Small businesses are always target to cyber attacks more than others. As a small company owner, it is very important to know how to keep your website and other network-based tools secure, and defend them from any kind of network invasion that might occur such as malware and other kinds of attacks.
Besides, small businesses that have just started can find difficulty in hiring a whole IT team because of a limited budget. However, they still need an expert that can protect the company’s network, repair a printer’s connection, and answer all the questions related to cloud storage. Obviously, one person can never be able to manage all the company’s IT requirements alone, no matter how hard-working and professional this person is.
A very common approach for most small companies is outsourcing the company’s IT support to an IT service provider. Hiring an IT support provider can save your company money by providing a complete team of professionals for less than the expense of keeping a single full-time employee. It also allows you to focus your time, energy, and money on building the company rather than worrying about its safety and network access.
As a small business, hiring the services of an IT service provider might benefit your company in a variety of ways, however, it can also have drawbacks. If you're debating whether or not to outsource your IT services, these are the top benefits and drawbacks to consider.
What are the benefits of outsourcing IT services ?
- Less time spent on maintenance :
Since almost all the work rely on IT working properly, and since any time spent trying to solve network problems might result in significant financial losses, having an IT service provider ensures that you and your team don’t miss on businesses in the case of any technological difficulty. Also, while your technology is monitored and controlled, you will spend less time on maintenance. An IT service provider will prevent problems from emerging and ensures that your business runs properly at all times.
2. Availability 24/7 :
Another benefit of IT services providers is that they are constantly accessible to address issues that may have an impact on your company. Unlike an in-house team with set hours, outsourcing to an IT service provider helps you have an entire IT department whenever you need it without having to retain a full-time team.
3. Security breaches :
Security breaches are on the rise like never before, but outsourcing your IT requirements to a provider gives you access to professionals who are up to speed on the newest protections. This will assist to lessen the danger of data breaches since security solutions will be provided to ensure that your company meets security requirements.
What are the drawbacks of IT services providers ?
4. Lack of physical presence :
Outsourcing IT services means that you're allowing another organization to handle your technology remotely. This means you'll be responsible for resolving any on-site issues. If you have a problem with your printer or server room for instance, you may need someone to be physically present to handle the instructions provided by your service provider either via email or over the phone.
5. Loss of IT crew :
Hiring a provider's services means renouncing the possibility of having a dedicated IT staff that understands the nuances and needs of your organization, which may restrict the provider's effectiveness in addressing your IT demands.
Small companies should carefully consider all of the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing an IT service provider to ensure that the benefits outweigh the dangers. Before deciding on your outsourcing plan, it's a good idea to review some typical outsourcing considerations.
