If you think that your IT staff is overworked, you are probably right. Technology needs have only increased as cyberattacks are becoming more common, businesses are having to work remotely during the global pandemic, and customers still expect round-the-clock service.
But what are the specific symptoms that your staff has too much to handle, and how can you provide your IT specialists with support that will have immediate and lasting benefits?
Here are 4 clear signs that your IT staff is overworked and what you can do to supplement your technology management using outsourced services:
1. Troubleshooting technology is getting in the way of running your business.
Technological firefighting here and there is an integral feature of what IT teams do. However, constant troubleshooting stands in the way of progress and evolution, consequently leaving the business one step behind its competitors. IT disruptions can become especially damaging when your IT staff is forced to delegate tech responsibilities to other, untrained members of your staff, such as your front desk representative.
For businesses who are constantly putting out IT fires, a Managed Service Provider is an excellent solution to minimize downtime and allow you to focus on core operations rather than IT issues.
A Managed Service Provider can offer co-managed IT services to supplement the efforts of your current team, taking away the burden of day-to-day troubleshooting. They allow your IT team to focus on key developments by delivering instant transformations that cover everything from software licensing and updates to identifying system shortcomings and areas of improvement.
The major benefit to co-managed IT services is that you can choose just how much of your IT management needs to be outsourced. Whether you need project management services or enhanced cybersecurity, an MSP can cater according to your specific needs. IT staff will subsequently be far less stressed, which boosts productivity and morale.
2. Your cybersecurity isn’t being updated.
The palpable shift in the business landscape towards a completely digital environment has put businesses under heightened pressure to master every aspect of cybersecurity, attempting to combat attacks that statistically occur every 39 seconds.
Implementing a strategy that encompasses protection against malware, phishing scams, ransomware, and viruses is one thing. However, achieving advanced cybersecurity—which often includes eliminating siloed data, continuous system monitoring, and Dark Web scanning—is an ongoing process that your current IT team likely won’t have time for amidst solving day-to-day IT issues.
Additionally, persisting with manual analysis and security management won’t work because new threats surface daily. In addition to implementing the right security systems, your company must pay attention to ongoing developments in cybersecurity. Many in-house teams simply don’t have the time or resources to stay continually educated on increasing threats and ways to combat them.
Inferior cybersecurity results in monetary losses as well as lost trust from clients, employees, and business partners alike. A round-the-clock monitoring system that prevents infiltrations and initiates automated responses to limit damages when cybercriminals strike is therefore critical to protect your business.
Outsourced IT services with 24/7 tracking and alert notifications is a great way to support your current IT team in securing your infrastructure. An outsourced professional has the time to learn about your specific security risks and implement solutions that protect your systems, data, and customers while delivering peace of mind to C-level execs.
They also provide services such as Dark Web scanning and 24/7 system monitoring to free up your in-house IT staff’s time while also staying on top of potential threats at all times. With an MSP, you can maximize your cybersecurity investments and avoid data theft that can prove extremely costly to your business and its reputation.
3. Your network infrastructure is struggling to keep up with business growth.
Every business must find the balance between immediate challenges and long-term ambitions. With regards to IT teams, the two key ingredients are 1) a support staff that can handle the day-to-day IT needs of the business, and 2) a team of professionals who can oversee big-picture technology developments.
If either of these teams are understaffed, you face a major issue. Either you experience more daily IT disruptions because staff are too focused on big-picture planning, or you experience slow growth and wasted technology investments because staff are too focused on solving immediate problems.
Rather than pay exorbitant amounts of money to add more in-house professionals to your team to combat these problems, an MSP can add value where it’s needed—whether you need consulting or daily support. They also employ analytical tools to help forecast growth and plan appropriate structural changes so you can develop a scalable infrastructure in the process.
4. You don’t have a business-aligned IT strategy implemented.
IT services rely heavily on optimized efficiency and productivity, which can only be achieved when you align advanced modern tools and processes to your company’s technological objectives.
Developing a comprehensive and robust strategy is essential for propelling your business forward and leveraging the latest tech systems. Crucially, all IT strategies should be fluid, because the digital landscape is continually evolving.
Fostering strategic communications, both internally and externally, should also relate back to the company vision while an action plan powered by in-depth market research and forecasting is established. A comprehensive strategy must focus on monitoring performances and adapting strategies as you add new processes or scale.
Ultimately, if the frameworks of an IT strategy aren’t established, IT teams can only ever produce limited results. Regular review systems ensure that the strategy never becomes obsolete.
For the sake of your company, IT department, and all employees using computer tech, outsourcing certain IT management tasks can be hugely beneficial. Beyond simply saving you money in having to hire more in-house personnel, they act as a right-hand man to your current staff, working in tandem to fully optimize your IT infrastructure.