Maintaining an in-house IT team can be costly in time and resources for small and mid-size companies, but the looming threat of cyber criminals and the need to innovate and automate make having IT expertise a non-negotiable. An outsourced IT team can provide the same advantages larger companies enjoy, like advanced cybersecurity protection, round-the-clock threat monitoring and incident response management from experienced, specialized professionals.
What is IT Outsourcing?
IT outsourcing refers to the practice of hiring external companies or individuals to handle certain IT functions and tasks on behalf of a business or organization. This can include services such as server maintenance and support, network management, cybersecurity, help desk support and more. Businesses can outsource their entire IT department or supplement an in-house team with outsourced resources. Individual projects could be outsourced, such as a server migration, or an outsourced IT team could be brought on for long-term needs, such as management and maintenance of network infrastructure or ongoing help desk support for your employees.
Why Companies Outsource IT Services
Small businesses outsource IT services because they sometimes lack the in-house resources and expertise to handle complex IT tasks. By outsourcing, they can access a team of professionals with specialized skills and knowledge. Businesses also have more freedom to scale their IT services up or down based on their current needs without the hassle of recruiting, training or laying off employees. Some companies find they have more flexibility managing a remote, outsourced IT team while still enjoying the benefits, such as increased cybersecurity, ad-hoc expertise and cost-effectiveness.
Advantages of IT Outsourcing
Outsourcing IT services can offer several advantages for businesses. If you already have an in-house team, outsourcing IT or help desk services can allow your internal IT staff to focus on big-picture projects while smaller issues are handled externally. An outsourced team could provide the following benefits:
Enhanced Business Efficiency
Outsourced IT services can enhance a business’s overall efficiency and productivity as it frees up internal resources to focus on core operations and strategic initiatives. Quick response times from your outsourcing partner help get your business back on track after a technological mishap while enhanced cybersecurity protection helps prevent costly and lengthy delays in business. Working with an IT outsourcing firm can also grant your company access to advanced technologies you may not have been able to support in-house.
Access to Specialized IT Talent
Companies that outsource also have access to highly skilled and experienced teams of IT professionals without the financial burden of hiring and training them in-house. Look for an outsourced IT team with a variety of specialties that you don’t have in-house, including network management, cybersecurity, server monitoring and maintenance, automation and analytics, among others.
Improved Cybersecurity
By outsourcing, you’ll have access to a team of experienced professionals who specialize in cybersecurity. Your outsourced team can monitor your network for potential security breaches while improving your current cybersecurity strategy, including updating antiquated firewalls, reviewing and implementing endpoint protection measures, enforcing multifactor authentication and other network security best practices.
With extra eyes monitoring your systems, cyberattacks can be quickly identified and mitigated to prevent additional unauthorized access or malicious activity. The team can also help in the event of a successful cyberattack by minimizing the damage, identifying the hacker’s entry point and fortifying your network’s defenses.
Reduced Overhead Costs
Outsourcing IT services can increase cost-efficiency for businesses based on a number of factors. Firstly, outsourcing staff eliminates the need to hire or expand an in-house team, negating the need to budget salaries and benefits for additional staff. Training costs are also made obsolete since your outsourced team will already have the skills required for their assigned tasks. Furthermore, outsourced IT services can scale easily and flexibly. If you find you don’t need a team of five or your priorities shift throughout the year, you can reduce the numbers without laying off employees.
Secondly, there’s no need to invest in expensive infrastructure or equipment that may become outdated or underutilized in the future. Instead, you can rely on the tools provided by your outsourcing partner. This gives you the freedom and flexibility to allocate your resources more efficiently according to your organization’s overall business plan.
Leveled Playing Field
With all the advantages listed above, this gives all businesses the chance to access the same level of expertise as large enterprises at potentially a fraction of the cost. By working with an experienced technology partner, you’d be able to focus on high-level tasks meant to move your business forward while trusting your team to handle the day-to-day.
Anders Technology advisors have deep technology expertise and work with a variety of different businesses for both staff augmentation and fully outsourced IT and help desk services to complete short-term projects and meet long-term g needs. Learn more about how our technology advisors can help you achieve your business goals, and the associated fees, by requesting a meeting below.
