Tired of needing IT support?
Is your IT team overwhelmed?
Do you waste time waiting for your helpdesk to get around to your query?
Is your business struggling to keep up with new technology?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a Managed Service Provider.
With over a decade of experience providing fully comprehensive IT support across a range of sectors, Microbyte’s managed IT services can help take your business to the next level. It’s about more than IT support; it’s about enabling you to focus on what you do best.
Here’s what you need to know about MSPs and what we can do for you.
"Microbyte provide us with complete peace of mind by handling all of our IT and telephony requirements"
Justin Wing, Wings Skoda Find out moreWhat Is a Managed Service Provider?
Managed service providers (MSPs) are more than just an IT helpdesk.
Instead of fixing problems, MSPs actively work to prevent problems, resolve issues before they happen, and reduce the number of IT emergencies. Generally, MSPs offer a balance of remote, cloud-based support alongside in-person meetings and emergency solutions.
As an MSP, Microbyte has the team, technology, and expertise to help you implement a better IT strategy. We offer outsourced support and advice to help fix existing issues and plan for a better future. We can help your IT work better for you.
The Four Blocks of our Managed IT Services
You should never just fix a problem without working out how to stop it reoccurring, IT support is no different!
The Four Blocks (Centralisation, Support, NetAdmin and vITD) are absolutely critical in any business to make sure the IT works together and constant improvements are made.
Download our FREE PDF on how the four delivery areas work together as part of our Managed Service Provider services, why you need them, and how they work in the real world.
Watch our videos More information about our Managed IT Services
Taking Managed Services to the next level
Our managed services IT support packages offer a comprehensive approach to managing and monitoring your IT systems. Our years of experience have taught us that when we do our jobs properly, IT can be one of your business’s greatest assets.
We use our central monitoring hub to ensure that every aspect of your systems and networks is continually monitored to spot problems before you do. Helpdesks are also part of an MSP. However, unlike standard third-party helpdesks, we only use helpdesks for minor questions and issues that can be fixed fast. We don’t rely on a helpdesk for everything.
Microbyte MSP helps with:
Network Security: As your business grows and you add new software and connections, gaps can appear, leaving you open to cyber-attacks. Our monitoring and analysis can spot these holes and patch them up before criminals get access to your data.
Future Planning: Technology is continually changing, and keeping up with new software: knowing what’s worth investing in and what’s worth avoiding can be overwhelming. Our team of experts is always on hand to discuss your options and create an IT Roadmap for an easier, better future.
Day-to-day Support: We try to make sure the worst doesn’t happen, but when it does, we are on hand to help. From creating new users, updating software, and backing up data to implementing a new CRM and rebooting systems when they fail, we can work with you remotely or dispatch a team from our office to keep your business running smoothly.
Disaster Recovery: No one wants things to go wrong, and no one wants to be responsible when things do. We work hard to ensure disasters don’t happen, and when they do, we have the skills and expertise to recover lost data, reinstall systems and ensure you don’t lose out on opportunities.
Stamping Out Support
The Microbyte motto is Stamp Our Support.
This motto underpins everything we do. We aim to provide high-quality support that you don’t need to call in an emergency. When you’re in trouble, a helpdesk can be a great resource to fix an issue and get things running smoothly again.
But what if you never need an IT helpdesk again?
Sure, you might call a helpdesk when you accidentally delete a file or want help transferring a call from your desk to a conference room. But what if you never needed to call in an emergency because you never had another IT emergency?
That’s what we aim to do. As an MSP, we offer preventive IT support to monitor, analyse and fix problems before they occur.
Only Get What You Need
Many MSPs offer a set of packages depending on the size of your business, your daily support needs, and their existing technology and in-house expertise. Often, this means you end up paying for IT support that you just don’t use.
At Microbyte, we know that your business is unique. We understand that you have a unique relationship with your IT and that your business has very different requirements than anybody else.
We offer bespoke MSP IT services so that you only pay for the support you need and not the bits you don’t.
Looking For An MSP? Get In Touch Today
If you want to start outsourcing your IT or upgrade your existing support, get in touch with our team today. We can discuss your current IT architecture and your future plans to work out how we can support you in your success.
When you leave your IT in our hands, you can focus on building your business, connecting with new clients, and making the most of your opportunities. When we do our job correctly, IT should be the last thing on your mind.
So, if you’re constantly frustrated by your IT and want someone to take it all off your hands, get in touch below.
Managed IT FAQs
- What does 'Stamp out Support' mean and why do you talk about it?
