How Managed IT Services Can Save You Time, Money, and Ultimately Drive Your Bottom Line

When most business owners hear the phrase "managed IT services", they think expense.

But in fact, hiring an IT management company is a great way to increase your bottom line. While this may seem counterintuitive, it actually makes a lot of sense.

After all, business management is all about delegating resources the best way possible. Outsourcing your IT solutions is a great way to reclaim an entrepreneur's most valuable assets--time and money--so that you can re-leverage them how you see fit.

To illustrate, let's start with the commodity that all things are slave to:

Time Gained

Entrepreneurs already have enough on their plate.

Being a great entrepreneur comes down to successful execution and attention to detail. Perhaps no one's time is more valuable.

This is exactly why it's so important for those running businesses to not get bogged down with duties outside of their expertise. IT is a great example. Information technology is complex and involved by default. On top of that, it is constantly changing.

So by hiring a managed IT provider, you can focus on being an expert in your field and managing your operations. This way you don't have to spend unneeded hours managing areas of the business you shouldn't be.

One of an entrepreneur's most important skills is the ability to delegate. IT is one of the smartest aspects of your business to delegate because it requires specialized skills and experience.

If you attempt to manage your IT solutions in-house, you'll be wasting hours that could be better spent increasing revenue. And if you aren't doing it personally, those hours are going to cost.

Money Saved

To a business owner, time is money.

Obviously, you have to pay your staff. But hiring a specialist full-time is unwarranted--not to mention too expensive--unless your company is a certain size or has a high level of need.

Pawning the responsibilities off on an unqualified member of your staff could also hold your business back. Buying proper hardware, software, and security is both daunting and expensive. Plus, it takes expertise and up to date knowledge of the industry.

For instance, one common pitfall when designing your own network is buying hardware without adequate scalability. If you want your business to grow, you need the right hardware and software.

In the Information Age, bad IT can stagnate your business. In the worst case, it can ruin it.

Poor network security can have devastating repercussions for your business. Failing to secure your network online leaves both you and your customers at risk.

Repairing the effects of a successful attack go beyond money. Ask yourself, can your brand's reputation handle this hit? Unless you're a huge brand, the answer is probably no.

So hire a managed IT provider. You'll keep your customers happy and your money in your pocket.

Now It's Up to You

From here, all that is left is for you to delegate your resources.

This is the entrepreneur's natural position. Not managing networks, not setting up servers, but delegating resources and growing their business.

If you're serious about increasing your bottom line, this is the only way to do it.

If you're looking to gain time and save money in your business, 1iX Network Solutions is a great choice. Contact us now to find out what we can do for you!

Let's continue the conversation. Let us know if you have thought about outsourcing your IT and how it worked out.

Also, if you liked this post please share with your connections on social media.

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IT Support: The Threats Foreign Hackers Pose and How To Protect Your Business

Chinese hackers have been stealing data from American companies for several years now.

While it’s not a new phenomenon, it continues to grow more troubling over time.  And truth be told, there may not be an end in sight.

The truth is, these attacks are state sponsored.  And China doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.

A recent 60 Minutes story called it:

“The Great Brain Robbery”

In their story by the same name, they speak with assistant attorney general of National Security, John Carlin, who admits that thousands of private US companies have been affected.

Furthermore, this issue is far-reaching.  According to George Kurtz, (CEO of Internet security leader CrowdStrike) these thefts have occurred in “every industry, engineering documents, manufacturing processes, chip designs, telecommunications, pharmaceutical—you name it, it's been stolen.”

Obviously, this poses serious problems for US businesses who thrive by staying on the cutting edge and continuing to develop new technologies.

The lost revenue from cheaper fakes isn’t hard to see coming.  But what isn’t so obvious is how this could lead to a chain reaction down the line.  If the world’s biggest and best innovators have a harder time turning a profit, development timetables for new technologies will grow longer.

For American business, this situation could become dire.

Likely to Get Worse

Despite a September agreement to curb cyber espionage between President Obama and the Chinese President Xi Jinping,  American businesses have continued to report cyber attacks.

The fact is, China maintains that they oppose cyber attacks in accordance with law.  And no one really expects them to stop attacks that they won’t even admit.

The Chinese government is even suspected of helping to break into systems in order to steal information about legal cases being built against its individuals and organizations.

Throw in the fact that their economy has slowed over the last few quarters and one might instead assume that the attacks will probably increase.  At the very least, desperate Chinese businesses don’t help the issue.

It seems the only thing that can provide any remedy is that businesses take certain precautionary measures to reduce the likelihood that their or their clients information can be stolen.

Protect Your Business

Cyber security is a field that requires serious training and expertise.

Hackers are clever and relentless.  You need solutions that are as airtight as possible.

In addition to proper setup and intelligent implementation of security operating procedures, every business has its own unique set of challenges.  That’s why IT solutions are best left to the professionals.

In the modern climate, it is simply irresponsible not to protect yourself from the potential ills of cyber attacks.  There is too much on the line: your revenue, your proprietary information, your clients’ faith.  Why trust the job to an amateur (even if that amateur is yourself)?

If you’re looking for a partner in the fight against hackers in China and anywhere else in the world, 1iX Network solutions in Atlanta should be considered one of your premiere candidates.

Do you have any more insights on cyber security?  Continue the conversation and comment below. Also, make sure to share with your connections on social media.

The post IT Support: The Threats Foreign Hackers Pose and How To Protect Your Business appeared first on 1iX.