More than 60% of the world now uses the internet. Moreover, an estimated 700,000 new users go online each day. Many of them rely on the Internet to research, compare, and purchase products and services.
So, it’s no wonder that businesses now pour more funds into information technology. Some of that spending, in turn, goes toward hiring a managed IT service provider.
If you’re a business owner yourself, it’s time to consider investing in managed IT services. We rounded up the top benefits of doing so in this guide, so be sure to read on.
Bridge Gaps in IT Knowledge
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computer and IT occupations to grow by 11% from 2019 to 2029. Within this period, these sectors would add more than half a million new jobs.
There are, after all, more than a dozen types of computer and IT specialists. They then have their own specializations, such as tech support, cybersecurity, or coding.
As such, it’s crucial to understand that one in-house IT specialist may not be able to handle all your IT needs. For example, even a skilled IT technician may not have enough cybersecurity knowledge. Likewise, a superb in-house programmer may not have adequate training in communication systems.
A co-managed IT service provider can help fill in those knowledge and skill gaps. For example, you can hire them for IT consulting first to determine the areas you need external help with. From there, you can outsource only the IT services that are beyond your in-house team’s scope of work.
Keep IT Breakdowns and Downtimes at a Minimum
In a 2020 report, about a quarter of SMBs reported going offline in the previous year. Of these organizations, 37% lost customers, while 17% suffered revenue losses.
There’s no doubt that an in-house IT help desk can help shorten downtimes. However, it would be a lot better if you can prevent the root cause of such IT woes in the first place.
Fortunately, managed IT services include preventive systems and network monitoring. The IT experts won’t wait for a problem to occur. Instead, they’ll proactively seek potential anomalies within your IT system.
As a result, they can catch issues early and resolve them before they worsen.
Mitigate Risks of Costly Cyber Threats
Experts estimated that in 2020, cybercrime damage exceeded $1 trillion. Worse, they forecast that the world may lose $6 trillion to such crimes each year this 2021.
Now, keep in mind that any IT user, from regular folks to SMBs and large corporations, is at risk of cyber threats. That includes your small business, which may fall victim to malware attacks.
That’s why you’d want to hire a managed service provider specializing in cybersecurity. For starters, they can help prevent breaches by implementing intrusion detection and prevention. They can also provide you with identity and access solutions to mitigate data loss and theft.
Read next: Ins and Outs of Professional IT Services
Let a Managed IT Service Provider Help You Grow Your Business
One last thing to keep in mind: one hour of IT downtime can cost thousands of dollars. That’s on top of all the losses you could incur if you become a cybercrime victim.
So, as early as now, it’s best to hire a managed IT service provider. This way, they can help you rake in profits that you could then invest in assets to grow your business.
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