According to the 2024 Small Business Profile published by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), 34.8 million small businesses call the United States home. They also account for a whopping 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employ nearly 46% of all American employees (59.0 million).
If you’re just about to open and launch a small firm in Chicago, too, one of your first orders of business is to decide whether to invest in managed IT services for small businesses. Otherwise, you’d have to handle all your organization’s IT needs in-house.
The big question is, is outsourcing small business IT support through managed IT consulting services worth it?
The simple answer is yes. Our team at EMPIST has shared valuable insights into why managed IT solutions are investment-worthy small business technology services, so please read on.
Small Businesses Are Top Cybercrime Targets
The biggest headline-grabbing hacks are undoubtedly about large companies. However, cybercriminals don’t discriminate by size; they victimize enterprises of all sizes, including small businesses.
Indeed, data from TechTarget.com reveal that almost half (48%) of all small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have been cyberattack victims. Despite these alarming statistics, 43% of SMBS still struggle to understand the security they need.
Managed IT services can help minimize your firm’s risks through small business cybersecurity solutions. Here are some examples and benefits of managed cybersecurity services.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
EDR is a managed IT and cybersecurity service continuously monitoring endpoints for suspicious and malicious activity. It offers numerous features and functionalities, including but not limited to the following:
- Tracks everything, including but not limited to user logins, network connections, and process executions
- Uses sophisticated algorithms, particularly machine learning, to identify patterns and detect behaviors indicating potential malicious activity, including unauthorized access attempts, malware infections, and advanced persistent threats (APTs)
- Responds immediately and automatically to detected threats
- Exceeds traditional antivirus software by collecting and assessing vast amounts of endpoint data to identify sophisticated attacks that might bypass existing security measures
- Allows security teams to act immediately to contain threats, such as quarantining infected files, isolating compromised endpoints, and blocking malicious processes
- Provides detailed data and logs that security experts can use to investigate the incident investigation and conduct better, more accurate forensics
Through EDR, cybersecurity and IT personnel can better understand the impact and scope of threats and their root causes.
Security Awareness Training
According to the market intelligence hub Payments Cards & Mobile, human vulnerabilities are behind as much as 88% of cybersecurity failures. From sharing confidential credentials to falling victim to phishing scams and malware, these are just some of the top ways your small business’s employees can contribute to security threats in your organization.
Minimize the risks of such incidents by investing in managed IT services, including security awareness training. It teaches your employees to protect your small organization’s:
- Assets
- Data
- Financial resources
Through comprehensive, cyclical training, your employees can become a protective layer instead of a liability. The many goals of education and awareness include:
- Reducing the risk of human error, such as falling for phishing scams and clicking malicious links
- Protecting against cyberattacks by training employees how to recognize and avoid cyber threats, including social engineering, malware, and phishing attacks
- Preventing data breaches by educating employees on data protection protocols and best cybersecurity practices
- Compliance with regulations, especially data protection laws
- Building a security culture, which helps employees become more responsible and attuned to their roles and obligations in protecting company assets and data
Managed Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Exploding Topics says that about three in ten internet users have suffered a data breach due to weak passwords. Despite this, two in three Americans still use the same password for multiple accounts, and 13% use only one password for all accounts! Even worse, the most common password used in the U.S. and worldwide is “123456.”
One of the last things you want for your small business is to have employees with unsafe, even dangerous, password habits and poor cybersecurity practices.
Enter managed MFA, a crucial cybersecurity measure for small businesses that goes beyond requiring a typical username and password. It adds a robust layer of protection by requiring user identity verification through multiple methods. It beefs up security as it:
- Requires additional verification steps that make it more challenging for unauthorized individuals to access accounts and systems, even with compromised passwords
- Strengthens defenses against phishing attacks because even with stolen credentials, cybercriminals would still need the preceding mandatory authentication factors
- Helps control who can access data and resources, ensuring only authorized individuals can access sensitive information
- Reduces the risk of a single compromised password causing a security breach
Dark Web Monitoring
TheHackerNews.com reports that around 15 billion compromised credentials are available on the public internet. To make matters worse, they don’t even include those found in private channels and feeds or the dark web’s “black market.” The publication further says the list keeps growing constantly, with hundreds of millions of stolen credentials added to illicit databases within a month.
Knowing whether one or more of the credentials used in your small business operations are circulating online, whether in public or “private,” is a cornerstone of effective cybersecurity. Thankfully, you don’t have to do this yourself.
You can have IT experts scour the web for potential data breaches and threats with cybersecurity-managed services like dark web monitoring. They’ll continuously search hidden websites and forums where criminals trade and sell stolen or leaked information and notify you immediately if they find anything. You can then act swiftly to secure your Chicago business’s accounts and prevent exploitation.
OS Patch Management
Another vital managed IT service is operating system (OS) patch management. As the term suggests, it involves applying patches or updates to an OS, which is a vital security protocol as it:
- Fixes vulnerabilities
- Improves performance
- Adds new features
OS vendors are responsible for developing and releasing patches. However, the responsibility of downloading and installing them falls on OS users. User adherence to patch installation is critical as these updates:
- Protect against cyberattacks by addressing security vulnerabilities that hackers and cybercriminals can exploit
- Help reduce malware risk
- Prevent data breaches
- Improve stability and performance of operating systems
- Fix bugs and vulnerabilities, helping reduce downtimes
Improve Productivity
Managed IT services improve productivity through:
- Proactive IT management by professionals
- Streamlined IT operations
- Reduced downtime
Let’s examine each function and benefit in more detail below.