We believe that IT support should be used for one-off situations that hopefully never occur more than once. If they do, it's our mission to make sure we put in place permanent corrective action (PCA) to ensure that particular problem doesn't waste everyone's time again. Our support staff are trained to spot recurring issues and work with experienced engineers to put in place measures that reduce downtime and annoyances. We take Managed IT Services SO seriously that we have a metric to measure exactly how much reactive support your company is using, and focus groups aimed to drive that number down. Although we will always deliver cutting edge support, our mission is to stamp it out everywhere possible so that same problem never comes back. - Does my NetAdmin handle my support tickets, or do I call the IT helpdesk? Although a NetAdmin is very capable of handling your IT support tickets, you will have the benefit of our entire experienced support team, reserving your NetAdmin for higher level queries and giving key insights into your IT standards. Your NetAdmin's role is primarily keeping your IT in standard, so that anyone of our team can support it and reserve his/her skills for more nuanced elements of your important network.
- Which time zones do you cover with your IT helpdesk? As a global Managed Services Provider, we cover all time zones and provide IT services to clients across the world including the UAE, USA, Europe and Australia.
- As a client of Microbyte can I buy computers myself to use at work? You can buy your own devices, but we would always recommend leaving that to us. Why? Because it's then ON US to make sure the devices are the correct specification, orders are managed end to end, fully documented and delivered on-time.
- Why do I need a VITD / vCIO and NetAdmin, can’t I just use your helpdesk? A vITD is just one part of a fully managed IT service. By solely using a helpdesk with no greater considerations for your technologies and business processes, you will always experience ever increasing levels of support. We want to help you to achieve the most out of your IT systems, not just patch them up. For this reason, we always recommend the Four Blocks of managed services.
- How can I plan my IT costs to know what I need to spend in my business? IT is integrated with business processes now more than ever. It is very difficult to plan your cash flow when you have unexpected costs arise from IT and that's why your technology roadmap needs to be in line with your budgets. Working with a Managed Services partner who understands your business and its requirements will allow you to build a sensible and realistic plan to ensure success. Also, the added value can be revealed, usually in the form of time-efficiences and less downtime - it's a win-win. Learn more about the Benefits of an MSP.
- Is your IT support really out of hours? Yes! This is genuine 24/7 support, not a 'we'll answer the phone in our pyjamas' operation. Our IT helpdesk engineers turn up on a shift basis to their desks and are ready for calls. That means your end users won't be speaking to a sleepy on-call engineer and you can rest easy knowing someone will pick up the phone when your engineers can't. You'll get a fully alert Microbyte member of staff who'll have all your client details on the system and will be ready to offer IT support at any time of day.
- Why do I need server and network monitoring? Monitoring is paramount to ensure the minimal response time when an issue occurs. With monitoring, your MSP can receive an alert the moment a critical service or piece of equipment goes down. This allows them to get on the issue as soon as possible, instead of waiting for users to report that a service has stopped working. This minimises down-time and loss of income for your business.
- Where are your technicians located? Our MSP techs are in Peterborough, London, and Dubai, with Dubai providing the majority of the global OUT OF HOURS support. We have also recently opened a new IT Support Los Angeles office.
- Is there an additional fee for Out of Hours support? Yes, but it also depends if you're just looking for emergency out of hours support or if you are a genuine 24/7 operation. Either way, all we charge is just 25% on top of our standard managed services cost.
Related MSP Blogs
Find out more about Managed ITWhy use a managed service provider
To fully understand if your business needs a managed service provider, you need to understand what they do and how they differ from other types of IT support.
Also known as MSP, a managed services provider is a third-party company that works with your business to remotely manage and monitor your networks, IT infrastructure, and systems. They are responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly, preventing errors, and ensuring your data is protected and adheres to official regulations.
Usually, you will agree on a level of service or support with the MSP, and then they can continually and proactively be in charge of your IT. Unlike traditional helpdesks, MSPs take a broader approach and work more proactively. However, many MSPs offer helpdesk services as a part of the support package.
An MSP is not an internal team, although they often work with internal IT teams to ensure consistency. As an external provider, an MSP will have its own staff and technology to work alongside your existing systems.
When should I get proper IT support for my business?
As soon as possible!
Unfortunately, there is rarely ever a single moment where a business owner or manager realises they need properly managed IT services. Usually, small problems, IT errors, mistakes, and complications build up over time until internal IT teams cannot keep up. The result is your IT department spends its time fighting fires and working on disaster recovery instead of preventing problems and working proactively.
Most people put getting proper IT support off for too long. In reality, if you have valuable data stored on any type of system, or an IT system is crucial for the day-to-day running of your business, you need managed IT support immediately.
Managed IT support packages can vary in price and coverage level, so you can opt for a package that suits your business needs. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and you may not need the same support as a multinational company.
IT support companies can build support around your needs from day one, and these services provide scalability as your business grows. We offer specialised Managed IT Services with a proactive approach to enable business growth.
What are the benefits of IT managed service providers?
When it comes to choosing a third-party provider, many people ask why you need managed IT services and what the benefits of managed IT services really are. If you are struggling with your IT or want to better understand the benefits of outsourcing your IT infrastructure and daily business operations, here are a few immediate benefits to consider.
