Managed IT Services
What Is Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services is the process of delegating the IT operations of an organization to a third-party called Managed Service Providers (MSPs). These expert third-party organizations are responsible for handling the entire IT operations of an organization. They provide a range of services such as security, data backups, 24x7 monitoring services and on-demand support. Some organizations also require MSPs to provide them with devices such as servers, networks, desktops and other storage systems.
Managed IT Services: An Overview
Managed IT services has become one of the most popular practices among organizations, particularly among Fortune 500 companies. The organizations can depend on the MSPs to handle their business operations and processes focusing on increasing productivity and efficiency.
The demand for managed IT services is largely driven by a number of factors such as:
Increased pressure for organizations to stay updated with the latest technological advancements
The need to meet regulatory compliance of technologies used
Lack of technical expertise among the internal team in the organization
Increase in the number of cyber attacks on organizations
One of the main advantages of managed IT services is that they can provide great insight and expertise to companies at predictable monthly costs. When organizations hire and train new internal staff, manage IT equipment, handle security or deploy systems on their own, unexpected expenses can come up as well. MSPs can help break down these costs into monthly fixed payments and reduce the huge in-house expenditures on an organization.
Types of IT Services
Managed services are primarily concerned with the outsourcing of IT services such as security, hosting, cloud computing, etc. As of 2020, the most popular IT service outsourced by companies is hosting.
Here are some other types of IT services provides by MSPs:
Network and System Monitoring
One of the most time-consuming tasks for any organization is network and system monitoring. MSPs can take up this role through a remote monitoring and management platform. This helps organizations focus on optimizing performance and reducing losses by focusing on other important aspects of the organization.
System Design and Upgrades
MSPs work with organizations to understand their unique requirements and fulfill their business objectives. They keep an eye on all the upcoming industry trends and changes in technology to ensure that upgrades are done routinely and the organizations stay ahead of their competition
Security Management
Another important role of the MSPs is to protect an organization from cyber attacks. They provide regular software patching, maintenance and other security management services.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
MSPs also ensure the integrity and safety of an organization’s data. They make sure that adequate backups are always in place, and the data can be recovered easily in the event of a disaster.
Auditing and Compliance
Compliance causes huge stress on organizations that do not have the expertise in it. MSPs are very familiar with all the compliance standards and can help organizations decrease the risks related to their client data, payment information, documentation and other sensitive information.
Analytics and Reporting
MSPs provide regular analytics and reporting to help organizations evaluate their network performance and other KPIs. They can provide unbiased snapshots of workflows in the organization and even provide suggestions for improving them.