Reliable, well-managed IT is more important than ever for running a successful company. The pandemic and subsequent shift to digital-first working only accelerated the pace at which businesses of all sizes rely on online services. Managing that growing stack of tools, keeping software current, and maintaining business-critical hardware can quickly become overwhelming, particularly when technology is not your core specialty. That is why many organizations choose to bring in a third party like Carden IT Services to handle it for them.
When an external partner takes ownership of your entire technology environment, this is known as managed IT. In this post we will cover some of the benefits of this model for companies of all sizes, along with answers to questions we commonly hear from prospective clients.
Is Managed IT The Same As IT Support?
No. Standard IT support works on a break/fix model. When something breaks, the provider fixes it, and that is essentially the extent of the service. Managed IT operates differently, taking a proactive rather than reactive approach. A managed IT partner works to strengthen your network, improve its efficiency, keep hardware current and in good condition, implement security measures, and tailor the service to your specific goals. They will of course fix things when they go wrong, but the aim is to build a reliable environment so that problems are far less likely to arise in the first place.
Standard IT support is typically billed by the hour, whereas outsourced IT management is priced at a flat rate per user. This means it is in the provider’s interest to make sure problems are fixed properly and do not keep coming back.
What Is Included In Managed IT Services?
Remote Helpdesk
Almost all technical queries can be resolved remotely by our IT helpdesk team. This can be done over the phone or via remote access tools. Our helpdesk comprises an experienced team of technicians with decades of combined expertise across IT, cybersecurity, cloud platforms, and more.
On-Premises Engineering
On the rare occasions when something cannot be resolved remotely, Carden IT can send one of our engineers to your site. They can assist with hardware maintenance, physical networking, and any other tasks that require hands-on attention.
Cybersecurity Services
Strong security is vital to any organization’s success. Our cybersecurity team includes network specialists who identify, assess, and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. We also provide security awareness training, penetration testing, and firewall management to keep your defenses current.
Cloud Computing Support
A growing proportion of enterprise IT now lives in the cloud. Our team includes cloud specialists familiar with all major platforms who can help migrate elements of your existing setup to improve efficiency. We can also help build a private or hybrid cloud environment if that better suits your needs.
Disaster Recovery Planning
Our team can help you develop a robust disaster recovery plan to limit the impact of a wide range of potential incidents. Whether you are dealing with an office fire, a data breach, or a ransomware attack, we can help you maintain continuity and get back to full operation as quickly as possible.
Proactive IT Management
Our team does not wait for things to break. We work continuously to improve and optimize your technology environment as part of our ongoing service.
What Are The Benefits Of Managed IT?
- Lower and More Predictable Costs
Switching to an outsourced IT model often results in a reduced overall spend. Not only is the total cost typically lower, but because pricing is based on a flat monthly rate, your IT expenditure becomes easy to forecast and factor into your budget in advance. - Improved Productivity
Proactive IT management means fewer outages and fewer interruptions to your team’s working day. Less downtime translates directly into higher output and a more efficient operation overall. - Stronger Cybersecurity
The number of cyber threats continues to grow, and more organizations are falling victim to ransomware and data breaches every year. Without professional, proactive security coverage, your company is exposed. A dedicated IT partner will ensure your firewall is correctly configured, monitor your network for suspicious activity, implement access controls, deploy ransomware protections, and conduct regular security audits across your entire organization. - Reduced Stress
Unless you run a technology company, you almost certainly did not get into business to spend your days troubleshooting firewalls and evaluating cloud platforms. That is exactly why we went into this field. Let an outsourced IT partner handle the technical side while you get back to the parts of your business that you enjoy and that actually generate revenue. - Scalability
Because outsourced IT is priced on a per-user basis, it scales naturally alongside your organization. As you hire more staff and add more devices, your costs increase incrementally. This is far more manageable than the in-house alternative, where growth means either constantly overloading one IT administrator or suddenly doubling staffing costs by hiring a second.
If you would like to improve the security, efficiency, and reliability of your organization’s technology, speak to our team today to find out more about our managed IT packages.
