Hiring A Professional Computer Repairman

How To Handle The Move To Managed IT Services

Moving a business to a managed IT solutions model takes a lot of work. Before you change how you handle IT services, you should know what lies ahead. You will need to address the following four issues when switching your organization to a managed IT services model. 

Needs Assessment

First, you'll need to figure out what IT services are present within your operation and which ones will be necessary in the future. This means you need a full audit of your business to see what software and devices you're currently using. It is also prudent to talk with a managed IT solutions firm about which packages they typically use and what's growing in popularity. Consider discussing future-facing options with others in your industry too.

You may also need to replace some of your equipment to get everything working properly. For example, older machines may not play nicely with newer software. You also want to inform your third-party provider which services and devices you'll need so everything is clear from the start.

Streamlining and Standardizing

A company will want to standardize its software and devices. Many organizations accumulate older systems and software that just keep running because they don't totally break. Consequently, they may have a legacy of old operating systems that lead to expanded maintenance needs.

Using different operating systems and outdated programs can cause security problems and make things difficult for IT professionals. Your third-party provider will help you get everything running on the same setup to avoid these issues.

Authentication and Security

You have to implement authentication protocols. Setting up rules for who can request IT services and who can authorize work will keep your system secure and prevent unauthorized access.

Companies should also think about old hardware and software in terms of security. As previously noted, legacy systems can sit around for years. Even if no one has compromised those devices, they're usually at the end of their supported life. Ideally, you'll have identified these systems during your audit so you can replace them.

Scalability

As the business grows, you'll need to make sure your IT services can handle the increased demand without costing you too much. For example, you'll need a licensing model that can scale as you add employees. You can work with the services provider to determine how to scale up your IT services while achieving cost control.

Contact a local managed IT service to learn more. 


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