Small businesses that embrace digital transformation see 8x more revenue. They also gain a competitive advantage and are better equipped to deal with economic downturns.
The reality is that businesses that don’t complete this transition are more likely to fall behind — savvy business leaders know that.
In fact, a survey of 1325 CEOs across 11 markets revealed that digital transformation is their #1 priority for growth over the next three years.
The problem is that most internal teams lack the know-how to do so — that’s where managed service providers (MSPs) come in.
In this article, we’ll go over the top 10 benefits of managed IT services for the digital transition of your business.
If you need help with it, we can provide you with the expertise and resources your in-house team lacks. Contact us for a free assessment.
1. MSPs Make Up for the Lack of Internal Expertise and Specialized Skills
Digital transformation involves new technologies, system integration, and complex IT management.
If your in-house teams lack the expertise or capacity for effective implementation or want to prioritize innovation over routine tasks, managed IT services are a great option.
For example, staff shortages and a lack of monitoring and established processes increase the likelihood of suffering ransomware attacks.
As a managed IT service provider, we give you access to experienced professionals, with diverse skills and certifications, who stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies.
Our team can take routine cybersecurity tasks off your plate, allowing you to focus on needle-moving initiatives. In essence, we can help you accelerate the digital transformation of your business with reduced risks and better outcomes.
2. Managed IT Services Offer Scalability and Flexibility for Ever-Changing IT Needs
Managed IT Services offer scalability and flexibility by providing customized solutions to support evolving business needs.
You won’t have to worry about hiring and firing IT staff as your technology needs fluctuate, for example.
MSPs can scale resources during peak periods or new market expansion and scale back when the budget is tight.
One way our team can help is by implementing cloud-based solutions for easy scaling up or down to meet market demands. This agility supports digital transformation goals.
3. MSPs Help You Implement and Maximize the Potential of Cloud Computing
Embracing the cloud will provide your business with several benefits, including:
- Lowering IT infrastructure costs
- Enhancing process scalability
- Allowing employees to work from anywhere
- Improving access to business data
- Reducing security risks with cloud data backups
- Increasing business agility and resilience (for this reason alone, 25% of SMBs will shift half of their core workload to the cloud by 2025)
However, cloud technologies are complex and require expertise to set up, manage, and optimize.
Setting it up incorrectly leads to vulnerabilities that can expose sensitive data to cybercriminals; failing to comply with regulations and standards could also expose your business to lawsuits.
We help our customers streamline migrations with proven strategies while our experts simplify cloud complexity.
4. Managed IT Services Enhance Data Security
Digital transformation generates a lot of data — securing it is crucial.
The problem is that cybercrime is on the rise. Ransomware, for instance, reached an all-time high in Q2 of 2023 with a 67% rise in attacks compared to Q1 2023 and a 97% increase year on year.
On average, four companies fall victim to ransomware per minute — it’s not a matter of “if your business gets attacked” but “when.”
That’s why 79% of IT decision-makers see data protection and management as an essential competitive advantage.
Managed IT services prioritize data security with robust measures, such as:
- Establishing security policies
- Conducting vulnerability assessments
- Enforcing access controls
- Patching vulnerabilities frequently
- Implementing intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and encryption
- Using email filtering software
- Whitelisting or blocking applications
- Managing access privileges and siloing networks based on task or department
- Ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS
Partnering with a reputable managed IT provider is crucial for building a strong cybersecurity foundation and fostering trust with customers and stakeholders.
Book a free consultation for tailored advice on which solution best protects your business.
5. Managed IT Services Ensure Faster Response Time
Digital transformation relies on technology infrastructure, data, and connectivity — this means that even minor disruptions can profoundly affect productivity and profit.
For instance, one hour of downtime can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $5 million, depending on the size of the business.
Continuous monitoring helps detect and resolve problems in real time, reducing the risk and duration of downtime.
But there are a lot more ways MSPs ensure faster response times. For example, we can help you minimize disruptions by providing you with:
- Specialized expertise
- Proactive monitoring
- Dedicated support
- Defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Service Level Objectives (SLOs)
- Efficient workflows
- Implementation and maintenance of a disaster recovery plan (DRP) and business continuity plan (BCP)
All these are critical for addressing IT issues quickly and minimizing revenue loss.
6. MSPs Boost Confidence with Proactive Maintenance and Support
As mentioned above, digital transformation relies on IT infrastructure, data, and connectivity. Disruptions can significantly impact output and revenue.
MSPs use advanced tools, updates, proactive monitoring, and maintenance to prevent issues and downtime.
We offer our clients 24/7 support, for example. You can rest assured knowing that your IT infrastructure is being maintained and monitored around the clock.
7. MSPs Can Train Your Employees and Ensure Data Compliance
According to a Verizon report, 82% of data breaches in 2022 involved human error. Similarly, Deloitte reported that “91% of all attacks begin with a phishing email to an unsuspecting victim.”
Lack of cybersecurity education is the leading cause of ransomware and other social engineering scams. We can help you boost cybersecurity by educating your in-house teams.
Our technology experts can also train your employees in several other areas. For instance, we can help them navigate complex regulatory requirements across various jurisdictions and comply with industry-specific standards.
Your business may have to comply with standards such as FERPA, SOX, HIPAA, NIST, CIS, and ISO. MSPs are knowledgeable about these specific rules and requirements.
8. MSPs Use Standardized Practices and Reduce Dependence on Single Employees
In-house teams don’t often document daily activities and updates properly. When IT managers leave, the knowledge gap they create can disrupt operations.
Trustworthy MSPs use standard practices and document business conditions and changes, ensuring continuity even if you change service providers or switch to an in-house team.
9. Managed IT Services Increase Cost Effectiveness
Digital transformation is a considerable investment — cost optimization is crucial.
According to CISCO, managed IT services can reduce recurring in-house costs by 30 to 40% while increasing efficiency by 50 to 60%. This is because MSPs:
- Offer solutions via economies of scale
- Ensure predictable expenses, allowing you to manage your budget better
- Reduce upfront investments
- Optimize operations and streamline processes
- Lower infrastructure management costs
- Identify cost-saving opportunities
- Provide you with access to enterprise-level pricing
- Negotiate favorable service terms and vet invoices to prevent duplicate charges
- Can help you migrate data from internal servers to cloud solutions, which often cost less
- Reduce HR and recruiting costs
However, make sure you choose an MSP that offers packages tailored to your business requirements — you should only pay for what you need.
10. Managed IT Services Boost Productivity
Contracting managed IT services can boost productivity by:
- Freeing up your employees to focus on strategic, innovative, and revenue-generating tasks
- Reducing both the frequency and duration of disruptions
- Eliminating the need to hire and train IT personnel
- Gaining access to efficiency suggestions and proven workflows to streamline IT processes
As Peter Tsai, Head of Technology Insights at Spiceworks Ziff Davis, said, “Over the last few uncertain years, corporate decision makers have seen first-hand the benefits of IT investments, which often pay for themselves by improving processes, enhancing resilience, or enhancing workplace productivity.”
Contact Us Today to Start Enjoying the Benefits of Managed IT Services for Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is the key to staying competitive, meeting evolving customer expectations, and securing long-term success for your business.
However, the chances of a successful transition without the right expertise are low.
Managed IT service providers can advise you on the best and most cost-effective strategy.
Our experienced team, here at ASi Networks, can help you with the following:
- Network management and IT infrastructure
- 24/7 Systems monitoring
- Network structured cabling
- Cloud services
- Cybersecurity
- Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
- Policy compliance
We provide custom solutions, tailored to your specific business needs. Contact us today to get a free assessment.
