When your business function fails slowly, it’s difficult to notice the signs. Typically once you do, it’s too late to catch a major issue.
Technology is one of these areas. Too often, IT improvements happen in bursts. It starts with a month or two of investment and improvement followed by a dozen quarters of complacency.
This approach is dangerous, especially when technology is so important to businesses and maintaining growth. The more you spend on your IT internally, the less you’re able to spend on your business objectives.
Signs That You Need To Outsource Your IT
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of managed IT services, when to outsource IT services, and how to know when it’s time to outsource your IT.
Are Your Employees Performing Multiple Roles?
If you run a small business, it’s very likely that you and everyone you employ cover for each other by doing a little bit of everything. In the very beginning, you probably designated someone to be the “IT person,” and at the time, this may have seemed like a perfectly sound decision. The rationale of “fixing it later” is temporary, and it’s easy to make excuses for minor inefficiencies and errors when the cost is a major concern.
But this situation can only last for so long before the designated IT person becomes overwhelmed. Technology is always changing, and your IT solution should always be changing with it. Outsourced IT providers already have a plan for your technology—it’s been discussed and refined, and it matches your business goals perfectly.
Do You Have a Dedicated IT Staff That Is Swamped With Tickets?
Many established businesses have dedicated IT departments that are staffed by a few IT professionals, but when their day-to-day jobs consist of putting out small fires, you aren’t getting the most value out of their expertise. Broken printers, locked laptops, poor connections, and lost files are important but time-consuming for your staff. The more tickets they have, the longer it takes to resolve them.
It’s a common misconception that outsourced IT providers replace existing staff. At SBT, we become part of your staff, filling in the holes and providing the services you need as required. This frees your IT staff to work on more strategic IT issues.
Is Your Company Growing Rapidly?
An increased bottom line is an important goal, but it also increases your need for better technology. IT plays a significant role in not only keeping a business afloat but also helping it find new, more efficient ways to deliver products and services.
Our IT assessments look closely at how you use technology today and tomorrow to provide an IT roadmap that guides your growth without working against it.
Is Cybersecurity Not a Priority?
In today’s business world, all organizations need to make security their main technology priority. And when your IT department is overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks, you open yourself up to risk.
This risk is unnecessary when there are outsourced IT providers that specialize in cybersecurity. SBT provides vulnerability testing that finds specific areas of risk. Our team will protect your networks with layers of security and provide phishing awareness testing that transforms your employees into steadfast defenders of your business and your data.
Do You Need Specialized Skills?
One of the benefits of managed IT services is access to a staff of highly specialized IT professionals. AT SBT, we are Microsoft Gold partners, meaning we deliver the best products that Microsoft has to offer. This is only one example of the expertise and knowledge we bring to every partnership.
Do You Have New Compliance Standards?
Your IT staff is responsible for compliance with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other data security standards. Not only do they need to meet requirements, but they also have to document procedures to meet audit requirements.
Are You Unable To Find the Right Talent?
Businesses that are adamant about building an IT department from within are finding it difficult to find qualified candidates, especially if they need to possess certain skills.
Technology can be highly specialized and every business needs it—that’s why outsourced managed service providers have become an important part of startup businesses and small companies looking to gain and maintain a competitive edge.
Growing Your Business Should Always Be a Priority
The biggest indicator that you need to outsource your IT is when your technology negatively affects your business operations. Slow internet, lost files, poor connections, insecure remote employees, old hardware, and failure to comply with industry regulations are all major impediments to growth.
The good news is that they are all solvable.
When you partner with SBT, you gain an ally that solves these issues with you. Stop settling for an in-house or outsourced IT solution that doesn’t fit what you need to accomplish. It’s time to choose a managed services provider that delivers the technology you need. SBT specializes in comprehensive IT analyses and customized technology solutions that fit seamlessly with your operations. We take the time to get to know your team and your network, so our all-inclusive services align as closely as possible with your strategy.
If you’re not getting the best value from your IT, reach out to us today for a consultation.
