Here at the Corona IT blog, we’ve already written multiple articles arguing for moving past a potentially outdated model of in-house IT support, especially for small and medium sized enterprises. For such businesses, in-house solutions are often an expensive and clunky solution, but one alternative – ad-hoc support – can also present problems for businesses who see it as a cheaper, lower maintenance option.
The ad-hoc model often goes along the lines of putting out fires if and when they arise. Initially, this can seem like a great idea: having invested in some great software (many of which, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, pride themselves on intuitive user experience) and installed it, there can pass months or even longer before any issues arise. However, such issues when dealt with on an ad-hoc basis are solved in isolation, meaning that any other problems (that could be related but not immediately obvious) won’t be looked at until they become a hindrance to your operations.
Often, many of the issues that you experience are a symptom of larger underlying problems and the reactive model of ad-hoc support isn’t cut out to deal with this. Taking the step to work proactively with your IT and move to a managed support system will allow you to anticipate problems before they arise and, most importantly, to make sure that it’s the root cause of any complications that it solved, not just postponed to a potentially more crucial moment.
Managed IT solutions also have the additional benefit of getting to know your operations inside and out – while managed providers aren’t a constant, visible presence like the in-house solutions preferred by many large companies, they do get to know how your business works and how you prefer to operate. The bespoke approach that managed services can provide allows you to function in the manner most suited to you, whilst investing in IT overheads which ultimately benefit and save your business. This change in perspective is a key factor in helping to revitalise your business – rather than a financial drain, as with the ad-hoc repair approach, managed services help you to view your IT infrastructure as an opportunity and an investment, often one that is the key factor in helping you keep up with larger contemporaries in your field.
If you’re currently considering ad-hoc IT support solutions, but would like to find out about the managed alternatives, you can take a look at the dedicated section of our website here, or find out what some of our clients have had to say about their experience. Still not sure? Why don’t you speak to one of our friendly team of experts, who will be happy to discuss how managed IT can benefit your business, going through your requirements to make sure that your solution is tailored for your business. If you’d like to read more about managed IT, we have a range of blog posts on the topic – you can find them here.
