Five Reasons to Evaluate your IT Provider

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your IT support needs? Technology is integral to everyday operations, and a strong IT department is crucial. Unfortunately, not every organization can staff a large, specialized team. Engaging an outsourced IT partner can help you overcome those challenges and pave the way for future growth; but, what if it’s not going to plan? 

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. Outsourcing your IT function can be an excellent 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 Reasons to Evaluate your Current IT Provider 

Knowing when it’s time to reevaluate your managed IT solution can be challenging because, at the end of the day, you don’t know what you don’t know. Engaging an outsourced provider that will grow with your organization is essential. Below are five ideas to consider as your organization expands.  

Your IT systems are constantly going down.  

If your organization’s IT systems are constantly down, it’s time to find a different outsourced IT provider. Inaccessible systems cost your organization money, causing a loss in productivity and frustration among employees who rely on them to do their jobs. Occasional system outages happen in any organization, but if this is a common issue, it's time to get other perspectives on the problem. 

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, especially if your current team does not have experience managing dynamic IT growth. 
A larger, experienced, outsourced provider will be able to handle the dynamic needs in networking, cloud, cybersecurity, and software while improving organizational growth and minimizing technical issues.   

You're spending too much money.  

If you can't understand your current outsourced IT provider’s invoice, ask why. Many providers add services and charges over time, and eventually the invoices become nontransparent. Fees are added and costs increase with limited accountability. In many cases, exploring other provider options can save you money. Look for an outsourced partner that uses transparent pricing and provides scalability, so you only pay for the services you need. 

You need help leveraging the latest technology trends. 

Artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly, and your outsourced IT provider should offer solutions to help your organization use these tools effectively. When you partner with knowledgeable outsourced professionals, you can rest assured that your IT service provider will stay current on the latest technology trends. 

Your competitors are doing it better than you. 

If your competitors outsource their IT support to higher-quality vendors, they might be creating a disadvantage for you. When you partner with a more experienced outsourced IT provider, you level the playing field and stay competitive. This confidence frees up management time so you can focus on what you do best: running your organization.   

Benefits of an Established Outsourced IT provider 

Organizations experience several benefits when outsourcing their IT to providers with increased capacity and capabilities. You can benefit from strategic IT outsourcing through:  

• Increased productivity: Organizations that outsource their IT support can focus on their core competencies and leave IT infrastructure management to a trained team, saving time and resources. 
• Cost savings: Outsourcing IT support can save money by limiting full-time salaries and additional costs from in-house IT staff. 
• Increased scalability: Outsourcing IT support allows organizations to quickly and easily access the latest technology and scale services up or down as needed.  
• Improved service: Organizations that outsource IT support often receive a higher level of service since these professionals specialize and have the resources to provide top-tier support. 
• Reduced downtime: Outsourced IT support can help you avoid costly downtime by keeping your systems updated and aligned with industry standards. 
• Improved cybersecurity: By outsourcing your IT support, you can access the latest cybersecurity technologies and protocols to protect your data and keep your organization safe. 
• Access to the latest technology: When you outsource IT support, your team gains access to the most current technology tools and resources and doesn’t need to worry about productivity being hindered by outdated software or hardware. 
• Improved morale: Hiring outsourced IT professionals relieves the burden of dealing with technical problems off employees, freeing up time to focus on growth-focused goals. It also enhances communication between employees and any in-house IT staff, as internal support staff will have more time to respond to employees’ needs. 
• Improved customer service: Outsourcing IT allows you to focus on providing the best possible customer service without worrying about managing the organization’s IT. 
• Enhanced understanding of cybersecurity compliance: Government agencies increasingly scrutinize cybersecurity compliance frameworks, making it vital to select an outsourced partner who understands various compliance standards. 
• Access to specialized talent: Outsourced IT firms have a larger talent pool to choose from and give organizations access to specialized talent, matching the right outsourced IT specialist for the job.  

Should You Stay with the Local IT Consultant or Switch a Provider with More Capabilities?  

Research shows most organizations currently outsource at least some of their IT solutions. However, the issue quickly becomes selecting the right provider to help the business grow.  

While numerous benefits exist, the most straightforward reason to outsource to an experienced provider revolves around knowledge. Cybersecurity and IT frameworks change very quickly. Outsourced IT professionals who are part of established firms with a significant presence 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.