October 25, 2024 | By christa

Share

5 Signs Your Business Might Need Managed IT Services

• IT Consultant

Running a business is tough enough without constantly battling IT issues. If you’re starting to feel like tech troubles are eating up too much of your time and sanity, it might be a sign that you need some outside help. That’s where managed IT services come in, offering a way to save time, cut costs, and avoid endless headaches. 

Here are five clear signs that it’s time to call in the experts:

1. You’re Dealing with Frequent Downtime or IT Glitches

Nothing brings the workday to a screeching halt faster than technical problems. If your team is constantly losing time to system crashes or spotty network connections, it’s more than just annoying—it’s costing you money. 

In fact, downtime for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees and just one server could run you around $1,670 per minute, or nearly $100,000 an hour. Think about that the next time your email server goes down for 30 minutes. Managed IT services can help by proactively monitoring your systems and fixing problems before they even have a chance to slow you down.

2. Your In-House IT Team Is Overwhelmed (or Non-Existent)

If you don’t have an in-house IT team, you might be relying on the most tech-savvy person in the office to fix things. And even if you do have an IT department, they’re probably stretched thin trying to manage everything from cybersecurity to software updates. Outsourcing to a managed IT provider gives you access to a whole team of experts without needing to hire, train, and keep specialized staff in-house.

3. You’ve Had a Security Breach (or You’re Worried You Might)

Small and medium-sized businesses are a huge target for cybercriminals, and the cost of a breach can be devastating—not just in dollars, but also in terms of lost trust and reputation. Did you know that for businesses with fewer than 500 employees, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was a staggering $3.31 million? 

If that stat makes your stomach drop, it might be time to call in a managed IT service. These pros specialize in securing your data and staying ahead of the latest cyber threats, offering everything from advanced firewalls to data encryption and compliance support.

4. Your IT Costs Are All Over the Place

Do you feel like every month, you’re hit with some unexpected IT expense? Maybe a piece of hardware failed, or you had to buy new licenses for software. These costs can add up fast, and they’re tough to predict. Most providers offer fixed monthly pricing, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and can budget accordingly. Plus, they’ll optimize your infrastructure, so you’re not wasting money on unnecessary tech.

5. IT is Distracting You from Growing Your Business

This might be the biggest sign of all. If your day-to-day is filled with managing IT issues instead of focusing on what you do best, it’s time for a change. Managed IT services let you offload routine tasks like software updates, backups, and troubleshooting, so you can spend more time on strategic initiatives.

The Takeaway

Your IT setup needs to work seamlessly in the background rather than be a constant source of stress. If you’re nodding your head to any of these points—frequent downtime, security concerns, unpredictable costs, or a stretched IT team—it might be time to consider managed IT services. Outsourcing to IT experts can help prevent issues before they arise and free you up to focus on the important parts of your business.

LeadingIT is a cyber-resilient technology and cybersecurity support provider. With our concierge support model, we provide customized solutions to meet the unique needs of nonprofits, schools, manufacturers, accounting firms, government agencies, and law offices with 20-200 employees in the Chicagoland area. Our team of experts solves the unsolvable while helping our clients leverage technology to achieve their business goals, ensuring the highest level of security and reliability.