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Why Should Small to Mid-Size Businesses Outsource IT Support?

Running a business is an exercise in multi-tasking. There are always plenty of things going on, and a number of issues that always need to be addressed. The last thing the owner of a growing business needs is for things to come to a screeching halt because of technology issues. Information technology (IT) specialists can help with these issues, but not all businesses have the resources to bring on one of these professionals full-time.

In today’s fast-paced world, computers, tablets, and cell phones are an integral part of any business. Any period of downtime likely means lost revenue. Because of this reliance on important technology, it’s important for the downtime to be as short as possible – if it can’t be prevented in the first place.  Using an outsourced IT company is a cost-effective way for these types of business owners to keep things running smoothly.

Cost-Effective Access to Expertise

The biggest benefit of using outsourced IT professionals is the price point. Maintaining an in-house IT department can get expensive, even if it’s only one person. Outsourcing this kind of support allows small and mid-size business owners to access the knowledge of a specialized team without incurring the cost of finding, hiring and training full-time employees. It also cuts out the cost of providing those employees with benefits and having to invest more in infrastructure before you’re ready.

This outside IT support also gives the business owner access to a diverse team of skilled professionals with expertise in a number of areas. This ensures that the small or mid-size business owner receives high-quality support and solutions for their specific needs. The owner of a growing business might not be able to afford that type of help otherwise, or they’d have to settle for a less comprehensive solution.

Security, Support & Scalability

Cybersecurity is a significant concern for any business. IT support can put robust security measures in place to protect the data and systems of their clients. This reduces the risk of data breaches and other security incidents – which might not always happen during business hours. Many IT support companies will offer assistance around the clock, making sure that technical issues will be addressed as they arise. This continuous support helps minimize downtime and productivity loss.

Along with dealing with IT issues as they arise, outsourced IT companies also make it easier for business owners as their enterprises grow. When growing businesses get bigger, their IT support is going to have to adjust and evolve. By outsourcing IT, it allows for scalability. That means providers will easily be able to adjust their services to accommodate the changing requirements of the business. This reduces risk through the growth, since handling IT internally may lead to oversights or mistakes that produce severe consequences.

Outsourcing IT can be a strategic decision for any small or mid-size business, allowing them to lever the specialized expertise at reduced costs to help sustain their growth. For more information on how outsourced IT could work for your business, reach out to the experts at WorkSmart today.

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What are IT Solutions and Services?

IT solutions are services and software programs sold in a single package. The goal is to help customers effectively resolve an issue or complex situation.

IT solutions specifically refer to a group of services used for the sole intention of resolving IT-based problems. An IT solution can consist of hardware, software, IT services, or all three. A skilled IT technician from an IT managed service company can apply solutions that:

  • Heighten productivity
  • Increase the security and safety of your business
  • Guarantee you get high-quality IT support for your money

Common IT Support Services

When selecting an IT support company, it is crucial to take into consideration the host of services that they provide. IT includes a vast assortment of technological solutions, covering all things tech from network to infrastructure. Common services include:

IT support – email support, phone support, troubleshooting internet and intranet issues, as well as solving general tech problems.

Data backup and recovery – cybersecurity strategies that assist businesses in protecting their data due to data loss or system failure.

Cybersecurity – all businesses must have adequate firewalls and proper anti-virus software to stop cyberattacks and malicious activity.

Cloud Services – with cloud services, transporting data to the cloud is simple and stress-free. When you hire an IT solutions provider, the aim is to give you peace of mind that your data is secure and frequently backed up.

If you have an in-house IT support department, outsourcing to an IT managed service provider doesn’t mean replacing your IT staff. These services are an addition to current resources, letting your IT employees focus on their job duties.

Advantages of Using IT Solutions for Your Business

IT solutions can deliver numerous advantages to your business. These include:

  • Flexibility: IT solutions can be adjusted to answer the transforming needs of a business.
  • Affordability: IT solutions aid businesses in decreasing their costs with maintenance and software.
  • Adjustability: IT solutions offer support to work-from-home employees and remote workers, encouraging work-life balance and improving the mental and physical well-being of the staff.
  • Enhanced proficiency: IT solutions can help improve productivity by streamlining processes and automating work.
  • Improved client services: IT solutions can help businesses offer better client services, creating solid relationships with customers.
  • Heightened security: IT solutions can help businesses thwart cyberattacks, safeguarding their systems and data.

