We can’t stress enough how important it is to keep up with updating, enhancing, and monitoring your business’ technologies. We also know that implementing an IT strategy and new tech can sometimes be expensive, overwhelming, and even confusing. As a Managed Service Provider, Sierra Experts is here to make sure that your company doesn’t fall behind.
What is a Managed Service Provider anyway?
A Managed Service Provider is a company that offers businesses the ability to outsource their IT and technology needs. So, basically, an MSP is your IT department outside of your actual office building.
So, how do I know if I need an MSP?
This can be tricky, so below we’ve compiled a list of some telltale signs that your company may have a need for external help with your IT and tech operations.
1. You have an understaffed or non-existent IT department.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Do you have one guy that’s constantly bombarded by tech questions and complaints from everyone in the company? Maybe you don’t have a dedicated IT person or team at all. If this is the case, you are eventually going to run into a problem that’s too big or too complex for a non-professional (or overwhelmed IT professional) to take on. Hiring an MSP can often save companies large quantities of money in comparison to hiring and paying a full-time IT staff. Plus, with one or only a handful of IT people, you’re taking your chances on them running into an issue that they’re simply not capable of fixing which could slow down your business operations.
2. You have continuous, ongoing tech problems.
Sarah in Accounting keeps reporting that her email is crashing, John from Creative still can’t log in to his Adobe account, and Brian from Sales just accidentally clicked on a phishing email – now you’ve been hacked. One or two tech problems might be something you can handle internally, but if you have recurring issues, especially if it involves the integrity and the security of your company, it may be time to get help from some outside experts. The time your team is spending trying to troubleshoot tech issues could be time spent doing the job you hired them for.
3. You have an unpredictable and/or limited IT budget.
One day you might need to replace a keyboard while the next day you might need a completely custom software application built. Budgeting for IT and technology can be unpredictable, and you never really know what you’re going to need from one day to the next. This can be especially difficult for small businesses that don’t have large quantities to spend on their IT operations. With an MSP such as Sierra, you’ll be able to see the one-time and monthly recurring costs for your needed services upfront. Not only will that make it more predictable, but having systems built and maintained by seasoned professionals will enhance their long-term reliability.
4. Your staff is unhappy with their current tech.
Are you still using old versions of software or computers you bought in the 90s? Are your employees spending more time reporting problems and complaining about the equipment in your office than doing necessary work within their job scope? Updating and integrating new technologies with what you already have can be an extremely complex task, and you won’t want to face it alone. With help from an MSP, you can please your staff and increase productivity by allowing them to put the focus back on their jobs.
5. You’ve suffered a data breach.
If you’ve suffered a data breach, you know the costs that come with it. You could end up paying millions of dollars for data recovery, loss of business, lawsuits, penalties, and so on. This is not something to take lightly, so if this has happened to you (or even if you’ve had a close call) it’s time to reach out to an MSP and begin protecting and securing your systems.
6. You want your business to continually grow and succeed.
Busy companies may find themselves putting their IT needs on the back burner. Then, out of nowhere they can no longer use old systems or a data breech occurs and suddenly they find themselves taking large steps backward. If you want your business to succeed, which we are going to assume that you do, you need to have a proper IT strategy, budget, and plan in place. However, we completely understand if it’s not something you are capable of handling yourself, so that’s why Sierra is here to help. If any of these signs hit home for you, give us a call. We want to ensure that your business’ infrastructure and technologies are secure and will continue to flourish for many years to come. Start with a free consultation.
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Sierra Experts is an IT Managed Service and Support provider, specializing in IT Monitoring and Management, Cloud/Virtual Systems, Hosting, VoIP/SIP PBX Trunks and Solutions, Physical Server Hosting, Website Design and Development, Software Development, and Hardware and Software reselling. For more, check out sierr001-2.sierradevops.com
