Let’s talk outsourced IT support! What is it? How does it work? What are the benefits? Is it right for you and your company? In this article, we’ll tackle all your outsourced-IT related questions and get you on the path to smooth remote IT services sailing.
What is Outsourced IT Support?
Outsourced IT support is a service designed to manage your computer technology that operates outside of the bounds of your company. IT (information technology) is crucial for the functioning of any business, whether internal or external. But for many smaller businesses, outsourced IT support services is the way to go. These services typically include system administration requests, tech support and troubleshooting, and installing/configuring computer hardware, software, systems, networks, printers, and scanners. By nature of being remote, these services are frequently performed over the phone or over an instant-chat feature.
Small Business and IT
Technology is one of biggest forces changing the face of the modern business, so it’s no secret that the management of that technology is a hugely critical factor in the success of your business. While many large companies have whole internal sectors devoted to IT services, most small businesses don’t have the budget or manpower to support that kind of internal support.
According to Forbes, small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) make up ninety percent of the global business population. And of those SMB, 53% of them believe they are at a disadvantage compared to large businesses due to IT demands and costs. So to deal with that factor, many SMB are turning to small business IT support services.
Why Outsource Your IT?
Below is a list of the main reasons why many businesses use remote IT services:
Reduced Costs
The cost of both the manpower and technology needed to maintain an internal IT department can get expensive fast. With the average Tech Support Specialist in the US making $46,000 annually and System Analysts making upwards of $80,000, it’s no wonder that in-house IT is costly. Furthermore, installing IT infrastructure networks at standard prices can balloon quickly. But when you employ outsourced/small business IT support, labor comes at a fraction of the price and you only pay for the IT features that your specific company needs, which can save you a bundle.
Continuous, Specialized Services
Small businesses have enough to contend with on a day-to-day basis without having to divide their attention on IT issues. Outsourcing your IT services means you have a dedicated, specialized team available on an uninterrupted basis, leaving you free to focus on your actual business goals.
Expanded Resources
Larger companies typically have the resources and revenue to stay on top of ever-changing technology and IT resources, but that’s not always the case for smaller companies. With remote IT services, you have access to a broad pool of resources, simply by nature of the provider, that you wouldn’t necessarily have with a small, internal IT department.
Decreased Risk
There’s an inherent risk in any business investment, including the time and money invested in an IT department or company. Anything from changing government regulations to fluctuating economic conditions could severely impact your business if you’re not prepared for them. A major benefit of a specialized IT support company is that they assume most of these inherent risks. Because this is their sole focus, they have specialized industry knowledge to avoid and deal with these potential problems.
Increased Security
Corporate Information Technology includes account data protection and security and that comes with a whole world of potential problems all its own. Just check out some of the most severe security breaches from 2020 to see just how important account protection is. Protecting against these types of breaches is complicated, technical, and multi-faceted — workstation audits, firewall updates and DMZ installations, just to name a few! As a small company, you probably don’t want to take on the risk of account hacks and data breaches, but with an outsourced IT company, you don’t have to. Qualified IT support companies are equipped to navigate these potential pitfalls with ease.
Emergency Response
Now just imagine that you haven’t been able to catch one of these breaches or hacks in time and now you’ve got a full-fledged disaster on your hands. An outsourced IT support provider is equipped and ready to handle an IT emergency in a way for which an in-house IT specialist might not have the resources.
Competitive Edge
If you, as a small business, are spending more time and money on an internal IT department, that cost is probably getting passed on to your customers as well. Not only that, but you could be missing out on some of the features and resources of a more dedicated IT team. Both of these factors can result in losing the edge against your competition. But if you outsource your IT, making it cheaper and better equipped, you’re ready to compete with bigger companies on an even playing field.
Drawbacks of Outsourcing IT
There have to be some downsides to outsourcing IT, right? Below is a list of the potential drawbacks to using a remote IT service:
Upgrade Investment
If your company is using outdated software, firewalls, and other equipment, bringing on a qualified IT provider may cost your company a sizeable initial investment in necessary equipment upgrades. Although the long-term benefits of upgrading are undeniable, this makeover-cost may be a deterrent to some small companies.
Quality of Service
Just because you outsource your service doesn’t necessarily mean it’s automatically guaranteed to be great service. There is the potential for dealing with problems like late response time or outdated standards. You can mitigate these risks by doing your research ahead of time and making sure your provider’s service legal agreement (SLA) establishes an acceptable response and resolution time for the duration of your contract.
Adjustment for Employees
If you’re transitioning from an in-house IT department, it may take your employees some time to get used to the “IT guy” not being “right down the hall.” Remote IT services usually employ a ticket system to deal with technology issues and rank them in order of urgency, which could be a frustrating adjustment for your employees from how things were done previously. Not to mention, not having an IT person in house at all times could make some executives nervous.
IT Support Companies
Below is a list of a few IT Support companies on the market today, for all of your IT support outsourcing needs. Browse through some of these examples and see which features and qualifications match your company best.
Plaxonic Technologies
This remote IT support company purports to engineer smart IT and BPO solutions that “understand, meet, and deliver the expectations of our client base.” Their services include, but are not limited to, AI and Automation, Blockchain, Business Analytics, Digital Commerce, and Omnichannel.
Hourly rate: $25 - $49/hour
Employees: 50 - 249
Location: India and United States
Geomotiv
This custom software development and IT staff augmentation firm has worked with projects in Healthcare, EdTech, AdTech, and other domains. Their services include web and mobile development, data and analytics, AI and machine learning, and dedicated devops services.
Hourly rate: $25 - $49/hour
Employees: 50 - 249
Location: Belarus and United States
Team Harbour
This smaller IT support service selects, manages and maintains a core team of IT professionals for your business. Team Harbour is great for all outsourcing needs, turnkey projects, and for building a centralized, shared service center for your business.
Hourly rate: $25 - $49/hour
Employees: 10 - 49
Location: Ukraine and United States
Synoptek
This award-winning team of Managed IT Support services offers IT consulting, managed IT services, cloud services, and on-site IT management as well as 24/7 end-user support. They also offer cybersecurity, data insights, and data protection. Synoptek confidently claims that they’re the last IT partner you’ll ever need.
Hourly rate: $50 - $99/hour
Employees: 250 - 999
Location: United Kingdom and United States
Attract Group
This team of IT professionals delivers web, mobile, and custom solutions for your company as well as comprehensive IT services. Established in 2011, Attract Group has worked for a myriad of different industries and has a full portfolio of work for you to peruse on their website.
Hourly rate: $25 - $49/hour
Employees: 50 - 249
Location: Ukraine and United States
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to outsourcing your IT needs. What services does the provider offer? Will they integrate well with your company? What kind of risks are you up against, and can your provider handle them? Hopefully, this article has given you a look at how best to navigate outsourcing your IT department. Does your company outsource their IT services? What has been your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
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