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Co-managed IT

9 Reasons to Invest in Co-Managed IT Services

IT’s importance has been growing rapidly over the last decades, and it’s one of the most important factors for corporate achievement in 2023. In fact, 71% of CFOs think that the success of their company depends on their ability to transform digitally.

Co-managed IT services are the ideal way to stay flexible and competitive in any industry. Read on to learn some benefits of these IT services and why you should take the leap.

1. Custom Integration Means Flexibility

Co-managed IT services mean that your business operates its IT infrastructure alongside a third-party provider. You retain control over some things while relinquishing other functions to the professional IT co-manager.

This partnership is extremely nuanced and coordinated because it’s not one-size-fits-all. Different businesses have wildly different needs, especially those in various industries.

Those in mid-market health care may need access to patient records on in-house servers for HIPAA compliance and security reasons. However, they may be able to store employee-related records and financial documents on a third-party server to save storage space and money.

Commercial construction firms, on the other hand, may be able to keep client records on an external server. Fleet management applications and software may be the internal storage part of their IT system.

Co-managed IT is great because the models let people pick and choose which resources and data they want to get external help with. You’ll also get to select which processes, workflows, and sensitive information should exclusively stay in-house. It’s flexible, so a co-managed model will bend to your specific needs.

2. Save Money on In-House Services

In-house IT has many disadvantages, but the main one is that it’s extremely costly. Hiring an IT management professional means paying for their full-time salary and benefits. It also means shelling out for training and onboarding costs and needing to find new IT help if they quit.

Co-managed IT solutions solve this problem. Even if you hire someone in-house, you won’t need to pay them a full-time salary because they’ll have fewer responsibilities. If they quit, you won’t be left in the dust until you find a new in-house expert.

You also won’t need to pay for internal servers that store data and launch applications that could be managed externally. This means paying for less hardware and freeing up server space for things that must be stored in-house.

You’ll also save space. When you store all of your information in your company facility, you’ll need to store the hardware on the premises.

This can make it hard to get around. It could also force you to pay for more storage space or even a larger office.

Co-managed IT gives you the freedom to pick and choose what you store in-house. It also means that you won’t need to hire unnecessary employees.

3. Retain Control Over Your Operations

Many people prefer managed IT because it’s less expensive than in-house management. It also saves space.

However, fully outsourcing your IT infrastructure means that you might feel powerless over your information. A third party stores it and manages it, and while no reputable company will abuse that power, it still bothers some people. The managed IT company also provides security features and updates, which makes many business leaders feel out of control.

Co-managed IT means reaping the benefits of managed IT services. However, it also means that you get to retain control over the information and applications that matter most.

Rather than being the end-all-be-all of your IT, co-managed operations serve as an escalation point for any in-house IT experts that you hold dear. Plus, since it’s easier for a third party to co-manage rather than fully manage an IT infrastructure, you save even more money.

4. Simple Budgeting for Business Technology

In addition to saving money, co-managed IT can make it easier for you to create a budget. You won’t need to set aside money to hire a completely new staff. You also won’t need to allocate funds to buy entirely new equipment, which means less time spent trying to get everything to fit into your already-limited budget.

It’s easier to budget for co-managed IT than doing everything in-house. You only need to pay a predetermined monthly fee for some resources rather than paying for applications that do each specific thing. A third party already has software for routine functions like system maintenance and ticketing, so you won’t need to budget for several different technologies to perform these menial but important tasks.

5. You’ll Boost Productivity

Co-managed IT solutions can greatly boost productivity in any workplace. These services tend to cover routine activities like maintenance and upgrades.

Constant software updates mean that it’s less likely for your pages to load slowly and lag on either the company or consumer end. They also make downtime less likely so that employees can be productive all day, every day.

You’ll also get constant network monitoring that notifies you or experts of blips or changes that might mean downtime. This lets you see any potential problems immediately and troubleshoot them before they cause major issues for your network operations.

Beyond that, you’ll have extra support from the co-managing experts during peak demand periods. When your products are selling quickly and your in-house IT team is adapting to new demand and customer needs, you won’t be forced to stop working when minor tech-related emergencies arise.

Finally, a lack of simple technology issues boosts employee morale. They’ll be more satisfied without the frustration of software and network issues, and happy employees are 31% more productive. They’re also likely to make 37% more sales, so you’ll get more money and make more customers happy.

