5 signs that your company is ready to outsource its IT support
Computers are such an integral part of our lives and businesses that we often don’t even think about outsourcing IT. When you start a small business, armed with a laptop, smartphone and enthusiasm, choosing your IT support isn’t going to be the top priority. Most startups are pretty self-sufficient and low maintenance in terms of the IT support they require.
However, as your business grows and succeeds, your team will grow, and the amount of technology you use will too. With company growth also comes an increase in the number of people using IT, and unfortunately, the amount of time that gets taken up with IT issues. For many businesses, deciding when is it the time to outsource your IT support can be an important step to take. Rather than hiring a new member of staff to be in charge of IT for the company, which can be costly and time-consuming, outsourcing IT support can be a great middle ground. You get access to practical support and dedicated IT knowledge, but it doesn’t cost as much as hiring someone full time, who doesn’t need to be there all the time. Take a look at these five signs and see whether your company is ready to start outsourcing its IT support.
Is one person spending too much time helping others with IT issues?
This is a common occurrence in many growing businesses. One person on your team, no matter their speciality, will become the computer person. They are pretty good with computers, but it isn’t their primary focus. If a computer won’t start or the printer won’t connect, they are the one who gets called away from their desk. However, all the time this person spends helping others with computer problems takes away from the time they have to do their actual job. This can lead to them falling behind, and productivity drops. If you’re the unofficial IT person, then you will know that it is time to start outsourcing your IT support, and get back to helping the business grow!
Have things have gotten too complicated to handle in-house?
Another sign that it is worth considering outsourcing IT support is when more advanced systems become integral to your business. There are so many amazing specialist software options out there, with many dedicated to your industry. These systems can be anything from stock control to client care management and scheduling working hours. As your company grows and your team is using more advanced software every day, it is worth looking at outsourcing your IT support so that when complex issues arise, they can be handled quickly and proficiently by an expert IT consultant.
Is everything running slowly?
This is one of the most evident signs that you need a little outside help with your IT systems at work. If your team are waiting hours for their computers to start up, emails are sitting in an outbox for ages, and the internet keeps going down – it’s time to get help! Slow computer systems are one of the biggest causes of wasted time and low productivity, so by improving how your IT systems work, you might even see a rise in how profitable your business is. IT specialists are brilliant at finding ways to speed up your systems and make sure you have the best tools for the job. They will regularly service and check up on your businesses’ computers and let you know if you need to upgrade. A wealth of IT expertise is just a phone call away, and it’s rare that an expert won’t have encountered your exact problem before and know how to fix it. Having a dedicated IT support team also means that you can implement and benefit from other systems and software that could help your business run more profitably.
Have your team outgrown your premises?
If your business is doing well, congratulations! If you’re about to move to a bigger office and hire more staff, then it is the perfect time to organise your outsourced IT support. Your IT specialist can help you set up all the new computers needed, make sure everyone has access to the correct systems and set up everything from company email accounts to new payroll software. If your team is growing, then the demands on your technology will also increase, so making sure that there is someone you can call for help is a smart business decision. Your IT company can also help you choose the best technology for both your budget and your needs and order and install these for you too. Your growing team will need to know who to call when they experience any technical problems, so having a great outsourced IT support company can help with the transition too.
Are you worried about online security?
Online security is a minefield and with an increasing number of high profile cyber attacks you may be beginning to be concerned about the safety of your online system. You may have spent plenty of time reading articles about secure passwords and updating software regularly, but to really make sure your system is safe, it is worth asking an expert. Your IT support company may also be able to provide you and your team with online security training, email security advice and antivirus solutions for your computers. They will also be there to help with data recovery if the worse happens and your security is breached. Obviously, this is a worst case scenario, but your IT support will also be able to make sure that all of your work is backed up and that nothing is lost. With years of experience, cloud support, remote monitoring and maintenance and the latest knowledge and updates, it is definitely worth getting professional help to make sure your online security is up to scratch.
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