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Eight Reasons Why Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Need Managed IT Services


Rick Endres of The Washington Network Describes Why MANAGED SERVICES ARE in High Demand

Alexandria, VA – March 5, 2007 – Managed IT services have become one of today’s hottest items. They dramatically improve an organization’s profitability, free up internal resources, and provide a competitive advantage. Managed IT services help companies maintain and support their network and IT infrastructure with the assistance of an outsourced managed services provider (MSP). Services may include remote network monitoring, programming and reporting, firewall monitoring, intrusion detection, preventive maintenance, disaster recovery, data backup and help desk support. Small to midsized businesses (SMBs) are turning to managed IT services for eight critical reasons.

  1. Dependence On IT
    Almost all businesses are becoming more dependent on computer technologies to perform at a high level. But it’s a rapidly changing environment. As a result, companies find it more difficult to maintain the expertise to properly deploy, manage, and monitor this new technology, especially as a business evolves.

  2. Complexity
    Most employees find it difficult to understand and effectively use proliferating iterations of the technology. Business needs drive increasing complexity. Distinct disciplines or specialties have emerged in a variety of technology-related areas, including telephony, desktop, network, application and database support. The breadth and depth of technology required by small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) places them at a distinct disadvantage.

  3. Insufficient Solutions
    Traditional support options such as the one-man IT consultant, or the one-or-two person in-house IT department cannot effectively handle the occasional network breakdowns that are bound to occur. One way or another, they’re going to need to bring in external resources, often at the highest per-hour rates.

  4. Lack of Process
    An IDC study reinforces the notion of lack of process, showing that 78% of all IT downtime is caused by change.  If you could simply eliminate change from the computing environment, you would substantially decrease the risk. Unfortunately, most SMBs lack the procedures, documentation standards, and scope of work, which often results in major disruption and downtime.

  5. Increased Use of Technology
    The increased use of computers, new software and procedures often leads to increased complaints, frustration and loss of productivity. Typically, when network or desktop problems arise and escalate inside a company, the response time of the one-man shop or internal staff is quite slow. In many situations employees have to wait in line to receive help.  The downtime and morale can impact the organization’s ability to meet its customers’ needs, as well as its bottom line. By implementing a managed IT services program, companies reduce the demand on internal IT resources. They can then be utilized for high-level purposes such as supporting strategic business objectives rather than low-level break/fix issues.

  6. Controlling Costs During
    challenging times, companies frequently reduce IT budgets.  In a recent survey of nearly 950 IT managers at companies in North America and Europe, nearly half of U.S. respondents said they have already cut IT budgets.  Unfortunately, lower budgets do not mean lower demand for services. This adds tremendous pressure on internal departments to support the same amount of work with fewer resources.

  7. Technology Erosion
    Computer systems, like any other systems, must be maintained. Vehicle fleets, manufacturing equipment, and the physical plant, have all moved to a preventative approach. Companies that do not implement a preventative maintenance strategy for their technology assets invite unpleasant results, usually at precisely the worst time.

  8. Compliance
    Finally, the technology utilized within an organization in most cases must meet specific compliance standards.  For example, a company’s business processes supported by technology may need to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). And just as urgent, large customers increasingly issue compliance standards you must meet before they will even consider doing business with you. Most companies don’t have the resources to fully understand and comply with these highly detailed requirements.

Companies today must continually weigh the costs and benefits of going it alone with internal resources and/or hiring traditional hourly break-fix services, versus outsourcing management of their IT infrastructure. More and more companies are deciding that not only do they benefit from lower costs and greater uptime by using managed IT services, they’re also deriving a business advantage over their competitors who don’t. As far as the trend towards managed IT services, that’s the biggest driver of all.  

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON NETWORK, INC.

Founded in 1987, The Washington Network, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, provides computer networks, VoIP phone systems, IT support and other technology solutions for associations and businesses in the Washington, DC Metro area.

Serving clients without a large in-house IT staff, The Washington Network lowers operating costs while increasing worker productivity. The company’s flat-rate managed services include remote network monitoring, preventive maintenance, help desk, redundant back-ups and on-site support.

A member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, The Washington Network has been honored as the Chamber’s Professional Service Business of the Year.

Through its strategic membership in the Technology Assurance Group, The Washington Network serves and supports clients with multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada.

The Washington Network is located at 30 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. For more information on The Washington Network, call 703.212.7100 or visit www.WashingtonNetwork.com.

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