Most modern businesses rely on specific technology solutions to ensure operations can work as intended. This includes servers for data storage, networks for data distribution, and workstations for employee productivity. Of course, you have to wonder if this is wise; after all, what happens when this technology fails?
Break-fix IT used to be the staple for business technology maintenance. Organizations would use their technology solutions until they broke down, and would only utilize IT when it needed to be fixed. At the same time, companies would have to struggle with downtime--any time when technology isn’t working as intended. This can quickly lead to a time sink in which you’re losing out on possible revenue, all while fixing technology issues that could have been prevented in the first place. These big hits to budgets can make operations difficult even after recovering from downtime.
Managed IT services are an option that modern SMBs have in order to bypass the shortcomings of break-fix IT. Instead of only resolving IT issues as they happen, proactive managed IT aims to take preventative measures to keep problems from happening in the first place. This includes most all solutions that are managed and hosted by a third-party provider, with the intention of removing responsibilities from your in-house team. Unlike your in-house team, who may struggle with managing some aspects of your technology, you can rely on a third-party managed service provider to guarantee that your technology gets the attention it needs.
A good comparison would be comparing an automobile to managed IT services. If your car is making weird sounds, like the engine spitting and sputtering, you’ll naturally want to get it checked for major problems. However, due to the cost of vehicle maintenance, you might choose to forego maintenance. After all, your car still runs, so surely the problem can wait a bit. In this case, it’s better to get the problem resolved quickly before a motor problem leaves you stranded on the side of the road, with both a towing fee and the repair costs.
On the other hand, having your own team of mechanics that can repair and maintain your car for a monthly fee is a better investment, as they will perform the tuneups and the maintenance needed to keep your car in good shape. This is what having managed IT services feels like.
Preventative maintenance can help to keep technology solutions from experiencing hardware failure for as long as possible. No technology lasts forever, so the ideal way to minimize the damage done by hardware failure is to plan for it. By implementing preventative solutions like data backup and disaster recovery, you can limit how much damage downtime causes your organization, and you’ll be able to make the transition to new technology much easier.
Does your business use proactive maintenance to mitigate threats to your business? If not, reach out to us at 408-927-8700.
