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At this point, it’s debatable whether there are any businesses left in the U.S. that don’t make use of any IT services. Even your friendly neighborhood lemonade stand is likely using email or social media to connect with customers, and software to design a logo and menu. However, in any business, poorly managed IT can result in a loss in productivity, a toxic atmosphere in the office, downtime, or even worse. And the wider the array of IT services your company uses, the greater the chances of things going wrong. Conversely, effectively managed IT can transform your business, increasing productivity, profits, and even morale in the office. That’s why, as office technology becomes ever more diverse and complex, an increasing number of companies are making use of managed IT services instead of handling their IT requirements themselves. Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits that managed IT services can provide your business.

15 Benefits of Managed IT Services

Briefly stated, when you make use of managed IT services from a trusted provider like Stargel, you’re securing the following for your business:

• Latest Hardware and Software – Say goodbye to clunky, outdated equipment slowing down your operations. Managed IT services ensure your equipment and software are up to date.
• Optimized IT Infrastructure – Managed IT services ensure that all your equipment and software are compatible and work smoothly together.
• Ramped Up Security – Managed IT services secure your machines and network against all manner of cyberthreats.
• Reduced Downtime – With a well-set-up and maintained IT ecosystem, you’ll enjoy greatly reduced downtime from printers malfunctioning, software glitching, networks crashing, etc.

In addition, a quality provider like Stargel can also expertly take care of your entire IT value chain, including monitoring, managing, securing, and backing up your entire IT environment. For the price of a reasonable monthly fee, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:

Lower Operating Costs

Managed IT services can greatly reduce your expenditure on in-house IT staff or callouts from third-party technicians to repair or replace broken equipment or inefficient software.

System Reliability

With seasoned managed IT professionals installing and maintaining modern equipment, your IT systems all work together more effectively, are simpler to use, and break down less often.

Vendor Management

It can be time-consuming and stressful dealing with a variety of hardware and software suppliers by yourself. Managed IT services take care of all these various dealings for you, taking them off your plate entirely and freeing you up to tackle higher priority tasks.

Proactive Maintenance

Managed IT services will typically include regularly scheduled maintenance for your equipment, as well as providing repairs for any unexpected breakages and malfunctions. This proactive approach to maintenance helps keep your IT equipment and processes running smoothly, and extends the lifespan of your gear.

IT Expertise for Any Size Business

High-quality managed IT services providers like Stargel are equipped to deal with any size business – from large multinational corporations to cottage SMEs. This kind of personalized, streamlined service helps to improve efficiency, eliminate unnecessary expenses and address issues quickly and accurately.

Data Backups

One of the biggest risks to all businesses in a digital environment is inefficient storage of crucial business data. Managed IT services typically include regular backups of all your important data, either on your premises, offsite, in the cloud, or a combination.

Help Desk

One of the core features of managed IT services is the helpdesk. Is the paper in the printer jamming? Have you lost the ability to send and receive email? Help is just a phone call or chat away. Choose a provider that offers 24/7 support and is ideally available to handle emergencies on weekends or after-hours.

Onsite Service & Support

Managed IT services technicians should be available to deliver service and support at your premises whenever required. The services rendered could be anything from unjamming the printer to restoring the entire business after a major crash or breach.

Remote Monitoring

In addition to on-premises support, most managed IT services providers will offer remote monitoring over the internet. This can range from making sure your network is functioning properly to monitoring ink and paper supplies. Many issues can be identified and nipped in the bud before they become serious problems.

Regular System Updates

Whether they work in-person or remotely, managed IT services technicians will ensure that all the communications software and firmware on your machines are updated whenever software updates become available from the vendors.

Security Protection

Protecting a business from breaches and other forms of malware is one of the most commonly used managed IT services, and is often offered as a standalone service. Security can include the installation of anti-virus software and setting up user authentication and access control systems.

Controlled IT Expense

The costs of handling IT by yourself can feel like playing a game of Whack-A-Mole. There is a never-ending list of things that can go wrong, and you can never be sure when a disaster is going to happen and how much it will cost to fix. The set fee and services provided by managed IT services provide budgetary certainty and peace of mind.

Leverage Key Technology

There’s likely to be new technology, such as document management systems, which can enhance your operation in ways that you didn’t know were possible. Your managed IT services provider can identify and recommend such systems, and show you how to make the most of them.

IT Strategy and Budget

With a set monthly fee and a clearly defined set of services, managed IT services bring predictability to your IT planning, budgeting, and implementation. That simplifies the process of identifying your requirements and the best way of achieving your goals.

Free Up Resources

If, like most businesses, you don’t have dedicated IT staff on the payroll, when things go wrong, you typically have to reassign employees from whatever they were doing to take care of the problem. These employees may not be entirely qualified to handle the task.

Having skilled IT technicians on call frees up those resources to keep focusing on higher-priority business tasks, while also ensuring that experienced professionals are dealing with the IT issue at hand.

Your Trusted Managed IT Services Provider in Houston

As you can see, managed IT services can save you time and money in a variety of ways. Of course, not all providers are built alike, and the trick is to find the right provider with the expertise and experience to deliver what you need quickly, cost-effectively, and expertly.

At Stargel, we offer a full suite of managed IT services, including bespoke, self-designed solutions like the Star-Q Hosted Desktop and Star Connect virtual IT management suite for Houston businesses. Contact us today for a free assessment.