No matter how large or small your company, having a solid tech infrastructure is essential for success. But sometimes, a lack of resources, skills, or time can cause your in-house IT department to fall behind. Outsourcing your IT support to a qualified managed service provider (MSP) can help make up the difference. This cost-effective solution can give your business the technical support it needs.
In this handy guide, we’ll review what outsourcing means and some of the IT services you can outsource. We’ll also explore why you should consider outsourcing and how to find the right managed service provider to partner with.
What is Outsourcing?
In the simplest terms, outsourcing is the act of passing off a part of your business operations to a third-party agency or company. With IT outsourcing, a managed service provider handles the IT needs. You can outsource all of your daily IT operations or choose specific projects or tasks to outsource. Our IT services provide high-quality service at lower costs than in-house teams, making the option especially enticing for SMBs that don’t have as many resources to dedicate to an in-house IT team.
Companies also have the option to co-source IT support. Co-sourcing involves hiring an MSP to provide extra technical support to a business’s existing IT staff. They can offer an extra helping hand during busy periods when a company’s dedicated IT team needs assistance. This service stands in contrast to outsourcing, which involves an MSP taking full responsibility for providing daily IT support or completing a specific tech project.
Why Should You Outsource IT Support in London?
There are many reasons to consider outsourcing your IT support in the UK. Recruiting, interviewing, and training an in-house IT team can be a lengthy and costly process. You could spend weeks searching your local talent pool for experienced and skilled professionals without ever finding the ideal candidate. And, even if you do fill your IT team with perfect pros, an issue or project beyond their skill set is bound to appear at some point. Outsourcing all but eliminates the challenges of hiring qualified tech staff. You don’t have to worry about high operational costs, and you only pay for the services you need. Plus, here at Optimising IT, our teams are full of top-level IT professionals with various backgrounds, skills, and expertise. No matter what issues arise or what systems need optimisation, there’s bound to be someone on the team that can handle it.
Outsourcing IT support can be an excellent option for small and midsize businesses. Having a robust IT infrastructure is vital for companies of all sizes, but smaller organisations often don’t have the resources to staff an entire in-house IT team. Working with a managed service provider can give these businesses access to the same level of support and expertise as large companies enjoy. The best part? SMBs can take advantage of these benefits at an affordable price point.
We’ll go into detail on some of the most appealing benefits of outsourcing below.
Outsourcing Your IT Support Services from Optimising IT
Optimising IT is your comprehensive source for managed IT support. We offer best-in-class outsourced IT solutions designed to give your company the help it needs to thrive and grow. With our diverse selection of support , your business can fully outsource its IT operations or gain extra assistance with short-term projects. Here are a few of the services you can outsource to Optimising IT.
Managed IT Services
With our managed IT support services, we can handle the day-to-day operations of your IT systems. Our skilled technicians can help resolve technical difficulties, monitor your network for potential issues, and optimise your systems for greater efficiency. The outsourced managed IT services we provide include:
- Desktop support
- On-site support
- Network and infrastructure support
- Service management
- IT service transition services
- Managed procurement
- Project management and delivery
Cloud Services
We provide a range of cloud services to help your organisation boost computing speed, reduce costs, and gain an edge over your competition. If you choose to outsource your cloud services with Optimising IT, we can provide cloud hosting, cloud backups, managed Microsoft 365 solutions, and cloud-hosted email signatures.
Cyber Security Services
Cyber threats are everywhere. Cyber security should be one of your organisation’s top priorities to protect your company’s sensitive data. We offer a diverse range of outsourced cyber security services like:
- Fully-managed cyber security
- Cyber Essentials certification
- Cyber security awareness training and workshops
- Penetration testing
- Cyber security audits
- Cyber security consultancy
IT Consultancy
For assistance optimising your IT systems and planning significant picture changes, consider outsourcing your strategy to our expert consultancy team. Our professionals can assess your systems, identify ways to improve, provide recommendations, and create plans to enhance your tech systems. We offer consultancy services to aid you with strategy, data privacy, business software, project management, etc.
Microsoft 365
Get the most out of Microsoft’s suite of workplace tools with our managed Microsoft 365 services. We offer a complete range of services to oversee your Microsft tools to improve productivity and ensure you have the best tools for your business. Optimising IT is a certified Microsoft Gold partner, which allows us to offer the best support for licensing services, Microsoft Teams solutions, Microsoft Modern Desktop, and managed Microsoft security.
G-Cloud Services
As recognised G-Cloud 12 Crown Commerical Services specialists, we can provide customised outsourced support to any UK company in the public sector. Our G-Cloud support services include tech support, cloud hosting, Microsoft 365 and Office, cyber security training, and consultancy.
