A reliable and functional IT infrastructure is a crucial component of small business success. Cutting corners with your business technology will have long-term repercussions. IT outages can lead to excessive downtime, which can lower profit margins. Managed IT services bring business strategy and IT support to help your business grow.

Some businesses fail to realize just how important proper IT management is until it is too late. For some businesses, IT downtime causes lower productivity. For other companies, IT downtime can affect the masses.

Take WestJet Airlines Ltd., for instance. A few months ago, this company experienced severe IT outages. Widespread flight delays and angry customers were the byproducts of this outage.

Rather than leaving your IT infrastructure vulnerable and mismanaged, it is time to make changes. Read below to learn more about the benefits offered by managed IT services.

The Problems Caused by Break-fix IT Models

Cutting costs is something most business owners are passionate about. The desire to save money upfront can lead a business owner to make bad decisions. Some entrepreneurs look at the fee-based IT support model known as break-fix and think it is the most cost-effective option.

The break-fix model is based on the end client calling an IT provider when problems arise. The fees associated with IT repairs in the break-fix model depend heavily on the problem a client is dealing with and how fast they need it fixed.

The longer a business has to wait to get their IT problems fixed, the more money they will inevitably lose. IT downtime costs the average business around $5,600 a minute. This is why keeping your IT infrastructure efficient with the help of managed IT services is so important.

Are you curious about what an IT outage would cost your business? If so, check out our recovery time calculator.

In-house IT Isn’t Feasible for Most Businesses

Entrepreneurs new to the world of IT support think they can compile an in-house team to manage their growing infrastructure. Finding and hiring the right members for your in-house IT team is a lot harder than you probably realize. Even if you find knowledgeable professionals to put on your team, you will struggle to keep paying for the cost of in-house IT.

Embracing the in-house IT model will cause problems like:

• Nonexistent IT support after business hours
• Costly in-house IT
• Employee turnover hurting your IT infrastructure
• Lack of expertise

Outsourcing your IT needs to a managed services provider is the best course of action. Secure Networks believes in providing personal service to our clients. Using our managed IT services means you will pay a fixed price for all your IT support.

Get the Support You Need With Managed IT Services

There is no denying just how much of a liability break-fix and in-house IT can be. If you are tired of dealing with the problems caused by these IT models, then it is time to reach out to a managed IT service provider. Managed IT services can help you manage and expand your IT infrastructure.

Keeping Your IT Infrastructure Secure and Compliant

Collecting data is something most business owners are quite familiar with. In the past few years, legislation like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has changed the way businesses collect and store consumer data.

If you want to keep your IT infrastructure compliant and secure, working with a managed IT service is imperative.

Trying to get an idea of how your existing network security stacks up? If so, take advantage of the free cybersecurity scan offered by Secure Networks.

Keep Your IT Costs Manageable

As previously mentioned, the costs associated with both in-house and break-fix IT support can get expensive over time. Failing to plan for future IT improvements and upgrades can put you at a disadvantage. One of the best parts about using managed IT services is their ability to help you budget for the future.

Managed IT services will closely monitor your IT infrastructure’s hardware and software components. This monitoring allows them to predict when certain components need to be replaced. Having advance notice of these upgrades will allow you to create a more accurate IT budget.

Fast Response Times Lower IT Downtime

Every second counts when problems in your IT infrastructure bring your operation to a grinding halt. Managed IT services closely monitor every aspect of your IT infrastructure. This means they can detect problems early on and address them.

The faster these problems are addressed, the easier it will be to avoid excessive IT downtime. By lowering IT downtime, you can increase productivity levels and grow your profit margin.

Managed IT Services Are a Click Away!

Are you tired of dealing with an unreliable IT infrastructure? Has break-fix IT taken away your ability to stay productive? If so, it is time to embrace managed IT services.

Book a call with Secure Networks today to learn more about our managed IT services.