FAQs

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Managed services is the practice of outsourcing day-to-day Information Technology (IT) tasks as a strategic method for improving your business operations. It is a proactive approach to handling your needs and allowing reallocation of valuable resources. Managed services can range from a single task to the complete outsourcing of all IT-related operations.

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Basically, the distinction lies in the approach to IT management: proactive vs. reactive.

Here is an example of a reactive model many companies can relate to. A technician orders hardware and builds a server. S/he configures the applications, getting the system to a functional state, and then moves on to another project. However, regular maintenance and patches for the server and the applications it hosts are neglected until a crisis occurs. The business is impacted and they call for help – and are charged an hourly rate for repairs.

A proactive approach is about preventing an outage and keeping the system operating efficiently. Routine maintenance such as patches, updates and system work are performed on a regular basis. Systems are monitored, and when an issue is detected, we are notified electronically. This approach allows our staff to quickly mitigate or eliminate outages before your business is impacted.

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Managed services agreements have several different levels that are related to the scope of work being performed. A reputable provider should be able to demonstrate a Return on Investment (ROI) for its services. A company can realize a significant cost savings with managed services because the provider will implement best practices and standards for managing the particular service. In addition, some providers can offer discounts on hardware and software that companies simply cannot get on their own.

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Some managed services are month-to-month, while others are multiyear commitments. It depends on what is involved with the setup and cost of services. Some will have a very high startup cost and then a lower long-term cost. Others spread out the startup costs over a longer time frame to lower the overall monthly cost.

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Most businesses rely heavily on IT technology, but technology support and networking may not be their core business focus. If that is the case, you need to ask yourself if diverting time and resources away from your core business aligns with your strategic goals.

At the end of the day, the decision simply boils down to either using the “wait until it breaks” model or being proactive and ensuring your systems remain functional and reliable. In other words, how long can your business operations be halted before your bottom line is impacted?

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Security

Our managed security services provide managed firewall, security policies, anti-virus/malware protection and network perimeter protection.

Backup and Business Continuity

Instead of managing and monitoring physical backup tapes, online backup containers and on-site storage replications, we can help simplify, streamline and manage the process as a service.

Infrastructure and Network Monitoring

Manage and monitor servers, applications, data circuits, switches, routers, wireless access, printers and other devices that are key to your business.

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Our company already has an internal IT person. Why would I need staff management?

A managed services provider can act as an extension of your current IT department, taking care of routine tasks to free up your staff so they can focus on other tasks and projects. In addition, managed services are ideal when you're in a situation where you have more work than your current IT department can handle, but not enough to justify another full-time employee.

An area that some companies need help with is IT management. It can be difficult to hold your IT staff accountable in areas that you may not understand. For example, think of a time when your IT staff tells you they are too busy for your request, but you wonder if they are managing their time efficiently. We can help manage your existing IT staff.

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If you relate to four or more of these statements, you might be a good candidate for Managed Services.

You just want the services to work!
You didn’t take the career you’re in to worry about IT issues.
Your time is better spent somewhere else.
You don’t want to, or like to, deal with IT issues.
You’re having a difficult time finding talented IT staff in your area.
You need a break from all the IT vendors and sales folks.
Your company is not big enough to attract a highly skilled IT person.
You have had multiple IT outages that impacted customers .
Your current IT staff doesn’t understand the business.