A business’ efficiency is a very important thing. In some ways, it can govern how likely they are to succeed and thrive in their industry.

Information technology (or simply IT) has helped businesses become more efficient and productive overall. This is because the technology enabled information to be created, copied, and transmitted so much faster. But due to this reliance, it is just as important to have IT support as it is to have IT in general – and many businesses nowadays are opting for outsourced IT support.

When we spoke to a company that provides IT support services in London, they stated that outsourced IT support helps a business in many ways – from maintaining business continuity, to future-proofing a business’ infrastructure, and even helping a business become more cutting edge in their operations.

 

What is Outsourced IT Support?

Anyone in business will be familiar with IT support. In its simplest form, IT support is all about assisting individuals or organisations with any technology they use – whether it be hardware, devices, software, or systems. When something goes wrong with a piece of technology, it can be fixed with the help of IT support.

Nowadays, with the fast-paced, technology-driven business landscape we are in today, IT support needs to go far beyond simply fixing IT when it gets broken. IT support service can actually help prevent IT issues from happening; it can help a business operate more efficiently and productively; it insulates a business against cyber-attacks; and it helps a save money, become more agile, and adapt to changing markets.

So, if that’s what IT support is nowadays, what is outsourced IT support? It is exactly the same, except, rather than a business hiring their own in-house staff to perform all these responsibilities, they pay a third-party provider to perform them, instead.

 

How Does It Work?

The way that outsourced IT support works is simpler than one might think. An outsourced IT support provider will have a helpdesk, and use a case management system (normally a cloud-based web platform) which enables them to log and manage cases remotely. Through these platforms, the IT partner can assign their engineers cases that come in from clients.

People tend to think that IT support needs to be close to the site of the recipient, but nowadays, more than 80% of tech-related issues can be resolved remotely nowadays, thanks to the various tools available. For instance, an IT support company may use a remote access tool; so that engineers can request control of a user’s computer, and then investigate the issue without having to direct the user over the phone (which can be very time-consuming). So, excluding any internet issues that negate remote control, most IT issues an employee is likely to experience can be managed remotely.

As well as this, a high-quality outsourced IT support provider will also use network monitoring tools which enable them to identify any faults or issues as they arise in your network. This cuts out the middle-man of having to wait until somebody notices the issue, meaning the IT provider can get to work right away.

 

Why Outsourced IT is Great for Small Businesses

There are a lot of significant benefits that come with outsourced IT support. As we mentioned earlier, modern IT support should go far beyond the old break-fix model – it should be proactive and provide companies with opportunities to upgrade and optimize their IT. Outsourced IT providers are usually competing with one another to attract business, and so therefore they have incentive to provide a high quality service to their customers. When you pick the right provider, you will be getting the best support available.

What is more, outsourced IT support is generally more cost-effective. Rather than having to pay for all your own technology, on top of hiring and training IT staff, you can get access to IT expertise and the technology you need through your IT support provider. This is usually on-demand, as well, so you can be sure that you’re only paying for what you use.