Three decades ago, the notion of hiring specialists in information technology was virtually unheard of. Nowadays, the majority of businesses are digitally operated, which means technology specialists are a must, especially given the huge increase in different types of security breaches.
For your organisations sake it is time to determine how external support can back you up in times of technical distress. The following points outline just why external support may be the answer, but also remember your choice of IT Provider is also important...
1. Access to new technologies and industry experts
Managed Services Providers (MSPs) are equipped with resources most small businesses can’t afford. They employ teams of experts in fields ranging from cybersecurity to data management to networking - all available for you on an outsourced basis. For example, an MSP provides advanced security software and applications that can help your business avoid the risks of cyberthreat.
They also work with industry tech leaders who provide insights into upcoming hardware and software products in the market. This ensures you receive updated recommendations on the latest technologies so you can use them in your business, and they often come with deals and discounts that you wouldn’t normally have access to.
2. Knowledge from past breaches
External IT support providers have been helping businesses recover from all kinds of tech disasters since the dawn of hackers. They now have enough knowledge to prepare Data Backup and Disaster Recovery plans for you. This way, you and your team would still be up and running after suffering from an IT emergency without disrupting much of your business operations.
External support providers' experience with data protection will ensure your systems are monitored around the clock so your security systems are always functioning properly to keep cybercriminals at bay.
3. Run your business with ease
You don’t specialise in technology, so you don’t have the skill or the experience in dealing with digital felons. You also know how vulnerable your business is online and won’t dare do anything to jeopardise it. That’s why external support is such a great asset - you’ll be able to manage your business without any worries because your external IT provider will keep it protected.
It's time to talk to your IT provider...
If you haven’t already, make sure you ask your IT provider what processes they’re putting in place to continuously enhance your IT systems and mitigate against potential risks. Have they spoken to you about Unified Threat Management or gateway security? Have they mentioned web content filtering and sandboxing technologies? What about your organisations password policies?
If they’re not giving you guidance in these areas, or if they give you the standard response of “we’re doing maintenance and monitoring”, it might be a signal that your IT provider is stuck in the 90’s and not thinking about today’s rapidly evolving IT challenges.
IT providers that understand these challenges know that to remain relevant and competitive, they need to be providing not just support, maintenance and monitoring, but a process of continuous improvement and alignment to industry best practices.
I encourage you to take our quick Online Security Assessment to gauge how secure your network is…
How can Diamond help?
In the end, you also have to be cautious in your search for an external support provider. Conduct your research thoroughly, read through all their testimonial pages, and verify whether their business objectives coincide with yours. Call now on 1300 307 907 or via our online contact form below.
Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.
