In our digitally driven world, Information Technology (IT) has become a vital lifeline for businesses of all sizes. Having a seamless IT system isn’t just a competitive advantage anymore—it's a fundamental requirement for operational efficiency. But given the complexity and rapid evolution of IT, handling all your IT needs in-house can be daunting if not impracticable, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. This is where managed IT services step in as a game-changer.
Our topic today is an in-depth look at what are managed IT services, their core components, how they stand apart from traditional IT services, and what a managed IT service provider like Levit8 does. We’ll also shed light on the array of services typically encompassed by managed IT services, including tangible examples of what we offer here at Levit8.
By the end of this post, we aim to underline the vital role these services play for businesses, and explicate how outsourcing your IT to expert providers can empower your business to function efficiently and grow robustly.
What are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services refer to the practice of outsourcing an organization's IT tasks and responsibilities to a specialized service provider, often referred to as a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP). This strategy is typically a preventative measure utilised by businesses to keep their IT operations running smoothly, often under a subscription or contractually agreed service model.
In simpler terms, imagine your business has an IT department that is not in-house, but located elsewhere — a partner you can rely on that manages your IT system. This is essentially what managed IT support brings to the table. This set-up is designed to liberate organizations from the complexities and time-consuming aspects of managing their ow IT infrastructure.
Managed IT services can either complement existing in-house IT teams, enhancing their capabilities and alleviating their workload, or alternatively, can fully replace them. This depends on the specific technological needs and resources of the businesses, which can vary greatly across different industry sectors.
What are the Key Components of Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services may be diverse in nature, tailored as they are to fit the unique needs of each organisation. However, they do share a common foundation, composed of three fundamental elements: Infrastructure, Platform, and Software.
Let's break down these elements for more clarity:
Infrastructure: This is the backbone of your IT system, consisting of the physical and virtual resources that support the overall IT environment. It can include hardware like servers, data centres, network devices, as well as software and network resources. A reliable managed IT service provider will oversee the setup, maintenance and updating of this infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and security.
Platform: On top of the infrastructure lies the platform, which fundamentally provides the environment in which your applications run. It can range from a specific operating system to a broader ecosystem that enables applications to be developed and executed. Managed services can help to create and maintain this platform, ensuring it is up-to-date and capable of supporting your organisation's unique needs.
Software: These are the tools and applications that run on your platform and are used by your employees in their day-to-day activities. Managed IT services can include managing these software tools, ensuring they are updated, compatible with the platform and infrastructure, and offer smooth operation for users.
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Together, these components form the basis of your IT system, providing the groundwork upon which you can build specific IT solutions.
Managed services also extend to encompass other functions, such as cyber security measures, data backup and recovery, network monitoring and incident response services.
Levit8's offers a wide array of services, from cyber security to cloud telephony.
Managed IT Services vs IT Services: What's the Difference?
It's essential to understand the distinction between managed IT services and regular IT services since they serve different purposes despite seeming similar on the surface.
Traditional IT services typically refer to a project-specific, one-time service. This could involve implementing a new software system, upgrading hardware, or tackling a particularly stubborn technical issue. These services are often reactive in nature - responding to an existing issue or need - and are usually incidental or occasional.
On the other hand, managed IT services are more comprehensive and continuous. Instead of dealing with isolated issues or projects, a managed IT service provider takes care of an organisation's entire IT infrastructure. They manage, monitor, and maintain network systems, perform regular system checks, provide software updates, implement security protocols, and even offer round-the-clock support.
You may like to read: What Are The Benefits And Risks of Outsourcing Your IT Services
In essence, managed IT services act as an outsourced IT department - continuously watching over and managing your business IT needs. This includes both a proactive, preventative approach, anticipating and mitigating risks before they can impact the business, and a responsive function, dealing quickly with any issues or incidents that arise.
This distinction is important because it underscores the ongoing, all-encompassing nature of managed IT services.
While traditional IT services are essential for carrying out particular, discrete tasks, managed IT services allow businesses to outsource their entire IT operation. This means they can focus their energy on their core business functions, safe in the knowledge that their IT needs are being professionally managed.
What Services Does a Managed IT Service Provider Offer?
