It can be overwhelming for smaller businesses to maintain and protect their technology all on their own. Between preparing for cyberattacks and keeping up with the latest software, there’s a great deal to manage without any help.
This is where an outsourced IT support company can step in. Outsourced IT support enables a business to maintain a secure network and gain access to advanced technology - without sucking up hours of valuable time. When a business partners with an outsourced IT support company, its team has more time to focus on growth, revenue, and things other than technology.
Philadelphia has an expanding economy and lots of heated business competition. If you’re one of the up-and-coming local businesses, then you can’t afford to leave your IT support by the wayside. You need fast solutions, effective protection, and an edge on your competitors. You need outsourced IT support.
Don’t believe us? Let’s dive into what outsourced IT support is, what you get from it, and how to find an IT support company that will really help your team.
What Is Outsourced IT Support?
Before you can find a local IT services company that meets your business needs, you must first understand exactly what outsourced IT support is.
Outsourced IT support does exactly what it sounds like - it supports your business’s technology and internal users. An outsourced IT support company will provide you with a full team of remote IT technicians who are dedicated to helping and protecting your Philadelphia business.
An outsourced IT support company will aid your business by:
- Defending your infrastructure from cyber threats.
- Responding to IT issues quickly.
- Implementing IT solutions that support your business goals.
- Working within your specific budget.
Why Do Businesses Need Outsourced IT Support Philadelphia?
Now that you have a better understanding of what outsourced IT support is, let’s talk about specific reasons why you need help from an outsourced IT support team if you want to thrive.
1. Plan for the Worst-Case Scenario
You don’t just need to protect your IT infrastructure, employees, and data from cyber threats. You also need to prepare for unexpected disasters such as tornadoes, floods, fires, etc.
Right now, what will your company do if the worst happens? Do you have everything backed up? Do you have a plan for recovery?
Professional disaster recovery plans from an IT support provider are worth their weight in gold. They allow you to access your business data following a disaster that damages your servers. When you outsource your disaster recovery and backup needs, a team of IT experts will create a Cloud-based storage system for your data so it can be recovered from anywhere at any time.
2. Stop Wasting Money
We see far too many companies wasting their funds on software and gadgets that they think will make them work faster and harder. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case.
In our experience, outsourcing IT support to professionals actually turns out to be more cost-effective than troubleshooting inefficiencies on your own. Hiring professional outsourced IT support is like investing in your business. It might cost more upfront, but down the road, you’ll have access to help and technology that actually boosts your ROI and prevents you from wasting money.
Don’t believe us? Ask our team about how we’ve saved other clients money in the past.
3. Maximize Company Efficiency and Productivity
Lastly, we believe that most companies need outsourced IT support if they truly want to reach their full potential.
Outsourcing your IT requirements is like ironing out a wrinkled, inefficient system. Not only will your support team provide you with the tools and technology you need to do more, but they’ll also help you identify where your problems are.
The Benefits of Outsourced IT Support Philadelphia
1. Advanced Security
Businesses of all sizes and industries need effective IT security to minimize the risk of cyberattacks, viruses, and data breaches. If a business fails to prioritize IT support, it could find itself in a challenging and expensive situation.
According to the World Economic Forum, cyberattacks are among the top five risks to businesses across the globe and they are becoming more and more common. One of the biggest challenges associated with cyberattacks is the financial burden it causes businesses.
It costs an average of $9,000 to recover from an attack, which is well beyond what most small-to-medium-sized businesses can spare - especially with little to no warning.
To stay ahead of the latest threats, your business can partner with a local Philadelphia IT support company that offers advanced multi-level security. This will minimize the chances of viruses and unauthorized individuals gaining access to your network and accessing classified information.
In addition, IT support companies that offer advanced security will run frequent checkups, penetration tests, and updates. This helps ensure that your business is protected from the ever-evolving tactics of cybercriminals.
2. 24/7 IT Help Services
Your business can experience a system failure or cyberattack at any time of the day. If these issues are not addressed quickly, they can result in a loss of sales and an expensive recovery process - especially if a cybercriminal successfully breaks into your network.
With 24/7 IT support, you won’t have to wait until normal business hours for help. Instead, you can reach out to expert technicians whenever you need an IT-related issue resolved - even on weekends and holidays.
