Adopting a business managed IT services model is a fairly involved process. It's good to know what it will be like before you start making adjustments to how you handle IT services within your operation. Let's look at four issues you can expect to address while migrating to a managed IT services model.
The Definition Process
One of the first tasks is to determine which services you need. Your business IT services provider needs a clear idea of what has to be in the contract because anything that isn't overtly defined in the agreement can't be done or will have to be handled at an extra charge.
It's best to conduct a full audit of the requirements of your business. Users of productivity software like Microsoft Office, for example, will need to establish how many licenses they'll require. Similarly, it's important to utilize machines that will be up to the job. You may even have to replace parts of your network to get everything in top condition.
Likewise, you'll want to include the types of devices your organization employs. This may include desktops, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and servers. Many businesses that move to a managed IT services model also move at least some of their capacity onto cloud-based remote computing platforms.
Standardization
Nothing is more awful for an IT services professional than seeing a hodgepodge of software running at a business. Many companies that have been picking and sticking their way through providing IT work end up with archaic operating systems and out-of-date programs running on their devices.
If you have three machines running Windows XP, another with Windows 7, and four more with Windows 10, that's both a security risk and a mess. With the move to business managed IT services, your third-party provider will probably get you onto a setup with as few variations as possible.
Authorization
It's wise to implement authentication protocols in a managed environment. Beyond managing authorization on machines, you should also have protocols in place for making managed IT services requests. Your provider should know who can authorize work, and your team should know who to contact for help.
Scaling
Especially at growing companies, it's important to talk about scalability. A business that has 20 employees today but plans to reach 75 in 5 years, for example, needs to control IT services costs as it ramps up. Talk with your services provider about your cost-control needs and how you plan to scale up to a bigger operation. You can then negotiate a target price.
If your business needs help with IT, contact an IT service.
