Technology is constantly transforming and impacting business operations. Having an efficient IT infrastructure is, therefore, critical for companies looking to gain a competitive edge.

Having said that, even the most robust IT ecosystem needs regular maintenance to function at peak capacity.

As a business owner, you can do this in one of two ways. The first involves setting up an internal IT department, complete with equipment (physical/virtual) and staff.

However, the average base salary of an IT technician in Philadelphia is about $21.82 per hour, i.e., 10% higher than the national average.

Once you consider this figure alongside other IT expenses (hardware and software upgrades, repairs, and replacements), it is easy to understand why small businesses may not be able to afford in-house IT.

This is why most small and mid-sized companies in Philadelphia choose the other way out. They often hire external IT support. It enables them to access IT expertise and advanced technologies at a significantly lower cost.

In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know before signing a contract with a company offering IT support in Philadelphia.

What Exactly Is IT Support?

Any help you need to maintain your IT infrastructure is classified under IT support. This includes all services and solutions relevant to technology, from regular assistance to full-fledged damage control.

The main purpose of tech assistance is to ensure that your IT network is up and running at all times. IT technicians often work round the clock to resolve network glitches as quickly as possible. This, in turn, minimizes downtime and sustains productivity.

Most small to mid-sized businesses outsource their IT management needs to a third-party IT support services provider. This is usually considered an effective and pocket-friendly alternative to hiring an internal IT team.

If you’re still unsure why you need IT support for your small business in Philadelphia, allow us to explain.

Why You Need Philadelphia IT Support

According to Catalyst by Convene, the startup scene in Philadelphia is thriving. Low living costs and the availability of impressive business resources have made the city an obvious choice for new entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, Philadelphia is well-known for its booming tech market. As per CBRE’s 2019 report, it ranks 22nd in the top 50 North American cities with impressive tech growth and talent.

A flourishing tech industry usually translates into increased availability of IT solutions. As a new business owner in Philadelphia, you need to integrate the most advanced technologies to stay ahead of your competitors.

However, unless you are an experienced IT technician yourself, you may have trouble grasping a few of these concepts, mainly because of their complexity.

This is where IT support Philadelphia can help you. A team of certified technicians with a comprehensive understanding of the latest tech solutions and services will offer you the help you need to implement advanced IT solutions.

Once you acquire the technology, you need to ensure its upkeep. Maintaining an enterprise-grade IT infrastructure requires constant vigilance. This can move your focus away from your core processes, adversely impacting your business operations.

But a dedicated IT support team can take charge of your IT infrastructure while you work on growing your company. Their assistance will allow you to focus solely on your crucial business offerings, without losing sleep over your IT needs.

Below are a few other benefits of partnering with a Philadelphia IT support company.

Increased Cybersecurity

Post-2020, cybercrime is up by an alarming 600%. Since cyberattacks against small businesses are becoming more frequent and complex, network security should rank high among your top business concerns.

Developing a competent IT strategy is no walk in the park. You need to identify all potential security threats and formulate appropriate countermeasures accordingly. A single misjudgment can cost you a fortune.

We, therefore, suggest that you entrust this job to the professionals. Outsourced IT support providers can assess your network and patch security gaps effectively. Moreover, they also ensure:

  • Continuous monitoring and reporting
  • Real-time alerts
  • Computer security
  • Remote protection
  • Authentication
  • Frequent security scans
  • Protection of sensitive business intelligence

With a dedicated IT support team securing your network from all sides, you can focus on other strategic aspects of running your business.

Cost Savings

Small businesses often struggle with managing their limited capital. It is important to keep expenses to a minimum, especially if your business is just starting to.

Under such circumstances, setting up an in-house IT team may be impractical. Apart from adding more people to your payroll and providing them with salaries and benefits, you will need to spend on buying and maintaining the latest software and hardware.

Teaming up with a Philadelphia IT support company, on the other hand, can help you meet your IT needs without overshooting your budget. Most IT support providers charge a flat fee for their services, payable either monthly or annually.

These fees include repair and replacement costs, among other things. As a result, you won’t have to shell out extra cash for fixing a network failure or a malfunctioning server.

Easy Scalability

As your business grows, your technology requirements will increase too. A competent external IT support company can scale its services according to your growing needs.

This will help you align your IT with your evolving business requirements quickly and effectively.

Robust Data Backup and Recovery

Data backup and disaster recovery are often regarded as critical components of business continuity. Unforeseeable events, like natural calamities, virus attacks, and terrorism, can strike your business at any time. This can lead to permanent data loss and cause grave complications.

To counter this, you need to have a potent disaster recovery plan in place. A certified IT support company will help you develop an appropriate, reliable, and effective disaster recovery plan for your business.

A few ways in which Philadelphia IT support providers protect and back up your data include:

  • Round-the-clock backup management
  • Offsite storag
  • Defining contingencies
  • Disaster management
  • Frequent testing

24/7 Help Desk

Sudden system failures can be highly disruptive to your workflow. Getting your network back on track as soon as possible can seem impossible if you don’t know what you’re doing. This is where an IT support company comes in.

Most managed IT service providers have a dedicated helpdesk, ready to address any tech emergency, no matter when or where it occurs. Their goal is to ensure that uptime does not suffer in the event of a tech outage.

Proactive Maintenance

Apart from resolving ongoing network glitches, most Philadelphia IT support providers monitor your network round the clock to anticipate and mitigate impending issues even before they arise.

As a result, your business is at a lower risk of facing catastrophic network failure, especially during peak business hours.

Six Tell-Tale Signs You Need External IT Support

  • You do not have a cybersecurity policy in place
  • Your business experiences regular downtime
  • You do not receive sufficient IT support from your internal team
  • Your IT budget is unpredictable
  • You do not know how to prioritize your technology
  • Your IT problems are eating into your work hours

If these instances sound familiar, you may benefit from outsourcing all your IT needs to an external company. However, you can hire IT support services even if you just need partial help with managing your network.

Conclusion

In the digital age, IT support is an indispensable aspect of business operations. Considering Philadelphia’s steadily evolving startup scene, your business will need to leverage all available resources to carve a niche for itself. A competent IT company can effectively streamline processes, expedite solutions, and protect your organization, allowing you to focus on building your brand.

Do you need IT support in Philadelphia? IT Service Architects’ award-winning services may rouse your interest. Call us today for more information!