Does your business need IT support but you’re not ready to commit to employing an in-house IT specialist?
We get it. Managing your IT system can be complicated, confusing and it often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.
Gravity IT’s flagship Managed IT service is the perfect solution. It gives a growing business a reliable, outsourced IT department where you can get the advice and support your business needs to thrive.
Here are the 6 most frequently asked questions about our outsourced Managed IT service, answered by Gravity IT’s Managing Director and owner, Glenn Chapman.
What are the challenges of setting up a business’ IT systems?
It’s common for new business owners to choose the cheapest, fastest DIY option when setting up their IT systems. We call this the ‘short-term solution’.
The number one problem with the short-term solution is it’s not built for growth. It often involves setting up a basic email address and saving all files directly to your desktop. This model guarantees a consistent stream of IT issues that take up your valuable time.
But what happens when you are running a more established business and you land a big client or need to hire a new employee? Is your IT system robust enough to grow with your business?
If your business’ productivity and efficiency is constantly impacted by a basic or sub-standard IT systems, it’s time to think about the ‘long-term solution’ and start building an IT system that will grow with your business.
What are the consequences of DIY or short-term IT solutions?
When business owners come to Gravity IT for help, it’s often because they’ve reached the limit of a DIY system. The hastily stitched together solution has held together for so long, but they know a robust solution will be an investment of time and money. Like anything difficult, the longer you put it off, the worse the problem is to deal with.
We like to compare maintaining your IT system to servicing your car. If you postpone or botch the car’s servicing, you can expect a breakdown.
The most common problems caused by delayed action are:
- Lost emails and data
- Double handling files across multiple platforms and devices
- Insecure backup systems and processes
- Unnecessary frustration and stress
- Instances of inconsistency and unprofessionalism when dealing with clients and external stakeholders
- Poor user experience for employees
How can Managed IT help my business grow?
As a business owner, you’re often wearing multiple hats (and you’re probably not technically qualified to wear some of them, like your IT speciality hat).
When you need IT support, rather than spending time Googling and watching YouTube clips to try and find a solution, get things back on track fast by calling your IT professional. You and your staff can get back to doing what you’re good at and let us take care of the IT issues.
Here’s a rundown of the Managed IT services Gravity IT offer:
Bronze
This is our reactive package. If you have a problem, pick up the phone for on-site or remote IT support that’ll be charged at an hourly rate. The Bronze package provides monitoring and management, and business antivirus for each computer connected to your business.
Silver
This is our proactive package. For a monthly fee, our team operates as a member of your business, actively keeping an eye on all aspects of your IT systems.
In addition to the Bronze package benefits, you’ll receive proactive maintenance, comprehensive monthly reports, quarterly management meetings where we address pain points, your business goals and how your IT systems can get you there. The Silver package includes remote support, but any on-site support will be billed at an hourly rate.
Gold
The Gold package includes all benefits from the Silver package, plus on-site support during business hours.
Check out the graphic below to compare each package.
What’s the difference between an outsourced IT team and an in-house IT team?
It’s extremely difficult to find a single person who knows how to implement and execute everything that your business needs when you’re hiring in-house IT support employee.
For example, most IT teams consist of a Level 1 Technician, Level 2 Systems Engineer, Project Manager/Assistant, Maintenance Specialist and an IT Manager who oversees and brings every element of the system together.
When you partner with Gravity IT, all those roles and skillsets are now covered. Every solution to your cybersecurity, email functionality, server hosting, IT management and more is just a phone call away and condensed into one easy, monthly bill. You and your staff have IT confidence because you know the experts are on hand to tackle those pesky IT niggles.
What kind of business will benefit from a Managed IT service?
- Minimum 3 people in the business.
- Your business relies on IT (ie. If your IT system is unavailable, can your business still function?)
- You see value in being proactive with your IT systems
- You want to set your business up for growth from the start
What do we report on and why is reporting important?
Going back to the car analogy, if you don’t know what your business IT systems are doing, it’s like waiting for a car accident to happen before checking your insurance coverage. Whether you are a start-up, an established business owner or heading up a team of 20 or more employees, it makes sense to be aware, prepared and protected.
Our reporting method outlines all the IT elements every business owner needs to know, such as:
- Backups performed vs failures detected
- Test performed on the backups
- Antivirus vulnerabilities found and updated
- Support tickets submitted and resolved
- Monthly maintenance
- Project updates
By reporting on these indicators each month, we detect patterns or areas of concern that need to be addressed BEFORE they become an issue. This gives us the opportunity to connect with the business owner, to highlight any potential pain points and discuss areas of development.
For an established business, avoiding IT issues is just as important as solving IT issues, because it minimises downtime, loss of productivity and reputation management issues.
One piece of IT advice
Don’t wait until your IT systems are failing to fix it, and don’t try and do it yourself. IT is a complex area of business that’s ever-changing. You need an expert to get it done right the first time.
With an outsourced IT team working for you, you are proactively avoiding issues before they occur. Understand the risks and know what you need to implement so your business can succeed. Let go of the worry because we have it under control.
Take a look at our case studies to see how we’ve helped other businesses by taking the IT stress out of their hands. Have peace of mind that you have a secure, functioning and reliable IT system.
Talk to us about how our Managed IT service can give you peace of mind and set your business up for future success.