Goals for Partnering with an IT Managed Service Provider

Begin looking at various IT managed service providers when you determine what your needs are. Do some online research before making your decision. The goal of IT solutions businesses is to enhance productivity, decrease downtime, and simplify processes.

Outsourcing your IT needs, instead of using your in-house IT support team, can save you time and money. Instead of paying overtime to overworked, stressed employees, you’ll partner with an IT-managed service company staffed with experts who are familiar with the latest IT trends and developments.

Reach out to us if you’re searching for a skilled IT solutions partner for your business needs.

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Can Managed IT Services Support Both On-Premises and Remote Work Environments?

Partnering with a managed IT services provider can help businesses stay productive by providing the resources to flourish. Without access to the right technology and tools, companies sustaining a remote workforce could encounter security threats, income loss, and a lack of communication.

Managed IT Services and How They Protect

Managed IT services are becoming progressively significant in delivering support to companies that employ remote workers. As information technology keeps advancing, more companies are hiring managed IT services providers to simplify how they run their technology. Managed IT services provide numerous benefits for companies with on-premises and remote employees including:

  • Heighten security
  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Better management processes
  • Enhanced productivity

All these are crucial points for the bottom line of any company.

Cloud Support

Using cloud support, a managed IT services provider helps organizations with resources such as networking, databases, data storage, and software. For instance, cloud-based services allow businesses to store vital data on a remote database instead of a local storage drive.

Using cloud services is vital for companies offering remote work. Employees must be able to access storage, services, and crucial applications at any time from any device.

Dependable Internet Connection

One of the most vital features is providing a dependable internet connection for remote workers. Managed IT services can guarantee remote workers have the speed and bandwidth necessary to do their work.

Cyber Threats Protection

Managed IT services providers play a vital role in safeguarding remote workers and their data from cyber threats. They help safeguard businesses from:

  • Malware
  • Malicious activities
  • Ransomware
  • Phishing attacks

Managed IT services providers also can companies implement policies and procedures to make sure that remote employees follow best practices in cybersecurity.

IT Security

One of the biggest concerns for remote work is the safety of customer and employee information. IT security provided by a managed IT services provider ensures that your business is safeguarded from any cyber risks.

Multi-Factor Authentication

With the number of remote workers steadily increasing, it is vital to make sure that a company’s business and data are safe from malicious individuals. Managed IT services providers offer multi-factor authentication to help stop unauthorized access. Multi-factor authentication makes users provide extra evidence. For example, a password or one-time link is needed to log into my account.

Video Conferencing and Communication Tools

Managed IT services providers can guarantee that employees stay connected while working remotely thanks to video conferencing and communication tools. This is significant for teams that must collaborate on projects. Team members can work together and exchange ideas without needing to be on-premises.

Why Choose Us

WorkSmart is a leading provider of managed IT services in Charlotte, NC. Our experienced professionals provide businesses with the necessary strategies and resources to keep their systems operating effectively for on-premises and remote workers. Schedule a free consultation with us today.

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Can Managed IT Services Help with Technology Upgrades and Scalability?

A thriving company needs a skilled IT department to keep everything functional. As companies scale, IT must be able to accommodate more requests that require a higher level of proactiveness, skills, and knowledge.

How Managed IT Services Can Help

Managed IT services provide strategic, cost-effective solutions, giving companies the much-needed scalability and support to thrive.

WorkSmart realizes the distinctive needs of organizations during their development phase, delivering a host of technology services including:

  • Managed and Co-Managed IT Services
  • Data Backup and Recovery
  • Cloud Services
  • IT Strategy and Planning
  • Cybersecurity

Our solutions and expertise assist you in remaining compliant while scaling your operations for what’s in store.

