Intro to Managed IT Services in Lakeland FL
Learn about how remote managed IT services can increase your business or organizations overall productivity, efficiency, and output reliability.
Intro to Managed IT Services
This guide will serve to inform readers on the basic details of managed IT services and its benefit to businesses. Managed IT services provide an all-in-one solution for hardware, software, and maintenance of a computer network. Be it a network for a university, small business, or multinational corporation – these services proactively work to keep a computer network functioning optimally.
What is Managed IT?
IT, or Information Technology, is responsible for facilitating the day-to-day operations and communications of the developed world. Managed IT services are provided by a third-party contractor. These service providers are contracted by businesses, organizations, institutions -and more – to perform a wide range of tasks. These often include Server Optimization, Anti Malware Security, Event / Workstation / Process Monitoring, and more.
In the arrangement between a client and managed service provider, the responsibility for keeping the server up and running is solely on the part of the IT contractor. This will include a service-level-agreement, or SLA, which acts as a contract for the specific services which are provided. Once a contract goes into effect, the managed IT provider will receive a regular fee from the client, for hardware installation, software administration, and ongoing maintenance.
What are the Benefits
The benefits of managed IT services are easy to see. Unless you are a computer network specialist – the common-person is not equipped with the know-how to implement computer network best-practice. Thank goodness that there are professionals, who do know. Managed services specialize in keeping your network clean, functional and productive.
It improves the reliability, consistency, and performance of the computer network. This is accomplished through several specific service features – outlined below – that enable businesses optimal management of productivity, cost control, and growth. In the end, managed IT services allow a business to function efficiently, without worrying about the integrity of their system network security.
What Do Managed IT Services Include?
The best managed IT providers will include several key service functions – no matter the clientele. These service features will act to monitor and administer system-wide maintenance. The following services are offered by the best managed IT providers.
Event monitoring works to collect, analyze, and alert administrators, of event occurrences on a computer network. These events can include operating system (OS) processes, human operations, and active database rules.
Process and service monitoring continually checks that your critical business applications are running. If a server service is stopped we will be alerted and will remote into the server and investigate.
One of the key functions of a managed IT provider is to keep a network safe from cyber threats, and clean of malware. The quality of a networks overall security is contingent upon the quality of a service provider’s network security software. Every IT service provider will likely use one of the best antivirus programs, such as Comodo, McAfee or Symantec Norton.
Look for a service which includes Comodo Antivirus Suite. Comodo provides superior network security to that of McAfee and Norton. They use proactive defense technology and a proprietary cloud-based whitelist of trusted publishers. Anytime a Comodo user requests access to an unknown web address, Comodo automatically runs the website or program through a security test. If the address is clean, it is added to the whitelist. If not, it is blocked for all users.
Managed IT services should include an auto-install of OS updates for an entire computer network. A key way to stay safe from malicious cyber threats, or general server errors, is to always keep your OS up-to-date and optimized for functionality.
For online businesses, website loading speed is essential to the success of a marketing campaign, and the Google search ranking algorithm. Managed services work to make sure a client’s network of server data is transferring requests as quickly as possible.
A managed IT professional works to maintain the network integrity of a system – down to individual workstations. Every computer on the network carries the potential of corrupting the whole if security and upkeep are not regularly monitored and maintained. Managed IT professionals actively work to remove temporary files, detect irregularities on individual workstations, and to ensure the speedy operational function each computer.
One of the most devastating occurrences on a computer network is that of data loss. Data loss can cause a range of detrimental consequences for an organization or business. When a process slows down or stops, due to a network data loss, it can mean lost revenue – or worse.
Managed IT providers offer a data backup monitoring service, in case of such events. Cloud storage is implemented to safeguard all of the networks vital information. In the event of a wide-scale data compromise, a managed IT service provider can simply reimplement the lost data from the cloud storage backup.
Managed asset inventory is the process of cataloging, managing and analyzing hardware and software information in order to make decisions that concern purchases. By providing detailed informative analysis of the assets currently at a projects disposal, this service enables the most fiscally efficient overhead management strategies.
Another essential function of a managed IT provider is the proper disposal of out-of-use network assets. If an asset goes out of use without proper disposal, it can make a network vulnerable to security threats. When a hardware or software asset becomes unused or out-of-date, the IT team will properly destroy and dispose of the program and serial number – as well as provide certifiable proof unto the client.
Your IT service provider can be anywhere in the world, and still, provide priority service to your computer network. Managed IT providers use remote service software, in order to retain administrative server control from off-site. This is done through secure software, which allows for the remote monitoring, access, and repair of all workstation equipment attached to the network. With remote managed services, maintenance can be implemented in real-time, without disturbing the network – cutting the downtime of the network to nearly zero.
Managed services can also include on-site computer service. Since remote services are easier and more convenient for most clients, onsite computer services might be extra to a basic service plan. Installation and ordering of system hardware are also available for those yet to build a network.
Conclusion
The point of managing networks IT service is to reduce inefficiencies and the optimized output of a system. Managed IT services provide professional know-how and problem-solving experience for all the issues related to an organization network of servers and workstations. By combining world-class software, expert maintenance and a single point of contact accountability, businesses and organizations can stop worrying about the tech and go back to doing what they do best.