As your small to medium-sized business (SMB) expands, so do your technology needs. What may start as a small IT setup can quickly become overwhelming. When scaling operations, companies eventually come to a crossroad: outsource to managed IT services or establish a larger in-house team.
At Connectability, we help small to medium-sized businesses scale quickly by enhancing their security, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and refocusing on core business goals.
The Complexities of Growing a Business
As you expand, your IT infrastructure becomes increasingly complex. Suddenly, there is a greater demand for cybersecurity, data management, and network monitoring, straining your internal resources. Furthermore, companies must ensure their software remains functional, compliant, and secure according to industry standards, including PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).
Why are more businesses outsourcing their IT?
For many SMBs, keeping up with evolving industry standards and in-house infrastructure requirements can become overwhelming quickly. Common challenges businesses face include the following:
- Struggling to adopt technology: Many Canadian SMBs struggle with adopting new technology because of limited IT resources, outdated systems, and increased cybersecurity issues.
- Reliance on IT professionals: Statistics Canada reports that many businesses have employees dealing with cybersecurity issues, while 47% use IT professionals instead, indicating a dependence on IT specialists.
- Outdated resources: Many businesses are forced, due to cost restraints, to delay implementing upgrades or must rely on outdated systems, putting their company at risk for cybersecurity attacks and data breaches.
- Internal resolution of cybersecurity attacks: Statistics Canada reports that companies impacted by cybersecurity incidents resolved 55% of them internally, and 31% used IT consultants. This demonstrates that while many companies relied on in-house teams, many others also turned to IT professionals for external support in resolving issues.
- Labour shortage: Shortages of skilled workers remain a pressing issue.
With 70% of future openings requiring management skills or a post-secondary education, most businesses face a skills gap when seeking qualified IT professionals.
These statistics suggest that many SMBs face challenges in maintaining their internal security and IT infrastructure, leading them to seek external support.
The Benefits of Managed IT Services for a Growing Business
The scalability of your business depends on how effectively you can handle increased workloads or demands without a corresponding rise in expenses or a decline in performance. Scalability allows you to expand operations without performance or operational disruptions. It will enable you to maintain overall quality and increase profitability as your operations expand.
1. Helps with scalability
A primary advantage of outsourcing your IT is the ability to scale growth. Whether you want to expand to a new location, onboard employees, or implement new software, an MSP (managed service provider) can adapt your infrastructure to changing needs without additional hires or major hardware expenses.
Scalable IT solutions include:
- Virtualization: This enables you to maximize existing hardware while accommodating increased workloads without requiring additional servers.
- Cloud infrastructure: MSPs assist clients in migrating to cloud-based systems, enabling you to adjust resources as needed.
- On-demand support: As you grow, support coverage can easily be expanded.
2. Cost efficiency
In-house teams are expensive, as IT specialists often require high salaries. Businesses must also factor in ongoing training, benefits, and technology investments into their budget. Compared to other options, managed IT services offer a cost-effective solution.
MSPs offer businesses a team of experienced IT professionals at a reduced cost based on a subscription model. This model enables your organization to pay only for the services it needs, making overall expenses more predictable.
3. Improved security and compliance
As businesses grow, they often become prime targets for cybercriminals. MSPs boost their specialized experience in this area by implementing real-time monitoring and advanced threat detection to ensure you remain protected.
Additionally, those in finance, healthcare, and retail must comply with stringent regulatory standards, like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), PIPEDA, and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Managed IT services ensure you remain compliant with vulnerability assessments, continual security audits, and data encryption.
4. Support and proactive monitoring
Downtime significantly impacts any business, especially if they are growing. It can lead to damaged customer relationships, a loss of customer retention, and lost revenue. Managed IT helps you remain proactive by locating and addressing problems before they become significant issues.
MSPs minimize disruptions while enabling the smooth operation of your IT systems. It allows you to maintain consistency and productivity.
Why is managed IT necessary for scalability?
As your business grows, there is increased demand on your IT infrastructure. If left unaddressed, it can hinder growth and impede operational efficiency. Managed services offer robust solutions and support to help you navigate the challenges of expansion, maintaining productivity and security while remaining cost-effective.
To succeed and grow, you must partner with a trusted provider like Connectability that understands the uniqueness of your business and situation. Our team can provide tailored solutions, enabling you to find the perfect fix based on your needs for seamless scaling.
How to Leverage Managed IT Services
- Data backup and disaster recovery: Consistent backups and recovery plans safeguard your business against data loss resulting from cyberattacks, system failures, and natural disasters.
- Network and infrastructure management: Continual network optimization and management prevent outages and provide smooth operations.
- Cybersecurity: Implementing proactive security measures, such as antivirus software, firewalls, and breach monitoring, helps prevent attacks, causing downtime and lost revenue. Furthermore, they enable you to maintain a positive reputation with your clientele.
- Help desk support: On-demand assistance for troubleshooting offers help for employees experiencing technical issues.
- Cloud-based solutions: These help with migrating and managing cloud services for remote work, ensuring scalability.
How Connectability Empowers SMB Scalability
Businesses want their infrastructure to grow with them. While it may be manageable initially, you will eventually need to outsource for reasons ranging from cost-effectiveness and productivity to regulatory compliance.
Connectability understands that you want to remain competitive, productive, and a respected industry leader. However, to stay in good standing, you must incorporate trusted managed IT services.
Our services provide robust cybersecurity, adherence to industry standards, a reliable network, and expert-level IT support for small businesses. When faced with an emergency, our team is always available. Furthermore, we understand the constraints of operating an SMB and act as an extension of your team.
Learn how we can help your business by scheduling a risk assessment. Contact us at 647-560-5529 or complete our online form. Our team will conduct a confidential and non-disruptive evaluation, which includes our findings and an action plan.
