Five Clear Signs Your Organization Needs Outsourced IT Services

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your IT support needs? Technology is an integral part of everyday operations, and having a strong IT department is crucial. Unfortunately, not every entity can afford or staff a large, experienced team. Engaging an experienced, scalable outsourced IT partner can help you overcome those challenges and pave the way for future growth. 

What Are Outsourced IT Services? 

Outsourcing IT services means working with outside professionals to provide IT support for your organization. These services may include anything from managing your network and servers to providing help desk support for your employees.  

Organizations often outsource IT services because they don't have the in-house expertise to handle all their IT needs, or because they want to free up their staff to focus on other areas. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering outsourcing IT services for your organization. Ask yourself: 

• What IT services does my organization need that are not being satisfied today?  
• Do I have the in-house expertise to manage these services?  
• Will it be financially beneficial to outsource IT services?  
• What are the organizational risks of not keeping up with IT compliance?

You'll also want to take the time to find a reputable IT services provider you can trust. Once you've found a provider, ask them detailed questions about their services and what they can do for your organization. Consider their security protocols and how they would keep your data secure. 

Outsourcing IT services can be a great way for your organization to save time and money. Just be sure to work with a firm with established clients of your size that can grow with your needs.  

Five Warning Signs You Need to Outsource IT 

If you’re unsure whether to outsource your IT services, here are five warning signs that it might be time to make the switch.

1. Your IT systems are constantly going down 

   If your organization’s IT systems are constantly down, it’s a sign that it’s time to outsource IT. Inaccessible systems cost your organization money in lost productivity, and it’s frustrating for your employees who rely on these systems to do their jobs. Occasional system outages happen in any organization, but if this is a common issue, it's time to get some outside help.  
   
   

2. Your organization has grown quickly 

   If your organization has experienced rapid growth, keeping up with the demands of managing your IT infrastructure can be challenging. This is especially true if your current team does not have the experience to manage dynamic IT growth needs. Inadequate IT systems and personnel can actually inhibit growth.  
   
   Typically, in-house IT teams don’t have the wide range of technology skills needed to handle a rapidly growing organization. They may not be well-versed in industry governance and compliance needs, and how peers use technology to their advantage.  
   
   Outsourcing IT services can help relieve the burden on your in-house staff so they can focus on other areas of the organization. A credible outsourced provider will be able to handle the dynamic needs that occur in networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and software.  
   
   Hiring the right IT outsourcing firm can help you improve organizational growth while minimizing technical issues. 

3. You're spending too much money on in-house IT 

   When analyzing budget for salaries and human capital capabilities, it's important to measure whether the organization will get better benefits from outsourcing IT services. It's not only a cost optimization but also a skill improvement exercise. 
   
   In many cases, outsourcing can save you money. When you only pay for the services you need, you aren’t paying for unnecessary IT infrastructure, software, or support staff. In addition, there are no overhead costs (benefits, PTO, etc.). The fixed dollar amount can be budgeted and relied upon. The cost center also becomes an operating expense in your organization’s financials that can have even more significant financial implications.
   
   

4. You’re not keeping up with the latest technology trends

   
   If you need to keep up with the latest technology trends, it's time to outsource your organization’s IT. Technology is constantly changing, and it can be challenging to keep up if your in-house team is spread thin or your organization has grown exponentially.  
   
   When you partner with outsourced professionals, you can rest assured that your IT service provider will stay up to date on the latest technology trends, so you don’t have to. That way, you can focus on running your organization while they keep your entity’s IT structure up to date. 
   
   

5. Your competitors are outsourcing IT, and they're doing it better than you

If your competitors outsource their IT support and do it better than you, they're likely reaping the benefits. When you partner with an outsourced IT provider, you level the playing field and stay competitive within your industry. This confidence frees up management time so you can focus on what you do best: running your organization.  

Benefits of Strategic IT Outsourcing 

Increased productivity 

One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing IT support is that it can help increase productivity. When organizations outsource their IT support, they can focus on their core competencies and leave the management of their IT infrastructure to a team of experts, saving time and resources that would otherwise be spent on managing their IT infrastructure. 

Cost savings  

Outsourcing IT support can save money, limiting full-time salaries and the additional costs of benefits and training for in-house IT staff.  

Increased scalability 

One of the main benefits of outsourcing IT support is that it allows organizations to quickly and easily scale up or down on services as needed. This is a major advantage for organizations that experience fluctuating demands for IT services. In addition, outsourcing IT support can help your organization access the latest technology and quickly adapt to changing needs.  

Improved service 

When organizations outsource IT support, they often receive a higher level of service than they would by expanding in-house staff. Outsourced IT professionals specialize in this type of service and have the resources to provide top-tier support. 

Reduced downtime 

Downtime can be very costly for organizations in terms of lost productivity and revenue. Outsourced IT support can help you avoid much of this cost by helping ensure that your systems are updated to standards found by your competitors and creating the highest uptime possible. 

Focus on your organization 

In-house IT departments can be a significant drain on cash flow and employee productivity. Outsourcing some or all IT support can allow your organization to free up these resources to focus on other priorities. 

Improved cybersecurity 

Cybersecurity is a significant concern for organizations of all sizes, and it's getting more critical as we become increasingly reliant on technology. By outsourcing your IT support, you can take advantage of the latest cybersecurity technologies and protocols to protect your data and keep your organization safe. 

Use of the latest technology 

Technology changes rapidly, and it can take time to keep up with the latest advancements. When you outsource IT support, your team can gain access to the most current technology tools and resources. This way, you won't have to worry about whether productivity is hindered by outdated software or hardware. 

Improved morale 

Outsourcing IT support can improve employee morale in various ways. First, it can relieve the burden of dealing with technical problems and training employees to handle them. That can free up time for employees to focus on growth-focused goals and reduce stress.  

Outsourcing IT support can also improve communication between employees and remaining in-house IT staff, as support staff will have more time to respond to employee needs and requests. This hybrid approach can lead to increased satisfaction with the overall IT support experience.

Improved customer service 

Outsourcing IT allows you to focus on providing the best possible customer service without worrying about managing the organization’s IT. This will help you grow your organization and attract more customers. 

Understanding cybersecurity compliance 

Government agencies and clients are increasingly scrutinizing the cybersecurity compliance frameworks in place prior to doing business with an organization. Outsourcing this governance and compliance helps make sure that your organization is ready to do business, whatever the situation. 

Access to global talent 

Outsourced IT firms have a larger talent pool to choose from and give organizations access to global talent, matching the right outsourced IT specialist for the job.  

Outsourced IT support entities have specialists in various areas of IT, such as network administration, security, and data recovery. When organizations outsource IT support, they gain access to those specialists when they’re needed, potentially saving time and money. 

Should Your Organization Outsource IT Services? 

Whether to outsource IT is a challenging decision for many organizations. However, the answer doesn’t need to be all or nothing. Adding outsourced IT can be a gradual process or even a hybrid outcome. We have found most organizations are currently outsourcing at least some of their organization’s IT solutions.  

While there are clearly numerous benefits, the simplest reason to outsource revolves around knowledge. Cybersecurity policies change very quickly. Outsourced IT professionals can provide scalable resources and vast industry experience to help you navigate continuous changes. Contact us below to discuss how we can help enhance your cybersecurity posture and address evolving risks and developments.