Are you considering managed IT services from a local Chicago IT company? Before you make any calls or sign any contracts, make sure you know what you’re getting into.
One of the most common questions we are asked is, “What are Managed IT Services?”
By definition, they are a set of best practices, processes, and tools that, when combined with technical knowledge and proper facilitation, delivers an ideal result for businesses.
For many businesses, the cost of hiring even a single internal IT person is too expensive. They need a salary, training, benefits, vacation… it’s a lot to budget for.
By default, they have no other option than to outsource their IT support needs to a local Chicago IT company. Outsourced IT services have largely become the norm, with service levels varying depending on the Chicago IT company in question.
The type of outsourced IT support you’re likely most familiar with can be referred to as “hourly IT support”. This type of support fixes IT problems after they occur, and charges by the hour.
Managed IT Services are generally considered to be a more effective model. In practice, instead of waiting for something to go wrong and stepping in to correct it, an IT company in Chicago that provides Managed IT Services takes on all the responsibilities of a traditional in-house IT department. This means working to prevent issues from happening in the first place.
Most Chicago IT companies like this charge a flat monthly fee rather than an hourly rate, and offer a long list of services, including:
What’s included, and at what price, will depend on the Chicago IT company in question. The point is that, if something does go wrong, you’re not hit with a hefty repair bill based on hourly support – Managed IT Services are proactive.
Which type of service is right for you depends on what you need out of your technology in terms of uptime and efficiency, what your technology budget looks like, and how technology issues could potentially impact things like security and compliance.
Servers, routers, computers, etc. actually last longer and perform better when they receive regular maintenance. If you wait till something breaks, then you’re basically shortening the life of your equipment. And this type of equipment is often pretty expensive. In the long run, with fully managed support you will save money and experience fewer technology headaches.
By having an IT company in Chicago handle your IT, you can shift their spending strategy, free up resources and potentially cutting costs.
Before you think about going through the stress of trying to find a computer technician or even a computer engineer to support your network and technology infrastructure, speak with a local Chicago IT company.
Ask some questions about the services they offer, what their prices are and other concerns you may have. When you find the Chicago IT company – a reliable partner who will work with you – you’ll see the benefits first hand.
Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:
Do Managed IT Services Cost More Than The Break/Fix Model?
Outsourcing IT Makes Sense for Small Businesses: 7 Reasons
Are You Prepared? Your 9 Step Local Business Disaster Recovery Plan