6. It’s Easier to Expand

A co-managed IT model makes it easier for businesses in several industries to expand.

For example, consider a small pharma firm with 25 people. If this firm plans to grow to employ about 200 people, an in-house IT model means that they’ll constantly need to purchase new hard drives and upgrade applications. This is costly and challenging, and it requires a lot of individual budgeting and research.

The problem is even greater if the firm wants to expand to new service areas or offer new types of pharmaceuticals. These transitions require more data, legal documents, and records. Bigger network bandwidth and more storage space are necessary.

Renting or buying a new office or operational headquarters may also be an eventual necessity to hold all employees. This means taking a lot of hardware to a new place.

Co-managed IT lets you store everything on external servers while you make the move. You can grow without buying more hardware and keep data secure while migrating to new areas. Professionals will provide support for your growing IT needs during an otherwise chaotic transitional period.

 

7. Lower Risk of Breaches

IBM estimates that the average cost of a data breach is around $4.45 million. Since this is 15% higher than it was 3 years ago, top-notch cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for businesses. This is especially true as the amount of digital data we store on business servers goes up as technology use increases.

Co-managed IT models can help keep you secure. You’ll gain access to top-of-the-line, expert-level security software with professional assistance. Experts know how to integrate them with your in-house infrastructure so that you don’t need to worry about a data breach.

For example, you’ll gain access to the most updated and high-grade firewalls and MFA features on the market. End-to-end encryption is also available. Plus, professional system monitoring can help alert you to potential threats so that you can proactively combat security risks.

8. Backup and Recovery

Since your information won’t just be stored on an internal server, you also will have an easier time recovering any lost data. In the unlikely event of a breach or severe system error, you’ll have a readily available backup at your professional co-manager’s facility.

Better yet, co-management models mean constant automated backups. You’ll retain and save all necessary information automatically. This means you don’t need to worry about manual backups.

9. Constant Support Reduces Problems

Working hand-in-hand with a co-management team means round-the-clock support. Your IT partners will add value to your business by constantly answering questions and immediately troubleshooting problems that you point out. This means better cybersecurity and immediate solutions for important support tickets.

You also can ask them any questions you have about your IT infrastructure. This will give you a greater understanding of your technology and let you make more effective business plans. 

Invest in Co-Managed IT Services Today

Co-managed IT services combine the best of in-house IT operations with the benefits of third-party management. Now that you know the advantages of these business solutions, it’s time to become more productive and secure with top-notch co-management partners.

Terminal B’s team is committed to helping you create an IT management plan so that you can store and access all the information you need in both the short and long term. We’ll talk about building a custom plan that gives you all the support you need while still keeping you in control when it matters.

Get in touch with our Texas IT team to learn how we can bolster your small-to-medium business ASAP.

What Is It Consulting

How Can IT Consulting Help Your Business

More companies are integrating IT solutions to bolster their business processes, increasing the global budget for IT to $3.92 trillion. Small businesses are investing in upgrading their IT infrastructure, increasing security, and employee growth. Before investing in new IT systems for your Austin or San Antonio company, consider hiring an IT consulting business. 

What is IT consulting, exactly, and how can an IT consultant benefit your business? Read on to find out!

After reviewing this guide, you can determine if business consultant software and IT services suit your company’s needs. Learn more about business IT services today.

What Is IT Consulting?

First, let’s cover the basics: what is IT consulting?

IT consulting services can help you optimize your IT infrastructure in order to reach business goals. IT consulting is a branch of the Information Technology industry. With IT consulting services, you can gain access to a professional’s expertise and advice.

Choosing IT consulting services is ideal if you don’t want to hire a full-time IT staff. You won’t have to pay for on-boarding or overhead. You also won’t have to worry about employee turnover affecting your IT needs. 

Instead, an experienced IT consultant will oversee your technology infrastructure. They can also connect you with resources as needed to help your business. Working with an IT consulting business can help you reach your business goals faster than you would on your own. 

Before hiring a consultant, consider the specific IT services you need. For example:

  • Cloud computing
  • Cyber security
  • VoIP services

An experienced IT consultant can review your existing infrastructure. They can identify issues that might impede your success in the future. Working with an established consulting firm will ensure you receive high-quality services that can help your Austin or San Antonio business grow.

The Benefits 

How can working with an IT consultant benefit your business? Here are a few ways hiring a consultant can set your business up for success. 

