The term IT services encompasses a wide variety of activities that range from buying a new laptop to implementing a disaster recovery plan. Each business has different requirements for the number and extent of IT services. That’s why it can be hard to build an effective internal IT department.
For many companies, outsourcing IT services to a managed IT service provider is the perfect solution. According to Boston IT support experts, essential services you must get for your business are:
Network Management
The network management service consists of network security and network monitoring. Network security includes implementing robust security measures to keep sensitive data safe. The services can include:
- Firewalls
- Software updates and patches
- Encryption protocols
- Employee education
Today, only 4% of organizations feel confident about their security. That’s because they have a vague understanding of proper network management.
Network monitoring involves continuous surveillance of network traffic to detect and resolve issues promptly. It requires the use of advanced monitoring tools to track the health of the network and identify unusual activities.
Properly set up alerts for critical events and regular network log review can help identify patterns. This data shows areas for improvement and provides insights into performance maintenance.
Cybersecurity Services
According to recent statistics, the number of cybersecurity breaches is on the rise. From ransomware attacks to phishing, businesses are constantly facing threats. That’s why cybersecurity services are among the most essential IT services that a business should consider.
The common types of these services are:
- Firewall and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): A firewall acts as a barrier between your internal network and external threats and blocks unauthorized access. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and provide alerts when potential threats are detected.
- Antivirus and Anti-malware Solutions: Antivirus and anti-malware solutions protect your systems from malicious software. These tools scan for known threats and remove them before they cause harm.
- Endpoint Security: Endpoint security solutions protect individual devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets from cyber threats.
- Data Encryption: Data encryption transforms sensitive information into unreadable code, so only authorized users can access it. This protects data both in transit and at rest.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity using multiple methods.
- Security Awareness Training: Human error causes around 80% of security breaches. That’s why regular security awareness training is a key preventive measure.
Today, the global security workforce exceeds 4.7 million people. Having just one expert on your team may not be enough. That’s why many SMBs choose to outsource these services to managed IT service providers.
Data Backup and Recovery
Every day businesses of all sizes face threats to their data safety and integrity. It doesn’t just come from cyber sources. Issues with data can arise from improper protection of hardware or poor on-site security policies.
Regular data backups create copies of your data, ensuring that you can restore critical information in case a disaster occurs. This IT service includes storing your backups both on-site and off-site to ensure maximum security. It also sets up the most suitable intervals for doing these backups.
To ensure seamless operations, each company must have a clear disaster recovery plan. This plan outlines the procedures to follow in the event of a data loss or system failure. The IT service provider can develop a comprehensive plan that:
- Includes detailed inventory of all assets, critical data, and contact information for key personnel
- Defines responsibilities for your team to ensure a coordinated response during a disaster
- Establishes recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO)
After the plan is ready, you have to review it regularly to ensure its alignment with the latest internal changes and new external threats.
IT Support and Help Desk
When something goes wrong within your IT infrastructure, you need immediate IT assistance to prevent downtime. That’s what support and help desk services entail.
IT service providers offer assistance with hardware problems, software troubleshooting, network connectivity issues, and more. This type of responsive technical support team can reduce and save money.
Ideally, you should have multiple support channels to help employees ask questions at any time. IT technicians should be reachable by email, live chat, and phone 24/7.
Today, IT support can be handled remotely. With around 35% of people working from home, this type of support is especially important. Remote employees should be able to access company resources efficiently and take advantage of all types of cyber protection.
High-quality IT support services are key to preventing downtime, avoiding cyber threats, and keeping data safe.
IT Strategy and Consulting
Building an effective IT strategy can help you save time and money on IT services. To do it, you can benefit from working with an IT consultant. They can help you create a roadmap that outlines key projects, needs, and investments. You may be surprised to learn that your previous strategy has been missing essential pieces. Once you have the relevant roadmap, you can start allocating the budget and choosing the services you require.
IT consultants can offer valuable insights into IT infrastructure optimization. They analyze your existing systems to find inefficiencies and offer solutions. This can involve upgrading hardware, purchasing new software, or reconfiguring the networking setup.
Consulting services aren’t a one-time project. This is an ongoing collaboration that continues to bring results.
Making the Right Decisions
Hiring a large in-house team to handle all essential IT services can take a serious toll on the budget. The number of services is growing not just because your company is developing but also because technology is advancing rapidly.
Many SMBs choose to outsource all IT-related matters to managed IT service providers. This cost-effective solution can help you handle all relevant IT issues and ensure the best outcomes.