Proactive IT Management by Professionals
Reliable managed IT services come from a team of IT professionals with specialized knowledge. With their expertise, they can identify and resolve technical issues quickly and efficiently.
The most reputable managed IT service providers also take a proactive rather than reactive approach to IT and cybersecurity management. For instance, they conduct regular monitoring and maintenance to prevent issues before they occur. As a result, they help reduce disruptions and increase productivity.
Streamlined IT Operations
Since managed IT services handle routine IT tasks and troubleshooting, they help free up in-house staff. Your small business’s employees can then focus on strategic initiatives and projects that drive business growth. They can engage in core business activities rather than daily IT maintenance.
By streamlining IT processes, managed services can significantly improve overall business efficiency. It allows for effective resource allocation and faster decision-making, further boosting productivity.
Reduced Downtime
Through the proactive monitoring and approaches of managed IT services, they can spot and address potential issues before they cause significant downtime. Remember: Every minute of downtime, especially unplanned ones, can adversely affect productivity.
Enhance Employee Morale
Did you know that there’s such a thing as “technostress?” It’s a term used to refer to the stress that arises from computer use. It’s a modern stress-related disease that can result from inadequate or unreliable workplace technology, such as:
- Software glitches
- Hardware malfunctions
- Lack of training on new systems
Unfortunately, technostress, like any other form of stress, can lead to more problems like:
- Decreased productivity
- Increased absenteeism rate
- Poor overall well-being
- Lower job satisfaction
- Significantly lower employee morale
The worse such problems get, the more likely employees will become burnt out. From there, their odds of quitting drastically increase.
Managed IT services can help prevent such issues and enhance employee morale instead. They can do so by providing the following benefits.
Give Employees a Dependable IT Infrastructure
Managed IT service providers proactively maintain systems to ensure they function optimally. They also provide reliable and immediate support if and when problems arise. As a result, employees feel less tech-related stress and frustration, enabling them to focus on their tasks and responsibilities.
Also, remember that workers can finish their jobs more efficiently when technology works smoothly. They can achieve more and deliver better outcomes, giving them a higher sense of accomplishment.
Enhanced Job Satisfaction
Managed IT services contribute to a more positive work environment by preventing and promptly fixing technical issues and providing a reliable IT infrastructure. Such positivity can raise employee job satisfaction and morale.
Plus, when employees don’t have to troubleshoot IT problems repeatedly, they can dedicate more time to their core responsibilities. They can feel more engaged and have a stronger sense of purpose at the workplace. They’ll likely appreciate you, their employer, even more, as they’ll take this as a sign that you care for their well-being.
Increase Customer Trust and Loyalty
Your customers also benefit when your small business has a reliable, secure IT infrastructure. The more they feel and experience these benefits, the more trust and loyalty they’ll have in you.
Here’s how managed IT services can help you achieve this goal.
IT System Reliability and Uptime
Since managed IT services help ensure your IT systems are consistently reliable, they can significantly reduce downtime and technical glitches. Such problems can be highly frustrating to customers and damage your brand reputation, which is why, as much as possible, you’d want to eliminate them from your IT environment.
With proactive monitoring and maintenance, including remote solutions, a reputable managed IT service provider can help prevent issues before they impact customers, demonstrating your commitment to seamless service.
Peace of Mind With Data Security and Protection
Through the robust cybersecurity measures that managed IT services implement, your IT assets and data, including those of your customers, are at a significantly lower risk of being stolen and sold. When your clients know you’re taking such steps to protect their information, they will feel more assured about choosing your business. Such assurance fosters trust and loyalty.
Enhanced Customer Experience
By freeing up internal resources through streamlined IT operations, managed IT services allow your small business to focus on delivering excellent customer service and support. You and your employees will be able to:
- Provide quicker response times to customers
- Deliver efficient issue resolution
- Ensure personalized client experiences
All those can contribute to increased customer happiness, satisfaction, and loyalty.
Reduce IT Costs
Managed services can significantly reduce startup IT costs. For one, they eliminate the need for your small business to hire and retain in-house IT staff. Your organization can also save from not having to invest in costly IT equipment.
Working with a highly reputable managed IT service provider lets your firm access specialized expertise and cutting-edge technology without a massive upfront investment. You won’t have to worry about the costs of IT equipment and infrastructure upkeep, too. Also, since they own the technologies they use to provide the services you need, they’ll be responsible for maintaining these systems.
The proactive approach that managed IT services implement also prevents problems from worsening. By addressing minor issues as soon as they arise, your managed IT service provider can prevent them from becoming costlier to fix.
Managed IT Services for Small Businesses Are Undoubtedly Worth It
Minimizing cybersecurity risks, improving productivity, boosting employee morale, increasing customer trust, and reducing IT costs are some of the top reasons managed IT services for small businesses are worth it. So, consider these perks and pros if you’re still on the fence about investing in them. And remember that they’re only a fraction of what you’ll otherwise spend if your business falls victim to cybercrime.
If you’re ready to invest in top-notch managed IT services in Chicago, our firm, EMPIST, is here to help. We’ve been delivering exceptional managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and web development services for nearly a quarter of a century. We’ll gladly provide the same for your small business.
Reach out to us today for your free consultation!