Necessary Scalability

Managed IT services deliver the scalability necessary to deal with modifying demands and fast growth. As your business develops, managed service providers can swiftly scale your IT infrastructure to assist with developing technologies, more users, and bigger workloads.

They have the skills, resources, and knowledge to effortlessly upgrade any network, software, and hardware, guaranteeing that your IT department keeps pace with your increasing business requirements.

24-Hour Monitoring and Comprehensive IT Support

One of the biggest advantages of managed IT services is the 24-hour monitoring and comprehensive support they deliver.

Instead of depending on a reaction, a “tit-for-tat” approach, managed IT service providers have a more proactive attitude, constantly monitoring your IT infrastructure to detect and solve possible problems before they affect your business operations. This type of workmanship results in enhanced productivity and less downtime, enabling your IT staff to focus on strategic plans instead of spending time putting out “little fires everywhere.”

Managed IT service providers consist of expert technicians who will recognize pinpoint performance bottlenecks and deal with vulnerabilities quickly. This proactive support means the functionality of your business will be seamless even during times of rapid expansion.

The Speed of Change in the IT Sector

In the IT sector, things can change swiftly. This is why hiring a managed IT service provider has been a key option for many businesses. The speed of changes in the IT industry is okay when you’re ready. However, it can cause a disaster when you aren’t.

Businesses that don’t adapt risk a hit to their profits and revenue. As competitors come into play, companies must come to terms with the speed that their technology can change when necessary. This is where a managed IT service provider comes into play.

Upgrades Can Be Pricey

When a business purchases software and hardware, the cost can be quite pricey. When upgrades are necessary, they can hit the profits and revenue hard. If a company decides to do the upgrades on a schedule to save money, it can lead to declines in data security and workflow.

With managed IT services, your IT department doesn’t have to deal with any upgrades. The smooth operation of your business stays intact while keeping in step with any necessary technological upgrades.

Managed IT Services in Charlotte, NC

As the top provider of managed IT services in Charlotte, NC, we provide secure, optimized solutions that upgrade your technology while decreasing your costs. To get started today, schedule a 30-minute introductory call with one of our senior business advisors.

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How Does Outsourcing Help Your Business?

Outsourcing can be a great way to support your business through all its stages of growth and development. Many of the world’s largest and most profitable companies outsource some of their work to third parties.

Finding an ideal balance between your on-site staff and external resources is crucial. To understand how outsourcing can benefit your business, it’s essential to understand why many other companies choose this route. This article will explore many of the benefits of outsourcing and how it can increase your business’s overall efficiency and value.

What Are the Benefits of Outsourcing?

If you own a business, you may benefit from outsourcing some of the work you do. Here are some of the most significant benefits of outsourcing.

Rapid growth

During times of expansion, businesses may discover that their existing staff cannot keep up with growing demands and extra work. However, they may not be able to afford to hire and support additional full-time employees, which limits their growth potential and can cause momentum to slow down.

Some companies may choose to risk hiring new staff before they can afford to in the hopes that the business will catch up. This can fail–and can cause the company’s progress to grind to a halt.

Outsourcing certain aspects, such as IT operations and support, can be much more affordable than attempting to build up your in-house team quickly. Instead of investing money to find, hire, train, and retain new employees, outsourcing allows you to scale up or down as needed. You may also cancel your outsourcing contract at any time without having to lay off your own staff.

Outsourcing is an ideal way to make sure your company can grow steadily while allowing your core staff to stay focused on the jobs they were hired to do.

Flexibility

Many businesses have a natural ebb and flow of work and may not require full staffing during certain seasons. Outsourcing allows you to meet your business’s precise needs as they fluctuate throughout the year without having to retain staff you don’t need year-round. You’ll have the additional staff you need during busy times and can return to using only your in-house team when business slows down.

Top talent

Small and medium-sized businesses often can’t compete with the salaries and benefits packages the largest companies can offer. In many cases, people at the height of their careers and the top of their industries are drawn into larger companies, making their expertise unavailable to businesses that can’t afford them. This can put a cap on your company’s potential–and it can mean that your top talent may be lured away.

