When Is Your Business Ready for Managed IT Services?

If you are a small business owner and considering whether or not Managed IT Services will benefit your company, the answer is almost always- yes. There is little doubt that most small businesses can benefit from Managed IT Services, yet that in itself does not always justify the cost of bringing on a third party provider. Accepting that Managed IT Services Providers can offer solutions to common problems found in a small business operation, the real question is when does it make sense to switch from exclusively in-house IT solutions to the next level which would include Managed IT Services.

There is a good chance if you are already considering Managed IT Services the time might be near when you are ready to make the switch. Small business owners do not have the luxury of a never-ending IT budget, therefore it is very important to recognize when your current IT management is no longer cost-effective. For most small businesses this occurs when the business grows to the point of needing either a contract with a local service provider who is “on call” for IT needs or hiring a full time IT person to remain on staff. There is, of course, another option for small business owners to consider and that is hiring a Managed IT Services Provider to oversee their IT needs.

If you are still unsure that your business is ready for the switch, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you find IT costs are continually increasing?
2. Is it difficult to find and retain quality IT staff?
3. Is your network and workstation performance and speed decreasing?
4. Are your employees spending more time dealing with IT issues than focusing on the job they have been hired to perform?
5. Do you have problems with viruses, spyware and other security issues that could threaten the confidentiality of proprietary or sensitive client or patient information?
6. In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, would your network be at risk? Would recovery be a concern?
7. Do you find network downtime is increasing or happens more often?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, then your business is ready to explore Managed IT Services
Now that you have determined Managed IT Services might right for your business, the next challenge is finding the right provider of these services. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly or rushed as the wrong provider can end up costing your company more money than your current situation or IT services company. Before you begin the search for a Managed IT Services Provider you should first consider your IT budget as well as issues or problems that you would like to be addressed.

It is important to remember that Managed IT Services are not a one-size-fits-all type of solution to business problems. Each business and industry has their own issues to contend with and a qualified Managed IT Services Provider will work with you to find the solutions that will benefit your company the most. Advanced Technology Group is such a Managed IT Services Provider with over 25 years of experience serving the Metro NY-NJ-CT area and the unique requirements of regulated companies in the healthcare, financial services and retail vertical markets. Our focus is on understanding your business, its unique challenges and requirements, and leveraging technology solutions to increase efficiencies, bolster your competitive position, and mitigate risks that would otherwise threaten your organization.
Find out why over 95% of our customers continue to depend on the IT support and managed services of Advanced Technology Group and why their management considers us to be their “trusted IT advisors” when it comes to supporting their business critical networks and technology infrastructure.