Small to medium sized businesses (SMB) often struggle to manage their IT infrastructure. Even if there is an IT expert on staff, they may not have the depth and breadth of knowledge of an entire team of IT professionals. The constant struggle to keep up with new technology in order to take advantage of business opportunities, coupled with increasing security threats has made it necessary for SMBs to consider a Managed Services Provider (MSP) specializing in Managed IT Services.
An MSP is the great business equalizer, offering SMBs access to infrastructure once only available to large organizations. An MSP can strengthen an SMB’s IT strategy by providing financial accessibility, advanced security, and access to IT expertise.
Financial Accessibility
Rapid and ongoing changes in technology make it very difficult and very expensive to keep hardware infrastructure secure and up to date. The technology that was once only available to organizations with a large IT budget is now available to an SMB through an MSP. The use of an MSP enables businesses to capitalize on the latest technology with little to no capital investment, making new technologies within reach for SMBs looking to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities. This access to rapid and cost-effective scalability ensures an SMB can focus on business objectives and core competencies while their MSP focuses on their IT infrastructure and security.
Advanced Security
Increasingly, the threat of a cyber-attack and ransomware are becoming more commonplace with an organization falling victim to ransomware every 14 seconds in 2019. Ransomware attacks have increased over 97% in the past two years. As a result, organizations are allocating more of their budgets towards cyber security to meet their fiduciary and regulatory requirements and to protect their organization and investors from those who are looking to exploit technology through cyber-crimes. SMB’s data is often left exposed as a result of not having the appropriate cyber security measures in place.
Having their business IP hosted in a purpose-built Data Centre offers the physical and cyber security that SMBs most likely cannot afford. MSPs also offer a service level agreement to clients, ensuring they will have the cyber security in place to protect from cyber threats.
Partnering with an MSP ensures that an SMB is protected from cyber security threats on an ongoing basis. The SMB can focus on growing its business while the MSP focuses on ensuring their client’s IT infrastructure is protected.
Access to IT Expertise
As demand for technology solutions increase, businesses are increasingly feeling the pinch caused by the shortage of skilled IT professionals in just about every field.
SMBs are limited by the challenge of acquiring the expertise required to keep systems running smoothly. Most IT professionals are subject matter experts in a limited number of fields while an SMB requires a jack of all trades. These are becoming increasingly hard to find, and generally, they do not have the breadth and depth of IT knowledge necessary to manage all of a business’ IT needs. An MSP can fill the skills gap that many companies have in their IT department giving them access to the expertise to stay current with their IT hardware, software, and security infrastructure.
In addition, the cost of tapping into the resources with the right expertise as you need it, is far more cost-effective than hiring a full-time employee who may not have the knowledge base you require. An MSP is also available 24/7/365, ensuring that you always have an expert at hand.
As the market struggles to fulfill the resource requirements in the IT industry, an MSP specializing in Managed IT Services is a real solution to this critical shortage for the foreseeable future.
Cover-All Managed Cloud and IT Services is an MSP providing cost effective solutions for Managed Cloud, Managed IT, Cyber Security, Co-Location, Backup & Recovery/DR, and Cloud and IT Consulting Services. For more information regarding our services, please contact Cover-All at 1-833-268-3788 or visit our website at www.msp.cover-all.ca.