Introduction

Managed IT services are tasks outsourced to third-party companies and are prevalent in the information technology sector. Such services have gained a lot of popularity as they offload some of the work to save costs, improve service quality and allow the internal teams to focus on some of the more important work that requires more attention.

Managed service providers are tasked with the responsibility for the management of a particular service or equipment. This service comes with an SLA(service level agreement), which provides benefits like backup options, disaster recovery, downtime maintenance & provisions, dedicated technical support, and help desk access.

Managed IT services are also popular because they allow companies to anticipate customers’ needs for various processes and functions to streamline the entire business and management.

These services are also beneficial for a company as it helps to fill in potential skill gap that a company’s internal team might not possess or don’t have the time or experience required for the particular tasks. This is where companies offering these services come into play. They have specialized people working on these aspects of the business so the internal team can focus on other initiatives without increasing the workload.

They also help reduce training and staff costs; some services have variable pricing plans. Most of them have a fixed monthly plan, while some companies also charge by the resources consumed, offering great value for the price. Additionally, employing a third-party service provider is much more affordable than developing an in-house operations team which requires hiring staff, training them, etc.

Moreover, collaborating with a managed IT service provider also removes the need to worry about power outages as service providers handle all the operations regarding a particular service. These include redundant power backups, offsite backups, privacy protection, etc.

Additionally, most managed service providers offer an SLA which explains what to expect from the services provided.

Types of Managed IT Services

Several managed IT services are available, ranging from general to extremely specific requirements. Some examples include management of hardware & equipment, systems management, remote monitoring, maintenance, security monitoring, and other support services.

Some managed services follow a break/fix model, which means that particular service or equipment is kept under monitoring and is only fixed when an issue arises.  However, modern IT companies offer proactive methods to prevent problems and predictive maintenance.

●      Managed Networks And Infrastructure

In this, the Managed Network Services provider takes responsibility for managing the entire network and the infrastructure of the company. This includes network installation, virtual phone systems, server maintenance, structured cabling, Wi-Fi & LAN installation, etc.

These services take a lot of workload from the company’s internal team and ensure that a company’s daily operations are uninterrupted and functioning within a secure and reliable environment. These service providers are also responsible for updating outdated networks with newer ones that align with the company’s goals. They are also responsible for network security, wireless services, cabling, mobile support, and integration services.

●      Managed Security

Managed security services are pretty self-explanatory; the service providers are responsible for maintaining the security of a company’s infrastructure with firewall protection, malware detection, antivirus, active monitoring, traffic protection, and BDR solutions.

●      Managed Support Services

A managed support provider handles all customer queries, pre-sales questions, doubts, and dispute resolution. This means that a company’s customer service part is outsourced to a third-party provider covering all support services from dealing with small to advanced issues.

●      Managed Print Services

Managed print service providers are used by companies with complex file management needs. These services regulate a company’s document output and reduce costs by boosting productivity.

●      Managed Cloud Infrastructure

Managed cloud services involve complete cloud management for companies. This service usually includes everything from mitigation, optimization, security, configuration, and infrastructure optimization. Some of the benefits offered by such service providers include resource management, cloud integration, and optimization.

●      Managed Software as a Service (Saas)

SaaS applications are used by most people around the world, including companies. For example, Dropbox is a SaaS application for online storage solutions. Many people use these applications, so this does not allow much room for customizations.

It’s like a one-size fits all application; however, sometimes, this is not enough as core business processes require customized solutions that can vary for different companies. Managed SaaS applications fill the gap between regular and customized SaaS applications. SaaS providers will provide fully customized applications tailored to function with a company’s requirements.

●      Managed Wireless And Mobile Computing

A service provider offering managed mobile, and wireless computing is responsible for installing wireless connections. This is a good option for businesses that do not possess the capital to develop this in-house.

●      Managed Communication

Managed communication services include messaging, VoIP, access to the internet, and management of private integrated networks within the company.

●      Managed IT Support

Managed IT support providers offer support staff and services for companies that want to outsource these services. This helps fill employment gaps as customer support requires hiring many people on payroll and training them. Managed IT support services to eliminate this issue by providing staff with training and experience in this field, elevating the company’s performance and efficiency.

Conclusion

Overall, managed IT services are very helpful to companies who do not have the capital to spend on developing each and every service in-house. Even for bigger companies, outsourcing services to other companies save time, resources, and money in the long run.

Additionally, since a third-party provider manages them, their services are very responsive, and they are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment or services.