With the increasing reliance on technology, it’s more important than ever to invest in IT maintenance. Otherwise, businesses risk issues like data breaches, which cost SMBs a staggering $2.98 million. But that’s not all.
Downtime due to system failures can also grind operations to a halt. This means losing revenue and, potentially, even customers. There are also legal repercussions to consider.
This is where investing in reliable IT maintenance services can prove a game-changer for small businesses. Keep reading for more on the benefits of outsourcing IT maintenance for SMBs.
Cost Savings
One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing IT maintenance is the cost savings. Hiring and maintaining an in-house IT team can be expensive, especially for SMBs. It comes with extra costs associated with hiring, training, and retaining IT staff, which add up over time.
Indeed estimates that the average salary for an IT manager in the U.S. is $95,150 annually. Add to that the cost of benefits, training, and other expenses, the total cost can easily exceed $120,000 per year. In contrast, outsourced services cost a fraction of that amount.
Businesses also avoid the hidden costs of maintaining IT infrastructure. For instance, outsourcing means you don’t need to purchase new hardware or software licenses. It also eliminates the need to upgrade existing systems or pay for maintenance contracts.
These responsibilities fall on the shoulders of your managed services provider. This makes it easier for businesses to budget and plan for IT expenses. Moreover, you can enjoy the latest technology and expert support without breaking the bank.
Improved Efficiency and Productivity
Outsourcing IT maintenance can also lead to major efficiency and productivity gains. Letting an outsourced IT provider handle tedious IT upkeep frees up internal time and resources. As such, your staff can focus more on core duties.
You can also avoid downtimes and interruptions caused by IT issues. This is crucial when it comes to maximizing workflows and output.
Outsourcing also ensures that your systems are always secure, up-to-date, and reliable. IT experts proactively monitor your systems to identify and fix problems before operations take a hit. They also install updates and optimize systems to keep them running smoothly.
In a nutshell, outsourced IT can supercharge workplace efficiency. Operations fire on all cylinders thanks to dialed-in infrastructure. This raises the ceiling on what staff and businesses as a whole can achieve.
Access to Specialized Skills and Expertise
Technology is always changing and getting more complicated. You need to keep up with the latest trends, tools, and best practices to maintain your IT infrastructure effectively. But this isn’t always easy or practical for small to medium-sized businesses with limited resources.
This is where outsourcing the task can prove a game changer. It allows SMBs to leverage a wide variety of skills. These providers consist of teams with certified technicians and engineers who specialize in different aspects of IT.
This includes database administration, information security, cloud computing, network engineering, and more. As such, you have peace of mind knowing that your system is in good hands.
An outsourced IT provider also gives you access to technologies and solutions that may be unavailable to SMBs. You can take advantage of the latest innovations in IoT, AI, cloud computing, and other new technologies. This gives you a competitive edge in the market.
Enhance Security and Compliance
Outsourcing IT maintenance can also help enhance security and compliance in your business. Cybersecurity is one of the biggest concerns for SMBs today. Hackers, malware, ransomware, phishing, and other threats are only getting more sophisticated.
Moreover, SMBs also need to comply with various regulations and standards regarding data protection. These include GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and more. Outsourcing IT maintenance means relying on an expert with the tools and expertise to protect your data and systems.
An outsourced IT provider can also ensure that your data is stored, transferred, and processed securely and lawfully. Furthermore, an outsourced IT provider can help recover your data and systems in case of a disaster or breach. They often offer a backup and recovery plan so you never have to worry about losing all your data.
Gain a Competitive Edge
Outsourcing IT maintenance can give you an edge over your competition. Having an outside company handle your technology upkeep keeps your systems up-to-date, secure, and problem-free. This keeps things running smoothly for serving customers while competitors may fall behind on tech updates.
It also lets you take advantage of the latest innovations that improve products, services, and operations. Expert providers know about emerging trends and can customize cutting-edge solutions for your needs. This ongoing modernization keeps you out in front.
Additionally, outsourcing IT maintenance lets your team concentrate on what makes your business stand apart. Handing off infrastructure duties frees up your people to focus on delivering your distinctive offerings and value. You can zero in on excelling in what makes you special instead of doing commodity IT tasks.
This tight alignment with what gives you an advantage, enabled by delegating tech maintenance, is a major plus compared to companies that try to do everything themselves. Lean on outside experts to support the basics so you can lead your market in what you do best. Outsourcing gives you space to build on your strengths.
Boost Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty
Customers expect quality products and services that fully meet their needs and expectations. They also want your business to be dependable, fast, and keep their data safe. If your tech infrastructure doesn’t meet these needs, you might lose customers to the competition.
A great way to meet these needs is to outsource IT upkeep. Relying on a team of IT experts means less risk of tech problems that might affect customers. They’ll be able to optimize solutions, leading to reliable and consistent service.
Outsourcing IT maintenance also keeps your customers’ information safe from online dangers. The pros use really strong security to make sure sensitive details stay protected. People now really care about keeping their data safe when dealing with businesses, and outsourcing can make sure that happens.
And there’s more-you can use the info you get from an outsourced IT provider to know your customers better. The data can help you fine-tune your offerings. You can better personalize experiences for each customer.
Scale Up or Down as Needed
As your business grows and changes, so do your IT needs and demands. You may need to add more IT equipment, software, or services to support your expansion. Alternatively, you may need to reduce them to cut costs or streamline your operations.
However, scaling your IT infrastructure can be difficult and costly if you do it in-house. Hiring more in-house IT staff or buying more IT infrastructure requires significant investment. Similarly, downsizing may be complicated by employment laws or unused assets on your books.
The good news is that outsourcing provides more flexibility to adjust your IT resources based on current business conditions. You scale your IT infrastructure more easily and flexibly by adjusting your contract with your external IT provider. Whether it’s downsizing or upgrading, you only pay for what you use.
No more committing to permanent hiring or equipment purchases. The provider will handle all the infrastructure. This supports business agility as your needs fluctuate.
Reduce Risks and Liabilities
Running a business comes with many risks that can harm your reputation, money, or legal standing. Some of these dangers are linked to your IT system, like data leaks or system problems. If not handled well, these issues can disrupt operations, incur major costs, and even threaten your future.
Outsourcing IT maintenance helps cut down on these risks by transferring some of them to your provider. For example, let’s say a data leak occurs because of a security breach in your IT system. Your outsourced IT provider might be held responsible for the damage or losses caused by the leak instead of your company.
Additionally, outsourced IT providers often provide warranties, insurance coverage, guarantees, and other safeguards. Some even go as far as offering cyber insurance, service agreements, and error and omissions insurance. These go a long way toward protecting your business if something goes wrong and also show that your IT service provider is invested in the success of your business.
Outsourcing makes it easier and less stressful to watch out for dangers in your infrastructure. The experts handle monitoring of your system and any issues that come up. This reduces the risk associated with IT systems, paving the way for your business to grow.
Let Empist Handle Your IT Maintenance Needs
Outsourcing IT maintenance is a game-changer for SMBs that want to get the most out of their technology investments. Working with an MSP like Empist also helps optimize your business environment. The benefits range from reduced costs and improved efficiency to increased customer satisfaction.
Ultimately, it allows your team to focus on core operations and strategy. If this sounds like something you want, we are here to help. Our IT maintenance services aim to provide a foundation for long-term success.
Don’t wait-get in touch now and let us know how we can help you.