Access to Expertise

If you lack years of IT experience yourself, you might struggle to make informed decisions regarding your IT infrastructure. 

IT consultants can provide you with a range of services, such as:

  • Competitive analysis
  • Developing an IT corporate strategy
  • Implementing new IT systems
  • Cyber security

An experienced consultant will customize their services based on your business and long-term needs. They’ll determine what technical and strategic needs align with your business goals. 

Look for an IT consultant that already understands your industry. For example, perhaps you work in the health care, hi-tech commercial construction, or pharma industries. An IT expert’s understanding of your industry will ensure they make informed decisions based on your distinct needs. 

Relying on their experience and expertise can help ensure a more effective digital transformation. They can determine which technologies will improve your daily business operations. With the right technologies, you can boost your team’s productivity and output, improving your ROI.

Stay Secure

Global cybercrime inflicted $6 trillion in damages within a single year. By 2025, damages could reach $10.5 trillion.

About 59% of buyers are likely to avoid companies that have suffered from a data breach in the past year. About 25% will abandon a product or service in favor of a competitor following a single instance of:

  • Failed transactions
  • Inaccessible information
  • Ransomware-related service disruptions

Unfortunately, 70% of shoppers feel that businesses aren’t doing enough to secure their personal information. Only 5% of a company’s folders are properly protected against cyber security risks. 

Your IT consultant can help your business remain secure. With the proper cyber security services, you can protect your business before an attack. Your customers will feel more inclined to trust you as a result. 

Get Immediate Help

Hiring a consultant will ensure you receive immediate help when you need it. The longer you wait to resolve IT issues, the more frustrated your customers could become. They might turn to your competitors instead. 

Without an IT consultant, you might rely on a break-fix method to resolve any IT issues you experience. With the break-fix method, you wait until problems arise, then fix the problem. The time you waste trying to find a solution can cause unnecessary downtime, costing you money in the process.

With business IT services, you can resolve IT issues as soon as they occur.

In fact, they can help you take preventive measures to avoid potential pitfalls in the future. 

An IT consultant will also ensure you remain up-to-date on new government or industry standards and regulations. Keeping up with these regulations will ensure you don’t receive fines. They can also affect how your business performs if not implemented efficiently. 

Remain Competitive

With proper business consultant software, you can remain competitive within your industry. Otherwise, your competitors might make IT improvements you’re neglecting. Your customers might begin to recognize you’re behind the times.

Working with an IT consultant will ensure you remain relevant. They’ll help you determine which trends align with your business goals. 

With their help, you won’t waste time and money on trends, software, or hardware you don’t need. You can rely on their experience and expertise to make more informed decisions regarding your IT infrastructure. 

Save Time and Money

Hiring a consultant can save you time and money long-term.

First, you won’t have to hire a large IT team. Instead, you can call your IT consultant for help when you need it. They can help you determine which IT services you need to accomplish your goals and daily processes, too.

IT services can also boost your daily productivity and output, improving your ROI. With the right services, you can set your business up for long-term growth. 

What Is IT Consulting?: Reap These Benefits Today

To recap, what is IT consulting? It’s your opportunity to boost company productivity and ensure long-term growth. Consider hiring a consultant for business IT services in Austin or San Antonio today!

With their IT consulting, you can protect your business and increase output while saving time and money in the process. 

Want to start experiencing these benefits firsthand? We can help.

Schedule a discovery session to learn more about IT services that can help your Austin or San Antonio business grow.

Advantages Of IT

What Are the Advantages of Information Technology in Business?

With the global IT budget nearing $4 trillion, it’s clear that information technology is a force in the modern world.

If you run a business – any kind of business – in 2023, there’s a strong possibility that you need IT help. We rely on technology for everything from day-to-day operations to protecting customer data. However, few business leaders understand the ins and outs of the technology that helps them.

In this post, we’re going to discuss the advantages of IT for small businesses in San Antonio and Austin. Whether you operate a healthcare business or a commercial construction company, you need the latest technology and someone who understands it to help.

Finding the right managed service provider requires you to know more about IT. Keep reading and we’ll get you up to speed on why IT is so important and how you can leverage it to increase productivity and decrease risk.

What Is IT?

The simplest definition of information technology is that it comprises everything to do with a company’s computer systems and physical devices and the infrastructure and processes to secure, process, store, and exchange data.

