IT as a Business Enabler: Beyond the Basics of IT Support

The role of Managed Service Providers is evolving.

While IT support was once relied upon simply for maintaining systems, solving technical problems and providing cyber security advice, providers are now seen as business enablers.

This shift demonstrates a growing understanding that the role of an MSP can go far beyond a support function, allowing businesses to improve their processes, optimise operational costs and ensure compliance.

Here, we explore the key ways in which MSPs should help businesses fulfil their capabilities and reach their goals.

Improving collaboration

Collaboration is essential for driving efficiency in business, but it can be challenging to achieve when managing multiple systems, software and locations.

Using restrictive dated systems can be costly, dysfunctional and unreliable, plus they can make you more susceptible to cyber crime.

Reliable software and cloud solutions are essential to allow users to collaborate quickly and efficiently, whether in the same office or different corners of the globe.

Law firm Moseley Chapman & Skemp was using legacy hardware and technology, making things challenging when they shifted to a hybrid working model – find out more about how Hubtel IT helped them manage this transition.

Transforming processes

Businesses can’t perform at their best without reliable processes and your IT support can play a significant role in facilitating this.

Synergy between IT support and other areas of your business is crucial. It’s important to communicate your goals to each of your service providers to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Being clear about your objectives also allows your MSP to suggest changes or additions to your package, enabling them to provide better support.

As The Dare2Dream Foundation, a Midlands-based organisation providing education and support for children, went through a period of rapid expansion, they outgrew their existing IT infrastructure.

Read how Hubtel IT supported them through this growth, implementing new systems that enabled scalability.

Beating competition

As technology continues to evolve, your MSP needs to have its finger on the pulse.

These advancements cause changes in customer expectations and behaviours, meaning your services need to reflect them. It’s crucial that your provider makes you aware of these important changes and identifies how they can be integrated into your package.

The most effective IT support doesn’t stand still – it innovates and strives to consistently improve.

When we began working with Strip Tinning Automotive, a renowned car parts manufacturer founded in 1957, they sought a more robust and reliable IT system.

Discover why we moved them away from unstable FTTC broadband and dated telephone systems to help them stay with the times and fend off their competitors.

Optimising operational costs

As costs of services continue to increase, you must make sure you’re making the most of your spend on IT support.

Discuss your priorities with your IT provider to help them build a package that suits all your needs.

It’s easy to forget about IT support until you need it, but if you’re not on top of things, you might be paying for features or services that you don’t really require.

Collaborative IT support

Many businesses already have a small internal IT team, but the growing expectations of IT and evolving cyber security threats mean that additional support from an MSP is required.

If you’re in this boat, your MSP must complement the support you receive internally. For example, if your IT team manages end users and workstations, you could leave an external provider to stay on top of cyber security, disaster recovery, server support and licensing.

This enables your business to keep up with the competition and benefit from rounded IT support that ticks all the boxes.

Ensuring compliance and security

With the threat of cyber crime growing and evolving every day, the need for robust and comprehensive cyber security is more important than ever.

MSPs should not only equip their clients with basic cyber security protection, but should help them stay in line with compliance and legislation and boost their reputation through cyber security accreditation.

We support our clients in achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation. This certification ensures compliance in basic cyber security hygiene and demonstrates a business’s commitment to fighting cyber crime.

Read more about Cyber Essentials.

At Hubtel IT, we’re dedicated to not just enabling your business to make improvements, but to helping drive you forward to meet long-term business goals.

Do get in touch to find out more about our IT and telecoms services and read these case studies to discover how we help our clients.

Written by Neil Bayliss, Director at Hubtel IT. With over 25 years of experience in the IT and telecoms industry, Neil specialises in providing solutions for customers looking to integrate their IT and telephony. Connect with Neil on LinkedIn or learn more about our services here.