6 Ways Outsourcing Your IT To An MSP Will Save Your Company Money
Is it time to turn your IT services over to a managed service provider (MSP), a company that provides technology services to businesses, organizations, or individuals?
Managing your business well means knowing which processes to keep in-house and which ones are better to outsource.
Maybe you know it’s time, but you’re unsure what it will look like. Will it be more costly? What about security? Tech support? Will the “letting go” have a negative impact on other aspects of your business?
Let’s take a closer look at the pros (and a few cons) of outsourcing your IT to an MSP and give you some answers to those nagging questions so you can make a confident decision.
First, let’s talk about the basics, then we’ll move into the benefits, as well as the possible “cons.”.
(The truth is, we’ll show you how to overcome the possible downsides, so keep reading!)
Managed Service Providers 101
An MSP provides technology services to businesses, organizations, or individuals; services are typically delivered remotely and can include a range of IT services, such as network monitoring and management, cybersecurity, data backup and recovery, cloud computing, software management, and technical support.
MSPs are responsible for managing and maintaining their clients’ IT infrastructure so you can focus on your core business activities, while the MSP takes care of all the technology-related tasks.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
Benefits of Outsourcing IT to an MSP
Overall, outsourcing IT to an MSP can help businesses save money by providing cost-effective solutions, predictable monthly costs, and improved productivity and security.
Gauging cost vs. benefit is likely top-of-mind as you make most decisions for your business. Check out the advantages you’ll enjoy when you turn over the IT reins to a trusted managed service provider.
It’s Cost-Effective
In more ways than one. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Reduced Labor Costs
Hiring in-house IT staff can be expensive. It requires salaries, benefits, training, and other costs associated with hiring and retaining employees. Instead of employing a cybersecurity expert, IT director and infrastructure expert, paying hundreds of thousands in salaries, the MSP provides a team of experienced professionals who handle a variety of tasks at a lower cost than hiring an in-house team.
2. Predictable Monthly Costs
Managed service providers typically charge a fixed monthly fee for their services, which makes it easier for you to budget and plan your IT expenses. Instead of being surprised by an unexpected server upgrade or a licensing renewal, you’ll avoid unexpected costs associated with IT maintenance and repair.
3. Improved Productivity
MSPs can help businesses like yours improve productivity by providing proactive maintenance and monitoring of their IT infrastructure.
This can help identify and fix issues before they become major problems, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. Plus, an MSP never takes a vacation or sick day, unlike in-house IT staff.
4. Access to Advanced Technology
MSPs like Abacus invest in the latest technology and tools, which can be expensive for you to purchase and maintain on your own. Outsourcing IT to an MSP gives your business access to advanced technology without having to make a significant upfront investment.
5. Better Security
MSPs can provide a higher level of security than businesses can typically achieve on their own. This includes services like cybersecurity risk assessments, vulnerability scans, and data backup and recovery services.
By preventing security breaches and data loss, your business can avoid the financial (and reputational) costs associated with these incidents.
6. Save on Hardware and Software
Here’s how you’ll save:
- Reduced hardware costs. Virtualization and cloud computing services allow your business to run its IT infrastructure on virtual servers hosted by the MSP, rather than on physical servers that require significant upfront investment and ongoing maintenance. Virtualization also allows businesses to run multiple applications on a single server, reducing the need for additional hardware.
- Access to discounted software. Partnerships with software vendors mean MSPs can often offer you discounted rates on software licenses. You’ll likely save money on software costs, especially for expensive enterprise-level applications.
- Reduced maintenance and upgrade costs. Your MSP is responsible for maintaining and upgrading your business’ IT infrastructure, including hardware and software. This means you don’t have to bear the costs associated with hardware repairs or software updates.
- Scalability and flexibility. MSPs can help your business scale its IT framework up or down as needed, without incurring additional hardware and software costs. This is because MSPs can provide additional resources, such as storage or processing power, on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Your business will avoid the costs of purchasing and maintaining additional hardware and software licenses, while also providing the flexibility to adjust its IT infrastructure as needed.
24/7/365 Support
If you’re relying on an in-house IT person, they’ll likely only be available to offer support during normal working hours.
With outsourced services, you’ll have access to the help you need, when you need it, no matter the day or the hour. This capability improves productivity because your employees can work from wherever, whenever.
Are There Drawbacks of Outsourcing IT?
Whenever you’re thinking of implementing a new process or making a shift in your business, you’ll have some doubts or questions that you need to have answered before you’re comfortable moving forward.
Here are some of the downsides of outsourcing IT to an MSP:
- Lack of complete control. You are turning over control to the managed services provider that you choose to work with, putting your IT in the hands of another vendor.
- You can overcome this concern by doing your due diligence to ensure the MSP you work with covers all the bases. Do your research and choose to work with a reputable MSP like Abacus.
- No physical IT presence in your office. There are times when having an IT professional in the next room or at the next desk is convenient.
- You can overcome this concern by finding a managed services provider with 24/7/365 support.
Why Trust Abacus as Your MSP
1. Access to the Latest Tech
Abacus is always improving and adopting new processes and tools to make sure your business maintains optimal efficiency across all systems.
2. Compliance
When Abacus manages your IT services, you can trust that your business will be fully compliant with all data safety rules and regulations.
3. Pair With Other Abacus Services
Streamline your processes by having Abacus manage more than one service. For example, you can pair your IT services with cybersecurity and save time and money with multiple services covered with only one bill and provider.
4. Benefit From Abacus’ Larger View of IT
Abacus has an in-house team of experts and you will have the advantage of tapping into the accumulated knowledge from lessons learned across many clients.
The Bottom Line
MSPs can provide a variety of benefits, including improved system performance, increased efficiency, reduced downtime, and better security. They can also help businesses save money by providing cost-effective solutions and reducing the need for in-house IT staff.
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!
