As business owner, you may have entertained the thought of outsourcing your IT requirements through a Managed Service Provider (MSP). Whilst the benefit to the bottom line is usually the biggest draw-card, there are a myriad of other factors to enjoy, especially for fast growing companies.
If you’re considering switching to outsource your IT support, here are 10 benefits you can expect:
Top 10 Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services
1. Access to exceptional capabilities
Outsourcing to a business that specialises in the areas you need gives you much greater return on your investment. At AfterDark, we require our IT staff to have industry training and certifications so clients’ benefit from our collective experience and expertise. Opening your doors to talent beyond a commutable distance to your office is also useful to companies located in areas where the applicant pool isn’t as large.
2. Reduce IT and labour costs
Outsourcing your IT services provides financial benefits such as
- Leaner overhead
- Bulk purchasing and leasing options for hardware and software licenses
- Compliance with potential government regulations.
It can be difficult to track and manage in-house finances as expenditures pop out of nowhere, from a server that suddenly conks out, to IT employees who quit. In comparison to the volatility of expenses incurred in-house, our support and project management teams give you a more consistent and controlled monthly expense.
3. Focus on your core business
At AfterDark, we like to say, focus on what you do best and let us do the rest. Outsourcing lets you focus on your core competencies whilst we focus on delivering ours to you. Retain your employees for their highest and best use, rather than wasting their time on things that will take them longer than people who are trained in these specific areas. Organisations that try to do all IT Services in-house themselves require more time to research, develop and implement, all of which increase costs that are ultimately passed onto customers.
4. Level the playing field
The speed of change and innovation in IT is unparalleled to many other industries. Outsourcing gives you the benefit of being able to tap into a wealth of experience to keep up with best practices and remain competitive. The standard of skills and qualifications we collectively hold at AfterDark means that every one of our clients have access to the brightest minds for a fraction of the cost it would be to operate in-house.
5. Compliance and Security
Is your firewall up-to-date? Do you audit your workstations and servers? Has your company implemented security standards and work to maintain them? If your company doesn’t specialise in IT, chances are higher that an in-house IT team will make a few security mistakes that could put your company’s sensitive information at risk.
Security breaches often come from unscrupulous hackers using a mix of social engineering and other black hat methods to steal confidential data. At AfterDark, we’re very familiar with hacker techniques and practice fast and efficient ways to deal with security issues and risks associated with maintaining client data and sensitive information.
6. Disaster Recovery
Whether due to a fire, flood, or cyber-attack, a business’s data is its most precious resource. Most businesses are ill-equipped for recovery from such disasters, any of which can cause a company to have to halt its operations indefinitely. While disaster can strike at any minute, all businesses will get back on their feet far quicker with the help of outside professionals who are well-versed in the latest disaster recovery and backup technologies.
7. Greater flexibility and multitasking capabilities
Outsourcing enhances flexibility by allowing you to operate your business throughout the day, all week long. At AfterDark, our Help Desk is available 24/7 offering you greater productivity and overall returns.
8. Streamline business functions during growth and restructure
Undergoing a restructure to improve costs, quality, service, or speed, can often push non-core business functions aside. They still need to be handled, however, and outsourcing is an optimal way to do this. Don’t sabotage your restructuring efforts by failing to keep up with non-core needs.
9. Scalability
If you are planning to grow your company, you must be prepared to scale up IT support. This is costly and often impractical with in-house IT teams that are often fixed in size and scope. By investing in an MSP, you are leveraging a readily scalable IT solution that will seamlessly expand to cover your needs as your business grows.
10. Trustworthy advice
One final less obvious advantage of outsourcing is that of trust. Running a small business can be a lonely task, but it doesn’t have to be. By partnering with a trustworthy technical support and IT services partner, you gain a powerful and knowledgeable ally.
Overall, in today’s digital world any business that wants to remain competitive must rely on strong IT support. Outsourcing your IT will not only save you money but also enable you to forecast your expenditures more reliably, save on staff costs and provide business continuity.
For nearly 20 years, AfterDark Technology has been a reliable and trustworthy Australian MSP partner. We offer obligation-free assessments and provide recommendations tailored to your business. Give us call us on 1300 553 101 and we’ll be there to help.