Laurie Clarke, a staff writer at Computerworld, outlines a list of pros that make a lot of sense. She suggests that you can expect to see the following benefits when you outsource your IT:

Pros: [/cz_title][cz_stylish_list id=”cz_80868″ items=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Gain%20Greater%20Expertise%22%2C%22icon_type%22%3A%22icon%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Lower%20Cost%22%2C%22icon_type%22%3A%22icon%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Improved%20Equipment%20and%20Security%22%2C%22icon_type%22%3A%22icon%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Free%20Up%20Internal%20Resources%22%2C%22icon_type%22%3A%22icon%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Focus%20on%20Your%20Business%22%2C%22icon_type%22%3A%22icon%22%7D%5D” default_icon=”fa czico-193-checked” sk_icons=”font-size:20px;color:#ba0230;”][cz_title id=”cz_19439″]

Make Sure You’re in Control

In order to make sure outsourcing your IT works for you, it’s important to minimize the potential cons by investigating potential service providers. For example, if you feel like you may lose some control by outsourcing, and control over the way your network is run is important to you, make sure to have a clear SLA (Service Labor Agreement) that outlines your specific requirements.

A good SLA should not be one-size-fits-all. Since your organization is different from every other organization, your SLA should include items that are unique to your needs. For example, your SLA may require an IT specialist to physically be at your location during emergencies, as is the case with a First Responder Agency. You could require that a specialist is present at your Emergency Headquarters for the entirety of the emergency, even if those hours stretch into off-business hours. This is just one example to illustrate the point that you can gain greater control by outlining your needs in a Service Labor Agreement.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_image id=”cz_56324″ image=”13728″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_96489″ cz_title=””]

Close the Quality Gaps

Not all service providers are equal. You’ll need to do your research to make sure the service provider is a quality vendor. Look at their Google ratings, do they have a lot of happy customers? It’s also a good idea to ask for a list of their clients in case you’d like to interview them to see if they are happy with their performance. Review your SLA, to be sure that your outsourced IT provider can do everything you would require them to. An IT service provider may do great work, and have glowing reviews but may have certain gaps in expertise or services they can provide.

Quality Communication is Key

We all know that good communication is the key to any relationship that works. Today there are many communication platforms from email and texting, to countless apps that help us stay in touch. Be sure that your IT provider will be willing to communicate with you in the same way that your team does day-to-day. Also make sure they will provide regular reports about the health of your network, with recommendations to improve your infrastructure. Another thing your outsourced IT provider should be able to offer is a Virtual CIO (Chief Information Officer), someone who is there to help you make critical technology decisions when you need them. They should be brand-agnostic so that the infrastructure you build is the best for your investment. Another important thing is to make sure they communicate with you as a partner, rather than just another client.

Helping Adapt to the “New Normal”

During the last few months company cultures across the world have evolved in order to survive during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and will undoubtedly need to keep adapting to weather the financial impact in the years following the pandemic. So much is changing and people are looking for ways to save money and streamline their business performances. There has never been a better time to talk to outsourced IT providers and see what they can do for you. They will often be able to provide a comprehensive technical staff of experts that are certified in many areas of IT.

Building a team of your own processionals with the same experience and qualifications would be very costly to your organization. The benefits of having a large talent pool working for you today, at a lower cost than hiring your own in-house staff can be very attractive as long as the provider you choose meets the criteria that’s important to your business. Additionally, a good IT service provider can help your organization navigate the technologies required to meet the demands of remote workers. They can get a secure remote work environment set up, while providing remote troubleshooting and support to employees whether they’re working at home or in the office.

We hope you feel empowered with the information you need to choose the right outsourced IT provider for your organization. Les Olson Company serves customers in Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. If your organization is in one of these areas and would like to speak with one of our IT representatives please fill out the form below, or simply click to call. We look forward to meeting you virtually or in person.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_image id=”cz_22306″ image=”13734″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”]

Ensuring the performance and security of your network is one big job that all small businesses should consider outsourcing. The day-to-day troubleshooting, monitoring, and maintenance is not only time-consuming work, it can also put your business at risk if you’re less than an expert.

Many small businesses don’t hesitate when it comes to outsourcing things like payroll processing, accounting, and other essential functions; so why do so many businesses try to go it alone when it comes to IT? Here are 4 great reasons you should be outsourcing your IT services.

Reduce Risk

It’s generally understood that every business needs insurance to protect their assets in the case of accident, theft, injury or disaster. However, many business owners overlook the risks posed by cyber criminals who take advantage of security vulnerabilities, and the risk of data loss due to improper backup and storage practices.

In fact, 20% of all cyber attacks target businesses with fewer than 250 employees. Why? Because small businesses typically lack the security defenses, resources, or time required to support the 24/7 monitoring and expertise needed to effectively protect their confidential and valuable data residing on their networks.

With the increasing complexity of technology and the constantly evolving sophistication of cyber criminals, it’s important to make sure your network is being managed by someone that specializes in anticipating and mitigating threats and data loss.

If you wonder if it’s worth paying an expert to manage your network, consider this: 93% of companies fail within 1 year of a major data loss, even if they recover in the short term. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?

Free Up Your Time for Other Things

Few things are more time-consuming and costly than building and maintaining your own IT infrastructure. Not only do you need to purchase equipment such as computers, firewalls, servers, phones, etc.; it also takes a lot of time to set up and manage on an ongoing basis.

As the owner or manager of a small business, you have limited time and attention. When an employee has issues with their computer, your internet connection is lost, a computer is infected…are you the one who’s expected to put out those fires? If you’re not an IT expert, trying to troubleshoot these issues can be frustrating and can distract you from your other important tasks. Or maybe you just leave it to an employee who’s “pretty good with computers”. Either way, unless you have an in-house IT administrator, someone is spending less time doing the job they were hired to do when addressing IT issues.

Outsourcing your IT needs can help free up more time to focus on essential priorities, allowing you and your team to use the skills that benefit your business most.

Improve Office Efficiency & Look More Professional

For small businesses with limited resources, outsourcing IT services and even leasing your hardware can improve efficiency and help you compete with larger businesses in your field. By outsourcing, you can level the playing field by gaining access to the same cutting-edge technology and IT expertise that larger businesses pay big bucks for at a fraction of the cost.

Outsourcing your IT services can also help make your business look more professional, and improve efficiency by reducing downtime. Maybe your IT service provider can help you with automation and other tools that improve your workflow; maybe your staff will be enabled to serve your customers more efficiently. Whatever the outcome, you can expect improvements when you’re able to adopt the right tools.

Expect More Predictable IT Costs

For many businesses, it’s simply not financially possible to hire an in-house IT Administrator. But if you’re not up for the task of managing your own IT needs, someone has to do it. Let an external company bear the burden of hiring and managing an IT staff. For a predictable monthly payment, their team becomes your team.

So what can you outsource?

When it comes to IT services, you can outsource just about anything including the management and maintenance of your computers and servers, the management of mobile devices on your network, network security, data backup, hosted phones, and much more. The experts at Les Olson Company can help Utah and Las Vegas businesses with all their Managed IT Services needs.[/cz_title]