The IT industry has evolved with technology. 30 years ago, IT would have had to do with software installation and connection setup. Now, an IT department looks after systems, applications, networks, and data to ensure that it all works together and functions well.

They also monitor the performance of everything and troubleshoot issues as they arise. IT departments are responsible for the security of networks and infrastructure. The global cost of cybercrime is around $8 trillion and is projected to grow in the coming years.

What Are the Advantages of IT?

In a world that is so reliant on technology, the role of IT has become more and more integral for businesses. Let’s now look at some of the benefits and advantages of IT.

Better Communication

An obvious IT advantage for small businesses is the ability to communicate more effectively. Whether it’s email, instant messaging, or video conferencing, we’ve got the ability to talk to customers and colleagues all over the world at any given time.

It’s hard to imagine a world without the ability to communicate in this way. In the 90s, email completely changed internal communication. Now, we’re able to hold virtual meetings from our smartphones, allowing businesses to operate more freely and efficiently.

Productivity and Efficiency

Information technology boosts efficiency and productivity in countless ways. Communication is a huge aspect of this, but it’s more about the way that technology streamlines production.

With technology, we’re able to create a more efficient workflow and automate mundane and time-consuming tasks that employees used to have to do manually. It also provides more access to important data and information through cloud computing.

Having data stored in the cloud allows any credentialed person to access whatever they need from wherever they are. Employees can stay focused and productive because they have everything they need and technological processes to make life easier.

Cost-Cutting

When you start thinking about the costs of setting up an IT system, it can get pretty daunting. You have to take the long view of IT as a cost-cutting resource.

Because of the way it boosts productivity and efficiency, IT raises your bottom line. With everything streamlined, you’ll see increased earnings, which pays for IT setup in a matter of weeks.

Cybersecurity

One of the consequences of all of our technological advances has been the rise in cybercrime, as we touched on above. Cybercriminals are working diligently at all times to find breaches in security. This is why it’s so important to continue updating your security measures.

Gone are the days of physical files – IT allows you to store your data in secure databases. You can encrypt your files and place them under several layers of security to protect them. Multi-factor authentication, VPNs, and data backups are all essential parts of a modern cybersecurity strategy.

Attacks happen every 39 seconds. If you’re going to keep your data safe, your IT team needs a proactive approach to cybersecurity.

Competitive Advantages

Potentially the greatest advantage of IT is its ability to unlock competitive advantages. Everyone has access to the same IT tools, but it’s the way that you implement them into your day-to-day that can separate you from your competitors.

If you’re a construction company, things like project and inventory management, when used correctly, can help you streamline projects. The more efficient you are, the more you can accomplish, and the better positioned you’ll be against the competition.

For the healthcare industry, you’ll use electronic health records and patient portals. These things help you better communicate with your patients. It improves their experience and brings in more referrals.

With pharma firms, your IT advantage might be in marketing. Collecting and analyzing customer data to better position your products can be the difference between success and failure. Data and record storage are important pieces of the puzzle here also.

What Is a Managed Services Provider?

There’s no limit to the advantages of IT, but how you implement and manage your tech can be tricky. Many companies still gravitate toward having a full-time in-house IT department. For most, this isn’t the best way to approach informal technology.

Everyone’s IT needs are different. A managed service provider (MSP) allows you to customize your approach to IT while taking advantage of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.

Whether you want better cybersecurity, tech support, or fully managed IT services, an MSP will work with you to come up with the right plan.

Get the Best Managed Services in South Texas

These are a few of the advantages of IT. When you hire an MSP, you’ll experience everything we’ve discussed here and more. Finding the right IT services is about understanding your IT deficiencies and where you want to be in the future.

At Terminal B, we offer managed IT solutions and support to Austin and San Antonio businesses. If you’re in the construction, legal, science, or healthcare sector, contact us today to discuss your IT needs and how we can help.

IT Service Provider Services

7 Things A Good IT Service Provider Will Offer

In the past, it was fairly easy to provide managed IT services, because it involved day-to-day support and sometimes assisting the client with the adoption of new IT tools and techniques. However, today the services offered by an IT service provider have expanded dramatically to include such things as evolving technologies, IT competition, dynamic business environments, cyber security, and minimizing operational costs.

With this rapid expansion of desired services, a great many customers have become unhappy with their current IT providers. The vast majority of businesses and organizations have made at least one switch to a different managed service provider because they were unhappy with services they were originally provided with. If you’re wondering what kinds of services you can realistically expect from an IT provider nowadays, continue reading below to find out seven of the most useful services a provider could and should be delivering to you.

