How professional IT Support could make your business more profitable

Posted 28th May 2023

IT failures cause stress and cost your business time and money.

Ask any small business owner about IT, and they will shudder as they recall late nights in front of frozen screens, being taunted by cryptic error messages that lead to fruitless Google searches.

The unknowable number of wasted hours setting up staff email accounts. The failed software updates. The broken workstations preventing your team from being productive. The endless drudgery of running backups (you are running backups, aren't you?), the forgotten passwords and of course, the issue of the moment - remote working.

Do you run an IT company? Then why are you providing IT support?

As a small business owner, you belong to a group that consists of some of the most hardworking and passionate people we know.

You're so dedicated to your business; it can be difficult to switch off from it or recognise when you're sinking time into something that might be better left to someone else.

And for most small business owners, your attention could be focussed on something far more worthwhile than fixing computers, networking or handling cybersecurity... which, let's face it, is something you likely know little about.

Professional IT Support - A no-brainer.

We get that sometimes it is hard to relinquish control, but when it comes to outsourcing IT support, the numbers speak for themselves.

According to Cisco, businesses can see a potential increase of 50% in business efficiency by outsourcing their IT. Meanwhile, Datto put the average cost of downtime due to cyber-attack at around £33.7k.

Very quickly, the question becomes, what could it cost my business to not use professional IT support services?

Who to trust and what to look for in an MSP.

You've realised that the time is right to get professional assistance with your IT and cyber security. But now you're thinking who can I trust to handle this for me, and what should I be looking for in an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

The answer to these questions looks slightly different for every organisation. Some businesses want local, on-premises support from a team on their doorstep. For others, remote support is fine.

Either way, there are certain things that we advise you ask a prospective MSP about:

• Availability: Check when IT support will be available to your company. Ask them about their service desk hours and how you access their support. Do you submit email tickets? Are support teams available on the phone?
   
• Expertise: What skills, certifications, accreditations or specialisms does your prospective MSP possess. Do they align with your business requirements? Do they have things like ISO certificates to ensure they can do what they claim they can do?
   
• Packages and pricing: Do you need a fully customised IT support package, or does your MSP offer simple fixed-prices packages with all the services you need bundled for one fixed monthly fee? Are there any hidden costs such as software licenses, or are they included? It's worth remembering that you are currently paying for your software licenses separately anyway when considering any quotes.
   
• Reputation: How long has the MSP been trading, and are they experienced with supporting businesses like yours. Good IT support comes from years of experience and a team that is kept up to date on the continuously evolving technology landscape. Don't be tempted to put the fate of your business in the hands of your "uncle's mate who is good with computers."

An IT support company that ticks all the boxes.

How do we know what to look for in an MSP? We've been providing quality outsourced IT support to businesses just like yours for over 30 years, freeing countless owners just like you to concentrate on growing their businesses!

The LP Networks team always works hard to find and offer the latest services and products that are perfect for keeping our clients’ IT running safely and efficiently, but the backbone of all of our offerings is our IT Service Desk. 

As a Managed Service Provider, our Service Desk provides our clients with the expertise and knowledge of an IT expert at their fingertips. Open on weekdays from 8am to 6pm, our service desk team are available to guide our clients through any IT issues they may have, prioritising emergencies and getting them back up and running as quickly as possible.

One size doesn't fit all.

Because we understand that all businesses are different, the IT support packages we offer are customisable, meaning we can also provide extended service desk hours where needed. 

Having an IT expert at the end of the phone has a positive impact on all our clients. No matter the size of the business or the package they opt in to, our Service Desk comes as standard.

For our team, no question is a silly one, and no concern is ever considered pointless, meaning our clients can rest assured that they have a team supporting their IT needs and thinking of the next steps, so they don’t have to. Quite simply, our IT Service Desk lets our clients get on with what they’re good at. 

If you run a business, no matter if it’s a one-person operation or a large company, and would like to have a chat about how our Service Desk team can help your business, we’d love to hear from you.

Call 0800 970 8980 or email enquiries@lpnetworks.com to discover how outsourced IT support could make your business safer, more efficient and more profitable.

Download your IT strategy Guide Here

Being proactive with your IT and creating long-term IT strategy can provide your business with many benefits. Not only does it enable you to plan ahead, factoring in future costs that your business will incur, it also allows you to plan for potential catastrophic events such as natural disasters or cyberattacks.

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