IT managed service providers can be extremely beneficial to the client receiving the services as well as attractive to businesses providing the services. The most well known example of managed IT services is that of the managed dedicated server where all technical changes as well as the physical server are taken care of by the service provider. IT management as a service has begun to receive notice and acceptance well beyond the simple managed server from both providers and from clients.
Having the staff on site is not strictly necessary for many organizations and this makes it ideal for providers offering off site IT services. IT costs can fluctuate depending on the type of software that must be deployed, training needed for employees or support services needed. However for companies with a managed IT solution, the costs are normally fixed each month and worked into the budget.
Almost every company has a different focus and the focus of the IT department can shift to match the needs of the individual client. More and more providers are shifting to providing managed IT services, and though there are a few obvious issues to overcome, the end result is greater client satisfaction and a higher level of service where the provider can anticipate problems using the specialized software and their dedicated staff and prevent them rather than simply reacting.
Some sectors of IT are more difficult to market than others and more groundwork and careful marketing must be done. Other sectors are very fertile ground for IT managed services as the prospective client base has been introduced to the concept by way of similar services. There are also specific governmental regulations that should be considered in the planning stage for any provider such as regulations for data storage and backup.
Security as a managed solution is a large market and because of the specialized knowledge and software needed to provide IT security. Potential clients are highly receptive to this type of managed service. Data storage, server provision and off site data backups are also fertile grounds for managed services as the potential clients have far fewer objections to overcome when contracting for these services. This is not to say these are the only potential services possible to manage and establish as fixed costs but simply the easiest to begin with.
The concept of managed website servers is well established and customers view these cost effective solutions as almost a necessity because they no longer need worry about maintaining server security or learning an entirely new field. The customer instead concerns themselves with sales and service. Outsourcing is becoming a very common practice for many types of services and the more widespread it becomes the less resistance the provider will usually encounter when offering these services.
Desktop as a service, software as a service and even infrastructure as a service have introduced customers to an entire new world of managed services which are cost effective and time savers as well. Both small companies and larger corporations find benefit in these service solutions. While not every potential customer is yet won over, the numbers increase daily.
More providers who formerly provided only consultant services are choosing instead to offer IT managed solutions and the transition appears to be beneficial for both the customer and the provider. The service provider benefits by familiarity with the client's systems and needs. This allows them to spot potential problems before they become real issues.
