Managed service in SMEs
The cloud has not only conquered large companies in recent years. It also offers some advantages for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Medium-sized companies represent an incredible added value for the German economy. In this context, innovation is the driver that makes it possible to survive as a medium-sized company and grow in the long term. Using cloud technologies and working with a professional partner in the cloud is the key to success.
What is managed services?
The cloud provider's role is first to provide professional advice to identify and deliver the right cloud infrastructure. Managed services are IT services that a service provider provides for a company. These are recurring services that are precisely defined in terms of scope and availability. Services offered can include applications, network services, storage space, security or the monitoring of IT infrastructures. Managed services are not classic outsourcing, as only subareas are outsourced to relieve the burden on employees. Control over the overall IT structure and IT processes remains with the customer.
How managed IT services promote digital transformation in SMEs
Managed services providers specialize in enterprise digitalization processes and understand the demanding challenges that transformation brings. Digital transformation requires extensive changes to their existing business processes, so having a strong partner to guide the transformation and know which technologies best fit the applications in their business is hugely important. Big Data, cloud-based solutions, machine learning and software instead of hardware, all these innovative services help your company to stay competitive and grow in the long run. The added value of a managed service provider comes into play in several areas:
The cost reduction and cost transparency aspects are especially important for mid-sized companies. Managed services providers support daily applications and tasks in the cloud by customizing cloud services to your applications. Activities that are performed multiple times are automated, allowing the activity to be repeated accurately and as often as required, eliminating human errors caused by incorrectly executed commands, and most importantly, resulting in massive time savings. By outsourcing sub-areas to a managed service provider, you bring a great deal of expertise in-house. This allows you to focus entirely on your core business.
Areas of action of the managed service
1. access to experts and cost security
A professional managed services provider employs a team of certified experts for the challenges of information technology - from whose knowledge and expertise the commissioning company benefits: While managed service providers who accompany the digital transformation and ensure the regular maintenance of IT systems, the SME saves on personnel and system costs and relieves the IT managers. In this way, the services offered by the managed service provider increase the ability to plan personnel and IT costs. Likewise, the digital software solutions simplify the maintenance and updating of the IT systems and reduce the maintenance effort.
2. added value through automation and software solutions
In the course of digitization, software solutions are becoming increasingly important: In contrast to the classic hardware solution, software can be managed locally, which increases a company's flexibility and supports the scalability of the business model. In addition, the data produced allows in-depth analyses and provides a fast and reliable basis for decisions.
Thanks to machine learning, processes can be automated, service quality improved. Employees hand over time-consuming, repetitive processes and tasks to the computer and can fully use their competencies to meet the company's goals. A competent partner for managed IT services provides advice and support during the implementation of such digitization projects.
3. modernization of the IT infrastructure
Flexibility and agility is extremely important for small and medium-sized enterprises. Business requirements can change quickly and responding to them is often not easy and involves a great deal of effort. The cloud and the associated managed service, offers here the right cloud platform to respond exactly to such scenarios. The efficient, digital platform can be flexibly designed and thus meets the requirements for a dynamic, innovative and adaptable business model. During the transition to a digital, cloud-based platform, the managed service provider accompanies companies and helps to convert communication channels and work processes from the local environment to cloud services. Ongoing adjustments to current requirements as well as regular maintenance, optimization and management are handled by the managed service provider.
4. maximized security
Digital transformation not only brings opportunities, but also inevitably opens up new attack surfaces your IT security.
A managed service provider is prepared for this side effect of digitalization: With suitable expertise and a rapid response in the event of an attack, he minimizes the IT risks for SMEs. While accompanying the digital transformation of SMEs on the one hand, on the other, they proactively and continuously adapt security to new framework conditions and ensure the operational readiness of IT even during the transformation process.
Conclusion
SMEs benefit from the experience and expertise of a competent managed IT services partner in building a digitized business model. The managed service provider supports the transformation process with individual solutions, taking into account the needs of the company as well as IT security requirements. Choosing the right managed service provider is an important decision, because it makes a significant contribution to the future success of the company.