Managed IT Services

Traditionally IT support consisted of technicians chasing down IT problems, often having to leave issues incomplete or even unresolved, resulting in inconsistent and unpredictable IT systems, support, and ultimately business expenses. Managed IT Services approaches IT support by eliminating as many issues as possible before they become a critical problem. Utilising various monitoring protocols we are able to monitor hardware and software for errors and inconsistencies. Once a problem has been identified, the solution is automated and can be deployed to an entire organization to prevent the problem from arising on other computers or servers. System maintenance or 'housekeeping' is another integrated part of Managed IT Services which is performed on a regular basis, seamlessly, without user interruption.

BENEFITS OF MANAGED SERVICES

Access to a team of professional and experienced IT specialists.
Clients have full visibility into the process and management of IT systems.
A stable and secure IT environment, resulting in decreased downtime and improved network performance, which contribute to increased productivity.
Prevention of unnecessary IT expenditure by keeping networks and computers secure and protecting them from malware and viruses; managing bandwidth and network usage; protecting data and discouraging abuse of company email, internet and mobile solutions by employees.
Correct management results in longer lifespans of systems.
No interruptions during systems maintenance.
Fixed cost maintenance and support.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL IT SUPPORT AND MANAGED SERVICES

IT responsibility lies with the client.
Reactive approach as traditional IT only generates income when IT breaks. There is no incentive to fix the issue on a long term basis.
IT problems only apparent once something breaks.
Risk of lost data, productivity and profit.
Lost productivity in waiting for a technician to arrive on site.
Multiple vendor billing for the client. Client is responsible for managing problems with third party providers.
Unpredictable monthly costs. The client is double billed if the same problem is addressed on two different call outs.

IT responsibility lies with the MSP
Proactive approach as an MSP has incentive to ensure stability and save resources, thereby benefiting both parties.
An MSP works to address problems before they happen and there is incentive to work as quickly as possible when errors do occur.
There is stability in enterprise-level automation and backup systems, allowing clients to concentrate on business matters. Security patches, updates, viruses, backups and vital data protection are taken care of automatically.
Most errors can be resolved remotely via a managed Helpdesk. A team member can be sent on-site when necessary.
Consolidated billing through the MSP. This provides a single point of contact and one invoice each month for Telkom line rentals, network management, online backups, email archiving, internet and email connectivity, hardware and software sales.
An IT360 MSA contract is based on the number of machines, servers and network devices under management. The contract is a fixed monthly fee with remote support. On-site support when necessary and is dependent on the contract. Correct planning and predictable monthly costs result in reduced long term IT costs and the ability to budget for expected hardware purchases.