Another advantage to Philadelphia outsourced IT support is that it is more accessible than national or global IT providers. For instance, if an IT issue cannot be easily resolved online or over the phone, they can send an IT expert onsite to fix the issue in person.
3. Quick Response Times
Don’t assume that just because an IT provider offers 24/7 support they respond quickly to IT concerns.
Some IT providers take hours – or even days - to respond to a request - even an emergency one. As mentioned earlier, an IT issue can become more severe when it’s not immediately addressed. You want to find an outsourced IT support provider that guarantees fast responses. The sooner they act, the faster you can resume normal operations with minimal losses and damage.
4. Access to Advanced Technology
Technology is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult to keep up. However, your business can fall behind the competition if it’s using dated tools and technology as this could be slowing down internal operations and productivity.
A great outsourced IT support provider will offer your business cost-effective IT solutions and tools to boost your internal workflow. A worthwhile IT company will only offer new tools and technology if it will support your business and foster growth. They’re not in it to make a dime here and there, but instead, to provide long-term successful support.
These tools might normally be beyond the IT budgets of a smaller-sized business. However, IT support companies make them more affordable to all businesses with customized support and predictable monthly fees.
Red Flags to Watch Out for When Hiring Outsourced IT Support
We recommend doing careful research before partnering with an IT support company, even if they offer the services that you are looking for.
Not all IT companies are created equally. The increased demand for IT support throughout the United States has contributed to a low barrier to entry for outsourced IT support providers. In other words, there is an abundance of IT companies to choose from, and some are certainly better than others.
To help you find a trustworthy Philadelphia IT support company, here are three BIG red flags to steer clear of, no matter how affordable or professional their services might seem.
1. Negative (or Hidden) Customer Feedback
One way to tell if a Philadelphia IT company is trustworthy is to examine reviews and testimonials from their past clients. What other clients have to say about an IT company will give you an understanding of how they will support your business.
An IT support company should have nothing to hide, so their reviews and testimonials are usually displayed on their websites for potential clients to look over.
Can’t find any real, valuable feedback from past clients? Ask. If they are a new company looking to get off the ground, a lack of testimonials isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
If the company has been around for a while and doesn’t seem to have testimonials to draw from, turn and head in the other direction. That’s not the outsourced IT support provider you need.
2. A Lack of Experience in YOUR Industry
IT support shouldn’t be the exact same for all businesses. Technology varies by industry, and you should look for outsourced IT support that has experience working with businesses in your specific field.
Not only does this ensure they understand exactly what you need from legal and social expectations, but it also helps them to identify your top threats and challenges from the get-go.
Philadelphia IT support companies tend to have experience with the popular industries in the area - such as manufacturing, health care, and tourism. They know local businesses, and even more so, they know the dangers and problems they face.
If it seems like the IT support provider you’re considering has never worked with a business like yours, or even served clients in the same field, keep looking.
3. Reactive Help Rather Than Proactive Strategies
If you ask us, prevention is the key to success. Sure, you want an outsourced IT support company that can help you handle problems when they arise, but that’s not all. You want a partner that will prevent problems from appearing in the first place.
Pay attention to what the outsourced IT support provider promises. Are they advertising proactive strategies? What will they do to prevent problems from manifesting? Do they have plenty of strategies for security and preparation?
If it seems like the company will likely slap a Band-Aid on your problems and call it a day, you can find an IT support company that will do more. We promise.
How Can Outsourced IT Support Philadelphia Contribute to Growth?
An outsourced IT support provider allows your business more time to focus on what really matters: growing the company.
Outsourced IT support Philadelphia enables your business to generate superior customer service, which is key to growth. With the help of IT experts, your systems will be maintained, protected, and automated.
With the right outsourced IT support Philadelphia, you can stress less about your business technology and focus on other areas of your company. This enables you to spend more time marketing your services/product and building relationships with new clients.
To get the most out of an outsourced IT support company, communicate your goals clearly, so they can properly support your vision.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has taught you a little bit about what outsourced IT support is, what to look for, and how to find a great Philadelphia IT support company for your business.
How can outsourced IT support help with your company’s growth, and what can IT Service Architechs do for you? Let's find out together.