What you should be getting from your IT service provider

Here are seven of the most important services that your Managed Service Provider (MSP) should be able to deliver:

Updating network performance – since your network is the framework for your entire infrastructure, good performance will dictate data availability all through your organization. One aspect of your MSP’s job is to guarantee optimal network performance by constantly optimizing and upgrading specific components.

Adopting new technologies – when you can stay abreast of the latest digital business solutions, it will provide you with streamlined business processes as well as a competitive edge. Since the technology landscape is constantly changing, it’ll be to your advantage to have someone help you choose and implement those innovations which might be most advantageous to your business.

Data backups and recovery – since data is one of your most valuable business assets, it should be a top priority for protecting your data. Your MSP can contribute to this effort by establishing and managing a good system of backup and recovery, so that you’ll have constant access to business-critical data, which can continually be safeguarded.

Cyber threats – there’s no question that cybercrime is constantly on the increase, and that criminals are constantly developing new approaches and techniques for compromising your data. Any good IT provider should help protect all your business-critical data from existing cyber threats as well as emerging ones.

Documentation and housekeeping – a good IT provider has to be responsible for system services, assets, and for performing necessary upgrades. They should also be documenting all the important information about your infrastructure, patching and updates, and optimizations.

Maintaining certifications and compliance – almost all countries around the globe have data protection and privacy legislation in place that will safeguard your data. Your company may be subject to a number of data safety laws on various governmental levels. Any good IT provider should be able to assist you in maintaining compliance under all these regulations, and to avoid any potential penalties.

Business continuity plan – this is a plan that defines how a business will operate following any kind of significant disruption. Your MSP should have a solid continuity plan in place to help you recover from potential disasters such as systems failures, data loss, or significant cyber-attacks.

Schedule a consultation today

If you’re unhappy for any reason with your current provider, contact us at Terminal B and let us show you how we can provide all the important services your business needs. If your MSP can’t deliver the kinds of services, you need and you should seek a provider who can deliver the essential services you need to stay competitive in today’s volatile business environment.

How The Right IT Consultants Can Save Your Sanity

These days, business owners have to be keenly aware of cyber threats and attacks, because not taking the right kind of precautions can literally cause you to lose a fortune, or to go out of business entirely. The headlines these days are full of news items about businesses which have been attacked, with data being compromised and possibly held for ransom by enterprising hackers. If you want to avoid the possibility of having to be bilked out of thousands of dollars of ransom money, or having some kind of malicious virus literally take control of your entire system, your best bet would be to seek out the cybersecurity services of knowledgeable and competent IT consultants.

How an IT Consultant can save your sanity

Here are some of the ways that working with a great IT security consultant can save you headaches, and possibly a ton of money besides:

Economic benefits – if you have a really small business, you might think hard about collaborating with an IT security consultant, but it will probably save you a ton of money in the long run. Your security measures will be emplaced more quickly, and will probably be done right the first time, and you can be confident that you have the best possible security solutions in place. Another benefit of working with an IT security consultant is that they can train your staff, so the element of human error can be reduced.

Saving time – there’s literally no time to waste when you’re trying to improve your cyber defenses. If you have this done by your own in-house staff, they’ll be subject to all kinds of distractions and you can expect the job to take considerably longer. Working with an IT consultant will get the job done much more quickly, because they will be focused on working with your business and nothing else.

Greater experience – you may have some in-house experience and knowledge from your existing personnel, but there is no question that an IT security consultant will have a greater level of knowledge and experience, and will be more focused on the task at hand. A consultant will be in possession of all current knowledge about emerging threats, which means they’ll be able to react better to protect your business-critical data from all known cyber threats.

Productivity – working with IT consultants will help to develop your own internal staff with regard to security procedures and in-house threats before they even occur. This will help to improve performance for your in-house personnel and upgrade their level of knowledge.

No oversell on unnecessary solutions – IT consultants are always focused on providing the best solution for your company. Knowing that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, you can count on your solution being customized to your specific business needs. This can all be done at a very affordable cost, since there have been a number of recent advances in providing comprehensive IT security solutions.

Availability and convenience – one of the best things about working with IT consultants is that you have access to them literally around the clock. Any issues you might have during off hours can be quickly relayed to your consultant, and that person, or an alternative, will quickly address the issue so that it doesn’t get out of control. You’ll probably discover that working with an IT consultant gives you greater access and support than you would get from even your own in-house personnel.

