Outsourcing is a popular strategy that lots of businesses are choosing for their IT.
Companies that do outsource their IT usually find they have lower operating costs, a more agile business, better security and a network that is more reliable than before. And because of this, the business case for using managed IT services is usually pretty strong.
That said, there are still barriers that some companies find it hard to move past. You might think that by putting your IT in the hands of someone else, you will lose all control over it. You might also be worried about security if you outsource; these are often the two main reasons given by businesses when asked why they don't want to outsource.
If you've been asked to create a business case for outsourcing your IT, it's really important you explain the benefits to stakeholders, but also, address the concerns they might have.
Your business case should focus on the key drivers of IT outsourcing: reducing complexity and cost. Here are seven more important points you could include which should help persuade the powers that be...
One of the most persuasive arguments for outsourcing IT management is that it gives you predictable spending. Having your IT support as an OpEx means that you can accurately predict and manage spending, as you're paying the same amount every month. This also gives you the freedom to spend on other areas of your business.
Outsourcing the important but routine (or even, mundane!) IT tasks, like system maintenance and surveillance, means your in-house team have the time and flexibility to add real value to your business! Let them use their talent to their full potential and work on high-impact projects, instead of troubleshooting all day!
There are lots of 'as a service' IT solutions around today. ‘As a service’ solutions are just like they sound; IT solutions which are provided to you as a service, so you have a defined service agreement and pay a monthly fee for it. Solutions that are provided 'as a service' are flexible and scalable, so you can create an IT infrastructure that is the perfect size for your organisation. Paying ‘per head’ for services means you only ever pay for what you use and can scale up or down depending on your needs.
If you have a high volume of users and use multiple applications in your business you probably have quite a complex IT infrastructure with the potential to fall victim to malicious threats. Because these threats are always evolving and changing, it can be hard for in-house teams to keep up with them. Outsourcing security to a managed service provider usually gives you a better level of security than you can achieve in-house, because they provide constant threat detection and the most robust security software around. Also, if the worst does happen and you are hacked or suffer a data breach, most MSPs can restore your files and data through daily backups. Since GDPR came into effect, it's more important than ever to make sure your network security is as good as it can possibly, and outsourcing does this.
Most managed service providers have lots of industry accreditation which let you know they are professional, regulated and meet certain industry standards. These qualifications will be kept up-to-date as part of you vendor agreement. Using an MSP that is industry-accredited means you'll have a team with expert skills and knowledge working on your behalf, which might not be the case if you use just your in-house team.
By outsourcing, you automatically share the risk of network downtime and the negative effective this can have on business operations. You also remove performance-related risks that come if a key team member leaves or is off work for a long time. This won't matter anymore, because you will always have access to the MSP team and their staff will be there to cover any eventuality.
MSPs invest a lot of money in the best software and technology, which you as their customer also benefit from. Software updates will be performed by the MSP as they become available, which saves you the time and cost of performing them yourself.
MSPs usually provide 24/7 technical support, so you can report issues whenever they occur - whether that’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon or 1 o’clock in the morning. Your Service Level Agreement will include the response and resolution times your MSP must meet, so you also have an estimated time-frame for when your issue will be resolved.
By outsourcing IT management, businesses can benefit from lower operating costs, an agile business, improved security, and a reliable network. This article outlines the key points to consider when creating a business case for outsourcing, such as predictable outgoings, more in-house resource, flexible and scalable solutions, and better security. With the right team or individual, businesses can ensure that the project is completed to the highest standard and the risks associated with outsourcing are minimized.
If it sounds like your organisation could benefit from outsourcing IT, there are lots of managed service providers that can help. You can find out more about choosing an MSP, here. You can also contact Core for a quick chat about the services we offer.