Outsourcing companies recruit and retain top talent in a wide range of specialties and industries. This allows you to access the best ideas, most innovative thinkers, and creative talent without retaining them as part of your in-house team.

Focus

You hand-select your employees because of what they can bring to their specific roles within your company. Each team member has their own talents and expertise that can benefit your business. So, why would you want them to spend a lot of time working outside their area of focus?

In many cases, as a company goes through periods of expansion, core employees must shift their focus and expand their roles. People may be asked to shift their focus from their usual duties to take on more customer service, data entry, or IT support responsibilities.

Outsourcing allows people to do the job they were hired to do and let experts handle other operations. Letting your employees focus on their own duties can help your business run smoothly and may increase customer satisfaction and ROI.

Cost savings

One of the primary reasons a company may outsource some of its operations is to save money. Outsourcing can reduce your company’s labor and operating expenses.

Hiring in-house employees is very expensive. Finding, training, and retaining staff can consume a considerable portion of a company’s revenue. Outsourcing some of your business operations to a third party lets you cut back the number of in-house employees you must retain and resources like office space, supplies, and maintenance.

Innovation

While some people may imagine that reducing costs is the primary reason a company might outsource some of its work, this simply isn’t the case. Many companies choose to outsource because it provides many opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Small and medium-sized businesses may have a lot of ambition, ideas, and innovation without the resources to bring these to life. Outsourcing allows companies to innovate by giving them access to tools, resources, and talent they may not have.

Efficiency

Regardless of a company’s size or number of employees, there is often not enough time each day to complete all the tasks that need to be done. Many companies outsource work to a third party because they will be able to do the jobs more quickly or efficiently than they could. Outsourcing companies retain top talent and skilled staff, allowing them to bring expertise and efficiency to all they do. Your team can stay focused on their duties and trust time-consuming tasks to their outsourced support staff.

Being proactive

Periods of rapid growth can present opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized businesses. Often, smaller companies may not have the staff or resources to keep up with demands and changes–much less think far into the future. Existing in-house staff may be able to keep up with problems as they arise but may not have the time or energy to implement new strategies or infrastructure.

Outsourcing allows your business to shift away from simply reacting to problems as they come up. Instead of getting bogged down by daily details, your core staff will be freed up to think about new ideas and plan for the future. And after working with your company for some time, the outsourcing company may also provide and implement innovative ideas and proactive solutions.

Find an Outsourced IT Company

If your business is growing or you simply want to free up your in-house staff to focus on their core roles, you may need an outsourced IT company. Reach out to the outsourcing experts at WorkSmart today to learn about our services and how we can support your business.

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WorkSmart recognized on 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501

We are thrilled to have been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers in the prestigious 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings!

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Blog Cybersecurity - Prevention Data Backups & Recovery Uncategorized

How to Handle End-of-Life IT Equipment

“Your hardware has reached the end of its useful life.” As a business leader, you’ve likely seen this message before, but do you know what it actually means? Or how it can affect your business operations?

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What is Managed IT Support?

Outsourcing IT support has become common practice for organizations of all industries and sizes. The ability to keep up with new technological advancements and increase efficiency is crucial. Managed IT support can help your company thrive in today’s quickly changing tech landscape.

This article will explore what managed IT support means and why so many organizations choose to partner with third-party companies for these essential business operations.

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Blog Cybersecurity - Prevention Data Protection

Going Passwordless in Microsoft? Here’s What You Need to Know

Passwords pose a major security risk to your organization. Even though most of us have always been taught to create complex and strong passwords, that doesn’t eliminate the threat of them getting guessed, stolen, or hacked.

As cyber criminals get more advanced in their tactics, the ways in which we protect our accounts must advance as well.

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Microsoft Azure AD: Choosing the Right Plan for Your Business

The shift to the cloud has become increasingly popular as it provides the accessibility businesses now need to work from anywhere. However, this also means that your data is much more at risk in the cloud if you don’t have the proper security tools in place.

Microsoft Azure Active Directory is an identity and access management service that combines user credentials and authentication policies to control who can log into your systems. No matter if your data is stored on a server in your office or in an app online – Azure AD protects it.