Benefits of Outsourcing
There are plenty of reasons to consider outsourcing your IT services. Here are a few of the top benefits of passing off IT operations to an outside agency.
Cost Savings
For most businesses, the costs of outsourced support are lower than the expense of maintaining an in-house team. There are a few ways an outsourcing model lowers costs. Your business will save on labour costs that you would otherwise spend on recruiting, training, and paying a salary to in-house employees. You can lower operational costs with an MSP, too. Their services help prevent network issues, which can result in costly downtime. Additionally, outsourced service providers allow you to choose which services you want, so you only pay for what you need. Plus, the fixed monthly cost makes it easier to budget.
Access to Knowledgeable Professionals
With an in-house tech team, your IT support is limited by the staff’s knowledge and experience. You gain access to a broader range of skilled professionals when you outsource. Outsourced teams are full of experts who have a range of backgrounds and specialise in different areas. If you’re working on a specialised project and need guidance from a pro, it’s much easier to reach out to your existing MSP for assistance than finding and hiring qualified talent in your area.
At Optimising IT, our skilled team boasts over 100 years of combined industry experience. Our certified technicians and consultants are at your service to help with your IT concerns.
Flexible Offerings
Outsourcing provides a lot more flexibility, too, not just in their offerings but in their scalability too. Managed service providers can complete a large variety of tasks and projects, from desktop support to data protection consulting. You can choose (and pay for) whichever services you need when you need them.
Outsourced services are easier to scale, too. If your company experiences a surprise burst of growth, your IT services can grow quickly and efficiently. This allows you to keep up with your every tech requirement without training new staff.
Reliable 24/7 Support
Many outsourced service providers operate outside of regular business hours to provide reliable support and around-the-clock monitoring. Managed service providers can offer a rapid response time to troubleshoot problems and find solutions quickly and effectively. 24/7 monitoring of your primary IT infrastructure can also help identify and prevent issues, preventing excessive downtime and lost productivity. These services can keep your systems running as efficiently as possible.
Improve Security
You can keep your sensitive company data safer with outsourced services. Hosted solutions help businesses to avoid costly data breaches. A centralised data system is one of the most secure options for storing digital files. Our service providers are also knowledgable about industry-required compliance regulations. They can strategise and implement security measures to protect your data and ensure your organisation is fully compliant.
Boost Productivity
Working with an outsourced IT service provider can even increase the productivity of your in-house staff. Dedicated and reliable tech support often translates to fewer issues, less downtime, and an overall more seamless experience. All of this can have a profound impact on your employee’s productivity and performance. They won’t have to be slowed down by inefficient tech or spend hours waiting on hold for a problem to be solved. When your IT infrastructure is well cared for, your team will be able to use technology as a tool and focus better on their work.
Stay Competitive
Things change quickly in IT and business on the whole. You need to be able to keep up with these changes to remain competitive. MSPs live and breathe tech; it’s their job to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best industry practices. When you partner with a service provider for outsourced support, you gain access to that cutting-edge knowledge that can help you stay one step ahead of your competitors. These benefits are amplified for small and medium-sized businesses. Outsourcing support can help you access the same level of expertise as larger companies have, but at a much more affordable price point, so you can keep up with the big guys.
More Time to Focus on Your Company
Perhaps the best advantage of outsourcing IT services is that it gives you one less thing to think about. IT issues can slow down operations and draw your attention away from big picture goals. When you hire a managed service provider, tech issues no longer need to occupy the top spot in your mind. The MSP will handle your IT networks and ensure they’re optimised for your needs. This way, you can focus your time, effort, and resources on achieving your company’s core objective while getting the support you need from your tech infrastructure.
How to Choose the Right Managed Service Provider
Are you ready to outsource your IT services? Choosing the right service provider is vital to making the most of IT outsourcing. Follow these steps to find the best services provider for your business.
- Consider why you want to hire an MSP and identify gaps in your current IT system.
- Decide which services are the most important for your business operations. Do you want to outsource all of your IT services or use outsourcing to support your existing IT staff?
- Research managed services providers that operate in your area. Check out their services and read testimonials from previous clients to determine if they’ll be a good fit for you.
- Reach out to your top choices to learn more about their services and request a free IT systems audit to better understand how the MSP can accommodate your needs.
- Select the service provider whose services, reputation, and way of conducting business best match what you’re looking for. Talk to them about the specifics of your project and sit back while they handle the rest!
Are you looking for a UK-based services provider who can take your IT department’s reins? Contact us at Optimising IT to learn how outsourcing your IT services to us can help your business flourish.
