Saying goodbye to break-fix support and settling in with a strategic managed IT provider
There’s no denying that the business landscape is moving faster every day – technology has made way for huge efficiency improvements and more dynamic possibilities for businesses in all industries. However, the management and optimization of these possibilities is often an uphill battle for busy professionals
Many rely on incomplete or break-fix IT support solutions – and in some cases, these kinds of support arrangements can work. However, for growing businesses that are trying to maintain a competitive edge in their field, break-fix IT solutions aren’t going to cut it forever.
Break-fix support can be great, but it doesn’t offer the same strategic planning benefits as a managed IT service model. Without a team dedicated to the management of your IT infrastructure, your enterprise will be missing out on huge optimization benefits.
That’s why we’ve created a quick overview of why the break-fix IT support model is out of date and how a fully-managed IT service arrangement could be a game changer for your business. Read on for all the key insights you should consider when thinking about making a switch from break-fix to fully-managed IT support.
Why You Should Say Goodbye to Your Break-Fix Support
We get it. You’ve been relying on your trusted break-fix solution for years and they’ve never done anything to steer you wrong. There’s no denying that. However, as the business environment continues to evolve quickly, your company is going to want more than the same-old troubleshooting solution.
Consider these pitfalls when it comes to break-fix IT support models:
- Your network only gets attention when there’s a problem.
- Network maintenance and update management doesn’t happen routinely.
- Your network lacks stability and consistency.
- You’re billed every time you experience a problem – and could be billed multiple times for a pesky, reoccurring problem.
- Project and restoration timelines can be unpredictable.
- When your on-call support partner isn’t available, you could face serious downtime.
Managed IT Services: The Common-Sense Solution for Modern Commerce
The leading alternative to break-fix IT support models is the managed IT service model. The primary difference between the two is generally all about responsibility. Under a managed IT service agreement, the provider takes responsibility for the monitoring, maintenance, management, and optimization of your company network. This means you leave your entire network infrastructure in the hands of dedicated and experienced professionals.
No more calling on a provider like a plumber when you have a problem. No more annoying wait times and troubleshooting processes. No more reacting to problems after they’ve already occurred. Managed IT support is all about proactivity – preventing problems from happening and identifying them quickly when they do so they can be resolved efficiently.
When working under a managed IT service agreement, both parties prioritize the complete stability and optimization of the business network. Your needs become aligned with the professional insights of IT experts and the result is a stable and optimized network.
Here are some of the key benefits of working with a managed IT service professional:
- You get a full-service experience for a fixed monthly rate. Your network is maintained and kept running no matter what and there’s no limit on the amount of support you can ask for.
- Your managed service provider will get to know your network and will be dedicated to keeping your infrastructure secure, stable, and productive.
- Your network will be proactively monitored for threats and problems will be handled before they impact your operations. A managed partner will also help you plan for rebounding smoothly from the worst-case scenario.
- Your company will be connected with the latest network solutions, software, updates, strategies, and optimization tools available.
- You’ll get an enterprise-level support experience with comprehensive consultation and reliable communication.
- You’ll reap the benefits of having an IT professional in your corner for strategic and long-term planning.
Making the Switch: Consult with Colleagues and Providers
If the pros and cons we’ve listed above haven’t convinced you yet, the best advice we have is to consult with managed IT service providers and ask them directly what they can offer you. Explain your needs and ask how their fully-managed IT experience will help remedy your challenges and streamline your operational effort.
By chatting directly with potential providers, you’ll already start to get a sense of the personalization and strategic benefit that comes along with a fully-managed IT service experience. It won’t be long before you’re crafting a managed IT experience that is customized to meet the specific needs of your organization.
It’s also a great idea to reach out to colleagues who rely on managed service providers to get a first-hand account of the benefits you could be taking advantage of. Whatever you do, don’t settle for part-time, break-fix support, when you could be investing in a much more comprehensive service agreement, that doesn’t sink your bottom line.
Did you find this article informative? As always, we’re happy to help! If you liked this, check out these other articles we think you’ll love:
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