The scope of managed IT services is extensive, encompassing everything from network maintenance, infrastructure management, security controls, system monitoring, to disaster recovery measures. Regardless of the specific services provided, the common thread that ties them all together is the goal of delivering a seamless IT function to businesses.
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This not only supports the day-to-day operations but can also enhance the overall strategic planning and decision-making processes.
A managed IT services company, such as Levit8, awards businesses with a myriad of services to ensure smooth IT operations, robust security, and decisive problem resolution. Let's delve into some of the many services typically offered, using Levit8 as an example:
Network Monitoring: Continuous oversight of your network systems is key to identifying and addressing potential issues before they become disruptive problems. For instance, Levit8's network monitoring services are designed to catch and handle potential bottlenecks and vulnerabilities that could impact the performance and security of your IT systems.
Security Management: Cyber threats are a relentless reality in our digital world. To counter this, Levit8 provides comprehensive security management, including threat identification, intrusion detection, establishing firewalls, antivirus measures, and educating your team on cybersecurity best practices.
Disaster Recovery: IT disasters can strike without warning and have devastating impacts on businesses. Managed IT services by Levit8 include disaster recovery solutions to minimise downtime and data loss, helping you get back to business operations swiftly after a disaster.
Application and Infrastructure Management: The day-to-day running of IT applications and infrastructure can be time-consuming. Outsourcing this task to a managed service provider like Levit8 allows your teams to focus on their core work while we take care of maintaining and optimising your IT applications and infrastructure.
Virtualisation Services: This involves the creation of virtual resources (servers, network devices, storage devices, etc.) to optimise the use of physical resources. Levit8's virtualisation services can enhance the performance and scalability of your IT systems.
All these services and more work in harmony to keep your business's IT landscape robust, secure, and efficient, ensuring you can operate and innovate without missing a beat. By entrusting your IT operation to Levit8's managed services, you can leave the technicalities to us and redirect your focus to where it matters most - growing your business.
The Importance of Managed IT Services and How Can It Help Your Business in Australia
The importance of managed IT services for businesses, especially for small to mid-sized enterprises, cannot be overstated. These services contribute significantly to the reliability, efficiency, and success of businesses in the digital age.
Managed IT services allow businesses to utilise expert knowledge and skills in an economically efficient way. Accessing full-time, in-depth IT expertise internally can be costly and challenging, particularly for smaller businesses. Managed services provide a straightforward solution, offering the right expertise when and as needed.
Implementing managed IT services also means proactive problem-solving and prevention. By continuously monitoring and managing your IT, experienced providers like Levit8 can resolve issues before they escalate into more substantial, disruptive problems. This kind of preemptive IT management helps ensure consistency in your operation, steering clear of prolonged downtime, and thus, providing the much-needed business continuity.
Another significant aspect is the liberating effect of managed IT services on your internal resources. By outsourcing complex and time-consuming IT tasks to a managed service provider like Levit8, your team is free to focus on strategic projects and tasks that are core to your business growth. It also streamlines your operation, enabling your teams to work with optimised equipment, automated tasks and revamped workflows without the need to plunge into the technicalities they might not be experienced with.
Lastly, with managed IT services, you receive round-the-clock support – a feature that can be of massive value for businesses of any size. Technical issues don't clock out at 5 pm, and neither do managed IT services providers like ourselves. With a 24-hour helpdesk, your team can get the assistance they need at any time, saving you from unnecessary operational hiccups.
You may like to read: What to Consider When You Are Choosing The Right MSP
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Managed IT services are designed with the fundamentals of adaptability and scalability. As your business grows in size or evolves in its needs, your managed IT services provider should be able to grow and adapt with you, offering solutions that cater to your changing requirements.
At Levit8, we pride ourselves on providing top-tier managed IT services to Australian businesses. Our offer is centered on streamlining your operations, boosting your efficacy, and paving the way for your business's future growth - one IT solution at a time.
Our managed IT services are meticulously designed and implemented to meet the unique needs of Australian businesses. We understand the challenges you face and offer comprehensive, scalable, and future-proof IT solutions that do more than just solve problems - they add value to your business.
If you'd like to reap these benefits and more, book a meeting with us today.
We're waiting to elevate your business with our comprehensive and quality-assured managed IT services. Let's take your business to new heights with Levit8.
