Managed Cloud Services – Part 2: Free Up IT Resources

The reasoning behind managed services is simple: free up resources at your business by transferring core tasks to industry experts. However, knowing which ones to outsource may not always be clear. Following on from the first post on overcoming cloud challenges with managed services, this article will explain which tasks you should hand over first and how this adds value to your business.

The main purpose of your IT department is to assist your business in its daily operations – something that often requires innovation. However, fulfilling these duties can be time-consuming and needs proper staff allocation. If your IT department is bogged down with menial tasks, this ranges from being somewhat difficult to outright impossible. So what are the first steps to take?

Outsource IT Infrastructure to Reduce Costs

In the current business landscape, it barely makes sense for a company, especially a small or medium-sized enterprise, to purchase and maintain its own data center. Therefore, turning to managed service provider for IT infrastructure makes economic sense. Servers, network technology, and storage can all be provided through the cloud. Businesses can choose the right package to suit their needs and only pay for what they use. Companies are not required to invest in infrastructure and also eliminate tasks, such as maintaining and upgrading the IT landscape.

Getting Backup from the Experts

Backing up your key business data can be challenging. You have to ensure that all data is secure, reliably backed up, and that your IT resources can handle this task. Investing in storage is not cheap, and even then, the infrastructure must be managed and modified to suit your business. A managed cloud provider will have all the necessary hardware and software to back up your company data. Furthermore, managed services partners have years of experience with a diverse range of businesses and can tailor the size and functions of the database for you. Additionally, an expert partner will understand legal requirements for data storage and implement these for you, freeing up your IT department to serve your business.

Eliminate Standard Tasks That Don’t Add Value

Certain standard tasks are necessary but slow your business down. These include provisioning and administrating of your email system. However, while important for daily operation, such tasks are not generating revenue for your organization. These duties require cultivating internal expertise, which again drains resources. But, this also can be transferred to a managed service provider. All of these menial tasks can be performed in the background by an expert partner, enabling you to focus on your core business. You save costs and can use your resources to generate revenue.

Add or Modify Systems Seamlessly

Whenever you introduce a new system to your IT landscape or make changes to an existing platform, you need expertise and resources. This means keeping your IT staff up to date with current technology which often requires training and reduces the availability of your existing workforce. A managed services provider understands the latest technology developments and how to perform changes or implement new systems with minimal service disruption. In this way, you ensure continuous operation at your business and high availability of your IT systems.

The Bottom Line? Focus on Your Core Tasks and Hand Over the Rest

The solution to boosting efficiency and taking the burden off your internal staff is simple. If its something you don’t need to be doing yourself and a managed service provider offers it as a service: outsource it. You ensure continuous operation and receive expert guidance to build your business as you see fit. NTT DATA Business Solutions has nearly 30 years’ experience in assisting businesses with technology and offers global managed services to help you streamline your business and take the burden off of your IT department.