Terminal B can save your sanity

If you think your business might benefit by working with an experienced IT consultant, please contact us at your earliest convenience. We have a team of well-trained, knowledgeable specialists who stand ready to help you navigate the rough waters of a fast-changing business environment, and to avoid the disaster associated with being victimized by cyber crime.

What the Best IT Consulting Companies Know About Productivity

Most businesses and their owners would like to become more productive, because increased productivity means generating more product within the same amount of time, and that leads to greater profitability. Some owners have spent considerable effort thinking of ways that could make their business more productive, without really making any substantial gains. That’s why there can be a great deal of value in hiring an outside consultant to come into your company and make recommendations after assessing your processes and work strategies. In this article, we’ll discuss what the best IT consulting companies know about productivity that perhaps a business owner might not be aware of, or simply cannot see.

Different perspectives

There can be tremendous value in having someone from the outside evaluate your business processes with a view toward increasing productivity. It’s similar to the situation we’ve all been in where we talked over a problem with a friend or relative, and they immediately had a clear idea about how to solve the problem. Sometimes what’s really necessary is simply to bring in a different perspective and a new set of eyes, to see and comprehend the issues. In some cases, a business owner is just too close to the situation to see the obvious, and it takes someone who has no involvement to see past the obstacles and find a solution.

Accountability

Another reason why a business owner might fail to install measures that lead to increased productivity is because he/she is too close to employees to hold them accountable for their actions. Whenever someone you trust holds you accountable for your actions, it greatly increases the likelihood that the appropriate measures will be adopted and success will be achieved.

When a consultant comes into your company and makes recommendations for improvement, they will generally hold you accountable for implementing those measures – otherwise, what’s the point of seeking outside help? It’s like when you’re trying to lose weight on your own, versus having a friend accompany you on that same journey. By yourself, you might well be tempted to slip off the bandwagon and start cheating, but your friend being right there with you will discourage that kind of behavior and help keep you on track for accomplishing your weight loss goals.

Technology

IT consultants are very aware of the fact that using the most advanced and modern technology can instantly boost productivity for any kind of business enterprise. Whereas a single business owner might only be aware of what’s happening with their own discreet enterprise, a consultant will have had the chance to work with many different companies, and will have observed the many positive benefits technology can bring. Individual workers will be more efficient when they have the latest technology available to them, because work can be done faster and more efficiently.

When a consultant recognizes a situation that could be improved by making use of better technology, they will point that out and possibly recommend that a business adopt this newer technology. It won’t be a case of just installing advanced hardware or software everywhere because it might bring about good results – it’s much more a case where technology would be recommended when there is clear indication that it will provide a substantial boost to productivity.

The best IT consulting companies can bring it all together

These are three very important aspects that might heavily contribute toward increasing productivity at any company. The best IT consulting companies will be aware of these valuable tools, and will recommend them in the appropriate situation to bring about positive change. Even if you knew about these things already, they might not lead to a more productive work environment at your business, because you might need a fresh perspective, greater accountability, or some solid advice about new technology.

For more information about what Terminal B can do for you, click here.

What You Should Expect From Your IT Helpdesk

There’s no question that an IT Helpdesk team must be ready and willing to provide the assistance necessary to resolve critical problems. Some of these may be serious enough to shut the business down, and downtime is anathema to any business owner. In the article below, we’ll discuss some of the qualities you should expect from an IT Helpdesk team when you’re looking for a provider. Any company that is unable to provide these services may best fit for your company.

Unlimited support

With any normal IT helpdesk, you should be able to get the support your need from your managed IT services provider. If an issue can’t be resolved remotely, and your plan includes it, you can expect that an engineer will be dispatched to the local site, where a more hands-on approach can be administered. Ideally, you want your support to have a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude toward problem resolution.

Flexible service level agreements (SLAs)

No business is the same and that holds true for IT helpdesk needs as well. Your IT services provider should offer a number of different service level agreements so that you can find the right level of service for your business’s needs.

Team approach

Having a team approach is probably the best way to handle a helpdesk, because it allows for members of the team to become very familiar with a particular client, so their support can be much more specific. It also allows for frequent interaction between the helpdesk team and your company personnel, so that trust and confidence can build up between them.

