Managed IT Services: How IT Has Evolved
Managed IT services are changing the way information technology is delivered for businesses. In this type of IT management, a company’s information technology needs are outsourced to a specialized third-party organization, otherwise known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP). Tapping into this expertise allows the company to focus on its main lines of business.
Although different MSPs do business in different ways, most usually use some type of Service Level Agreement (SLA). The SLA states what gets furnished and the metrics of success. There’s a flat monthly fee based on the number of devices at different levels. The basics start with a monitoring service. On-site customer support is usually extra. At the premium level, everything from alerts through problem resolution is covered.
In most cases, equipment is owned by the client. This means the business owns all the computers, printers, servers, and so on while service is provided by the MSP. That service usually includes monitoring, issue resolution, and reporting.
Why are managed IT services so revolutionary? Outsourced IT support has been in existence for decades. But networks started as simple systems. Usually, they were built by a self-taught network amateur.
The Old Way
In the old days, backup systems were only tested on the tech visit day. This often meant that there were several days or more of missed backups. A server drive failure would have meant days of lost data. When a technician was deployed on-site, they would often just take care of “end-user” systems. The real issues were never really addressed.
Another big drawback to this system was that they were “break-fix” only. This meant that IT equipment was only checked and maintained when it broke. No proactive action was taken.
The Modern MSP
Things have changed. Today’s service delivery model emerged from the demands of big business. New software allows providers to receive alerts on everything in a network that results in user symptom or risk. This allows a significantly more rigorous level of service.
Small businesses need information technology to operate just as much as large businesses. Unfortunately, their resources are limited. As their needs become complex, they are rapidly overwhelmed.
Falling behind on things like backups or patches could have grave consequences. If an email server goes down, there would be a massive disruption in service and productivity. A proactively serviced computer network is always better than a “break-fix” system. Preventing fires rather than constantly fighting them is the right mentality. That’s why business owners in Red Deer and Calgary should consider signing up for managed IT services.
