If you’ve had to make changes in the way you do business over the past several months, you’re not alone. We’ve entered into a new era for commerce, with companies embracing technology at a record pace. Interruptions in the supply chain, remote work, increased cybercrime – all of these factors are significant considerations for businesses of every size. For the small and midsize business, however, many of these challenges may feel overwhelming.
Sure, there have been (many) learning curves along the way. If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably wondered if you are doing a good job staying on top of your technology. Maybe it’s time to consider partnering with a managed services provider (MSP).
Reasons You Need Managed Services
One thing’s for sure – business won’t return to its pre-pandemic methods of operation. Some things, however, remain important regardless of the current state of affairs. Keeping software updated, company data protected, and communication channels secure is more important than ever, and will be for the foreseeable future. Managed services help companies keep their technology secure and up to date by providing:
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Consulting Services
How do you know if you have the right combination of hardware and software? Is your antivirus program appropriate for your type of business? How do you assess risk to your network? Can you scale your business technology as your needs fluctuate? An MSP can help you to answer these questions and so much more.
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Cybersecurity
Cybercrime has increased at a brisk rate as the world has turned to technology to keep commerce moving. More employees working at home means increased risk for viruses, breaches, and data exposure. Your MSP can help you develop a response to cybercrime through dark web monitoring, intrusion prevention, staff training, and more.
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Backup/Disaster Recovery
When the unthinkable happens and your business faces a data disaster, you’ll want to get back up and running as quickly as possible. One of the benefits of working with an MSP is the development, testing, and deployment of a solid backup/disaster recovery plan. Your MSP can help you limit downtime through encrypted backups of your data, a prioritized plan for restoring services, and regular evaluation of security measures.
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Cost Controls and Budgeting
As your business needs change, you must adapt. Preparing for the future and assessing your tech expenses can strain your operating budget. An MSP can help you to allocate your budget in the most effective way by evaluating how you use technology. They can make recommendations regarding purchases and subscriptions as well as the elimination of services that no longer serve your business well.
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Team of Experts
Business owners and managers are accustomed to being “all things to all people” in their workplace. Even if you have a dedicated IT person on staff, it can be difficult for them to stay on top of every aspect of your infrastructure and cybersecurity. An MSP brings together a team of IT professionals to service your business needs. This pool of knowledge and expertise benefits your company and takes the burden off you and your staff.
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Vendor Management
Keeping up with vendor product offerings and updates can take up a lot of your valuable time. An MSP, however, is dedicated to managing the various changes set forth by your technology vendors. Your MSP will keep track of subscriptions, trigger updates as they become available, and generally help your technology to operate smoothly.
Choosing a Managed Services Provider
While it’s tempting to keep the management of your IT in-house, partnering with a Managed Services Provider can help your company become more productive and efficient.
It’s important to thoroughly research providers in order to find one that can meet your needs. Determine what your goals are regarding your IT and ask questions related to those goals. Once you have a list of potential managed services partners, ask more in-depth questions. The answers you receive to these questions will help you to decide which MSP is a good fit for your business.
Lieberman Technologies works with businesses across a range of industries. We understand the IT challenges and requirements that small and midsize companies have. If you’d like to know more about how we can partner with your business as a Managed Services Provider, contact us!