Solution for talent retention 

It is the nature of the beast in the IT world, that skilled professionals will move relatively often to find new jobs. You may already have encountered situations where some of your most valuable employees left the company or are at least seriously considering it. A managed IT services provider can be relied on to provide continuity of services in an uncertain economy. In addition, an MSP offers maturity and expertise not available on the ever-changing hamster wheel of staffing.

Experienced engineers

It is worthwhile to find out the level of expertise associated with any helpdesk at a company you are considering for managed IT services. Ideally, a good helpdesk should be comprised of individuals with many different skills, and it should include levels of proficiency that range from relative newcomer to very experienced veteran. This kind of diversity will provide faster resolution for issues, and more high-quality support from your IT helpdesk.

Contact Us

We understand that when you are seeking an IT services provider, it is essential to have a fully functional, smoothly operating IT helpdesk. That is why we have gone out of our way to establish the best functionality in the business, and it’s why we can offer clients the most efficient support possible. Contact us today to find out more about our hosted services, and about how our superior IT helpdesk functions.

It Service Provider

How To Know When You Have The Right IT Service Provider

If you have already begun the vetting process to find an IT service provider for your company, you will already have some experience in matching up your company’s goals, issues, and expectations with the services provided by these candidates. It’s extremely important that you choose the right services provider because it’s not an exaggeration to say that the success or failure of your enterprise may rest on making the right choice. That being the case, here are some considerations you should take into account when narrowing down the field of candidates and choosing the right provider for your company.

Support access

You should have multiple channels available to you for reaching out to your IT services provider. That means you should at least be able to contact them through telephone calls, emails, and even texting as well. There should be some method in place for submitting a help request online, and you should have a good idea when your request will be serviced. The greater access you have to your services provider, the more quickly any technical issues you might have will get resolved, so business can proceed.

Security

Security has become a huge issue in today’s computing environment, given the fact that so many criminal-minded individuals have taken up the practice of hacking to make money quickly without having to do any work. Investigate what kind of strategies your prospective IT managed service providers use daily for their end-to-end security. You’ll need to know that they have everything covered from firewalls to encryption, and even to remote data storage that will protect your company assets. Any provider you choose should have a disaster recovery plan in place, if it becomes necessary to recover damaged, lost, or hijacked data which is critical to your operation.

Understand their offerings

You need to have a good understanding of exactly what services are being offered by your prospective service providers. For instance, can they help you with data backups and migrations? Do they provide repairs to your computer equipment, and if so, what is the process for making that happen? If you’re thinking of migrating to the cloud, can they help you in that area? Ask about the kinds of tools the provider uses to make sure that you have 100% uptime, with virtually no outages.

Service packages

The small businesses of today can become the large corporations of tomorrow, if everything falls right for your company and you experience the kind of growth you envisioned when you first set out. Any Managed IT services provider you choose should be able to scale up right along with your company growth and handle your evolving needs as a growing company. Flexibility and scalability are important considerations if you expect to maintain a continuous relationship with a provider for several years to come.

Experience and reputation

It will be essential to know that any IT managed services provider you choose has a portfolio of satisfied clients, and that they have a track record of technical expertise and excellent customer service. Any provider you choose should be a stalwart in the community and should be well-reviewed by any company which has made use of their services in the past.

Still looking for an IT service provider?

You should take your time in finding just the right managed IT service provider, especially since it can have such a major impact on your operation. Contact us if you’re still looking for that ideal provider, and we can help you find the best match for your company’s goals and objectives.

IT Services Company

9 Questions A Potential Managed IT Provider Should Be Able to Answer

More companies than ever are outsourcing at least part of their I.T. function to a third-party, preferring to focus on their company strengths and core skills. However, the process of choosing the right managed IT provider can be very difficult, partly because there are so many of them, and partly because it’s absolutely critical that you make the right choice. Here are some of the questions you should be asking candidate companies, to determine if they’re the right fit for your enterprise.

  1. Q: What kinds of services does your company provide?

A: You may need to know whether a candidate company can handle the entire I.T. function, or whether you’re only looking for a partial outsourcing, and they can specialize in those areas.

  1. Q: Is your Helpdesk available 24/7?

A: If your business operates on a 24/7 basis, or if you have outlets in other time zones, you’ll need to know what kind of support can be delivered by a candidate provider. If there’s a gap in coverage, you may need a different provider or some other supplemental coverage.

