Small businesses are at the core of Philadelphia’s economy, and play a key role in creating jobs and stimulating growth. No matter what product or service they provide, all of these businesses are sure to have one thing in common: the need for information technology (IT) to support their operations and stay competitive. 

It is estimated that SMBs employ 4 in 10 workers in Philadelphia, and pay 50% of all business taxes in the city. However, as with small businesses all over the country, many of these SMBs are operating with limited resources and can find it challenging to keep up with the latest IT developments. 

As such, more and more Philadelphia businesses are outsourcing their IT needs to a managed service provider in order to save time and money while facilitating innovation and growth. So, how are Philadelphia businesses leveraging outsourced IT? Read on to find out.

What are Managed IT Services?

Managed IT services involve outsourcing your business’s technology needs to an external provider. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can take on a wide range of strategic and day-to-day tasks for your business, so they don’t have to be managed in-house. 

For example, an MSP can take responsibility for all of the IT infrastructure and support you need to stay competitive. This might involve upgrading systems, managing employee access to your company software and hardware, handling routine maintenance, and more. Managed service providers also typically work around the clock to monitor your network, respond to problems and proactively fix issues before they impact productivity. 

5 Types of Managed IT Services that Benefit Philadelphia Businesses

If you’re looking for Philadelphia IT Support, you will want to be sure that every area of your managed IT services are covered. Here are the top 5 services to be aware of.

1. Cybersecurity 

Small businesses are increasingly at risk of cyber attacks, and the importance of robust security should not be overlooked. Managed services providers offer expertise and solutions in this area across all your devices, applications, and networks. Keeping your data safe is essential to the continuity of your business, and leveraging an MSP can help ensure your company’s assets stay free of malware and other threats. 

2. Device Management

Your employees are only as productive as the devices they use to carry out their work. In remote and hybrid work environments, managing and monitoring company devices has become more challenging. Managed service providers have the ability to keep inventory of your devices remotely, and ensure they are secure and running optimally.  

3. Application and Cloud Management

Managed cloud services help you securely access your data and run services without the expense of building, running or securing an in-house IT system. MSPs can also take care of your critical business applications, and manage administrative tasks like user permission requests.

4. Employee On and Offboarding

As small businesses scale, their teams also expand. While this can be a pivotal step in your company’s growth, it comes with its fair share of work. Many SMBs focus on the recruitment process and forget that seamless onboarding is just as (if not more) important to get new hires up to speed quickly. Likewise, if employees leave your organization, their devices and user permissions should be updated efficiently. MSPs can take on these time-consuming but critical tasks. 

5. Real Time Support

Whether it’s a minor request like a password reset, or a significant technical problem that’s impacting your entire team, having access to real time support can be a game changer for your organization’s productivity. Importantly, MSPs can offer this level of support 24/7, which often isn’t realistically possible for in-house IT teams. 

How Can Philadelphia Businesses Benefit From Managed IT Services?

Managed IT services offer a number of benefits to small businesses in Philadelphia. These include:

Increased Productivity

With managed IT services, your employees will have always-on access to the technology they need to be productive. This means fewer distractions and more time spent on tasks that matter. 

Improved Security

A good managed IT service provider will keep your data safe with up-to-date security measures and protocols.

Reduced Costs

With managed IT services, you save money by preventing or fixing tech issues before they become bigger problems. In addition, outsourcing to an MSP is usually far more cost effective than building an internal team. 

Easier Maintenance and Updates

Managed service providers have the tools and skills to keep all of your systems and devices up-to-date, patched, and running smoothly. Even better, they can often remotely achieve company-wide rollouts, meaning minimal downtime for workers. 

Expertise and support

With a managed service provider, you get access to the expertise and support of a team of professionals who know how to manage IT effectively. Building up the equivalent level of knowledge in-house can be almost impossible for small businesses. 

How to Choose a Philadelphia Managed IT Service Provider

Not all IT service providers are created equal. While the services and benefits listed above should give you a good overview of the supports that are available through an MSP, it’s imperative that you do your research and ask the following questions of potential partners:

• What are your average response times? While many providers will boast of quick resolutions, you should take the time to compare the actual expected turnarounds. Electric’s real-time IT support, for example, guarantees an initial response in 10 minutes.
• What level of visibility will I have? It should be quick and easy to figure out what your MSP is working on at any given time, so you can stay informed of the status of your IT.
• What’s included in the cost? Some MSPs have extra charges for additional services that you may have expected to form part of your package. Ask for a clear breakdown of covered services before you sign an agreement.
• What systems and apps do you support? Some MSPs only specialize in one operating system, for example. Make sure the team you will be working with has an understanding of the technology you use. 

Power up your Philadelphia Business with Managed IT Services

Philadelphia businesses can enjoy decreased costs and increased productivity by partnering with a managed IT service provider. If you’re looking for support that powers your IT behind the scenes so you can get back to focusing on your business, get in touch with Electric today. Our team of experts is waiting to help.