instance, if a financial offer accidentally clicks on a suspicious email and provides confidential business data, they fall victim to a phishing scam. This puts them at significant risk for identity theft, which can lead to substantial losses in both time and money. 

With this in mind, you must invest in identity and access management for data security. You may partner with managed IT services that can mitigate the risks of insecure networks and applications. They do this by encrypting files and training employees to use stronger passwords or multi-factor authentication. They can also strengthen their network defenses by implementing firewall protections and anti-malware software across your entire infrastructure. 

Ultimately, they can protect data from unauthorized access while providing their employees seamless access to email and file-sharing services. This ensures that operations remain confidential and productive at the same time.

Key Takeaways

More companies are now accepting technologies as necessary for streamlining their operations. However, this also means that they can be targets of cybercriminals who can access sensitive business data. If entrepreneurs aren’t careful, they will likely lose out on critical information that could negatively impact their business.

The good news is that managed IT services offer the best solution for businesses looking to secure themselves against cybercrime and keep their data safe from hackers. With these services in place, organizations can achieve many benefits, including increased security awareness among staff and better control over their networks.

In addition, managed IT services also help businesses reduce costs associated with managing their IT infrastructure. This is because they provide a full range of expertise that allows them to make informed decisions about technology purchases and upgrades. This enables them to save money on local contracting fees and the cost of training staff in new technologies.

Some of the ways these services help companies is through AI for making better decisions. Aside from that, they could provide 24/7 monitoring in all the networks within a commercial to identify and mitigate risks. That way, they can revoke access from authorized users who should not use corporate resources for other illicit activities. This means businesses will be ready for a future that requires them to stay ahead of any threats while keeping up with the competition.