  1. Q: How many employees are in your company?

A: This should tell you how large and how successful a particular candidate is, and whether they have the personnel to handle all your requirements. It should be an indicator of the level of success achieved by any candidate company you’re working with.

  1. Q: How long has your company been in business?

A: This is another strong indication of the level of success achieved by a candidate company. Those which have been in business for a number of years must have proven their ability during that time, and must have a portfolio of satisfied customers, otherwise they wouldn’t still be in business.

  1. Q: What is the typical size of your clients?

A: It’s good to know that a provider can handle a company of your size, and that they’re already doing so. If a provider would be overwhelmed by taking on a customer of your size, you should steer clear of them.

  1. Q: What is involved with your onboarding process?

A: You should have some idea of the process a candidate company would use to bring you into the fold. If you have any issues with their onboarding process, it’s good to know right up front rather than being surprised about it when it actually happens.

  1. Q: Do you support [X] application?

A: If there are any applications you use that are critical to your business success, you should know that a provider company can support this software if necessary.

  1. Q: What makes you stand out from your rivals?

A: If any of your candidate companies have features or services that set them apart from competitors, it would be good to know what those are. It may be something your company can leverage to advantage, and it may even be a reason for choosing one particular candidate.

  1. Q: What are your pricing plans?

A: You don’t want to get sticker shock when you get that first monthly bill, so make sure you know all the fees and charges associated with the outsourcing action. This will help you budget for that cost, and it will tell you whether or not a particular company is in line with your planned expenses for the coming calendar year and beyond.

Contact Terminal B to learn more about what an IT services company can offer

If you’re in the market for a managed I.T. services company that will put your company first, contact us today.

What You Should Expect From An IT Helpdesk in Austin

Some companies have their own internal help desk staffed by their own employees, while other organizations find it financially advantageous to outsource that function to a managed service provider. Either way, an IT Helpdesk in Austin should be ready and able to support the user community to resolve any questions or issues as quickly as possible. Whether this is handled by a ticketing procedure, phone calls, or emails, an IT support team should be prepared to do anything necessary to provide the kind of support needed. Here are some of the qualities and services you should expect from a professional and competent IT Helpdesk.

Unlimited support

It’s reasonable to expect unlimited support from your Helpdesk during normal business hours. If the problem can’t be resolved remotely, it will be necessary to send an engineer on site to address the problem further. Support will run more smoothly if you have some kind of streamlined ticketing service or portal for requesting changes and problem resolution.

Flexible hours

Anytime your employees are at work doing business, it’s reasonable to expect your IT Helpdesk to also be on hand, even if that’s in a remote capacity. When an issue occurs after hours, there just has to be someone at the IT Helpdesk who’s capable of providing support for an issue or a problem. In fact, if your business is working 24/7, your IT Helpdesk should also be working those same hours, to provide round-the-clock support.

Team-based approach

The best approach for an Austin IT Helpdesk is to have it organized into teams. Each team should have a set number of qualified engineers who are assigned to specific accounts. This helps the team become better acquainted with individual clients and their typical needs. It also establishes trust between the IT Helpdesk team and those individuals in the user community who need that support.

Solution for talent retention

If you’ve decided to outsource your IT Helpdesk and avail yourself of professional services, it can be a real bonus in terms of not having to recruit and retain talent for your company. It’s well-known that IT professionals are in high demand, and are constantly getting recruitment contacts and emails from other companies. Any company making a better offer to your staff members then you can manage is likely to be able to whisk away your most talented personnel. Then you’re left with the problem of replacing highly-skilled talent, and having to go through the whole recruitment and acquisition process, which can be fairly time-consuming. You won’t have to worry about any of this, if you outsource to a Managed IT service provider.

Experienced support team

It’s reasonable to expect that each of the individual engineers comprising your IT Helpdesk has certain skillsets and a level of experience that will contribute toward swift problem resolution. In business, time is money, and if you have a problem that is keeping your business offline, you can be losing thousands of dollars in a matter of minutes. It’s not necessary for individuals on your IT Helpdesk team to have expertise across the board, because they really only need to be good at one or two areas in order to provide real value as a support person. Altogether, an IT Helpdesk team should have all the skills necessary to resolve daily business issues, and to overcome any kind of problem facing your employees in their daily tasks.

Getting started with outsourcing your IT Helpdesk in Austin is as simple as a call to Terminal B at 512-381-4800.

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