Cost Savings and Predictable Costs
Managed service provider companies can discuss an appropriate IT support package with you in detail. You can set a budget, select the most suitable service solutions and save money by only paying for what you need.
By using a professional company, you can reduce the number of incidents and minimise downtown and error. In the long run, this results in long-term savings. Furthermore, an inclusive package helps control outgoing expenses with predictable monthly costs, so there are no surprises down the line.
Access to Specialised It Experts
Many businesses need diverse IT expertise to maintain their systems and stay ahead of the curve. Building an in-house team with the necessary skills and experience is both costly and time-consuming, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
With a Managed Services Provider (MSPs) businesses get access to a team of experts without the burden of hiring and retaining a full-time staff. MSPs manage their own team of highly skilled IT professionals with expertise in areas like network administration, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development, and more. This diverse pool of expertise ensures that businesses have access to the right skills to address any IT challenge at any time.
Improved Operational Efficiency and Less Downtime
With an external service provider proactively monitoring your systems from centralised data centres, every aspect of your supply chain can be monitored to prevent issues. This means less downtime at any point in the production chain to help save costs and cut wastage.
With every system working correctly and a managed network ensuring everything is running smoothly, your in-house team can focus on doing what they do best instead of wasting time and resources.
This operational efficiency extends to customer relationship management software. Ensure data is collected, stored, and communicated promptly for immediate order fulfilment and appropriate customer communication by letting a remotely managed services provider track and control your CRM software.
Increased Security
Working with a managed provider allows you to gain access to the latest software and best practices. MSPS strictly follow industry regulations from organisations like the PCI DSS and HIPAA, who set the standard for security.
In addition, MSPs use a secure data control system and offer regular and encrypted backups, so you can be sure that if the worst does happen, it will have a minimal impact on your business and customers. For any security breach event, having a professional team on hand significantly increases the chance of recovering lost data and protecting sensitive information.
Futureproofing Security Threats
MSPs in security truly shine in their preventive care for avoiding data attacks in the first place. A managed service provider conducts regular risk assessments to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities in their systems. This means weekly to monthly audits to ensure ongoing compliance with data security regulations.
And because these providers are managing so much data, they’re more likely to discover the newest kinds of attacks and neutralize them before they get worse. With an in house IT team, every month without an upgrade in security is a risk.
Potential scalability
Another benefit of using an external managed services partner is having support as your business grows. Your internal IT staff may be able to cope now but will struggle as your business grows. To help protect your business’s future, you need IT operations that can expand.
A managed services company can offer cloud computing and proactive monitoring to help plan your company’s future. As industry experts, we can provide advice on support when you add new systems to your secure infrastructure and will help keep your infrastructure efficient and effective as you grow.
Focus on Core Business Processes Instead
There’s a constant challenge of balancing operational efficiency, strategic growth initiatives, and the ever-increasing demands of IT management. Managing complex IT infrastructure, resolving technical issues, and keeping systems up-to-date is overwhelming, often diverting valuable resources away from core business activities.
Managed Services Providers (MSPs) enable businesses to outsource their IT operations and focus on their core businesses processed instead. This means filling up internal resources, streamlining operations, and accelerating growth strategies.
Is a Managed Services Provider worth it for small businesses?
Many small business owners are concerned that the cost of using a managed services provider for their IT isn’t worth it. But they couldn’t be more wrong in our opinion. The operational efficiency, cost-savings, improved security, and greater control over data and systems mean that all businesses should consider professionally managed IT services.
However, working with the right Managed service company is crucial. The managed services market is full of companies that won’t be right for your business. Since IT is a crucial part of any business, you need to take finding the right provider seriously.
Here are some things to consider when selecting your managed services provider:
- How much are you willing to spend each month?
- Do you want an all-inclusive package or perhaps just Supplementary IT support?
- Do they offer virtual services?
- Are their offices in a good location for your business?
- Can they work with existing internal IT staff?
- Do they offer any specialized services you may need?
- Do they offer remote monitoring?
- Do they operate within or have an understanding of your industry?
- Are their packages flexible/bespoke?
- Does their managed services business model fit your company?
When choosing to work with an external services provider, you should be sure they will complement your existing business. A reliable company will let you ask questions and will work with you to design a support package that is worth it and adds value to your business.
You don’t have to work with the first company you see.
Is an IT helpdesk good enough for business support?
Some businesses choose to use an external IT helpdesk. While this can be very useful for fixing minor problems, it is just one aspect of managed IT services.
You might call a helpdesk to help recover a lost file, set up an email for a new employee, or even help install new software. However, a helpdesk is not equipped to handle more significant issues such as security breaches, ransomware, and malware, and they won’t be looking to the future.
An IT helpdesk is a valuable part of managed IT services, but it is only one part and cannot be relied upon to fix every problem. Every business should be looking to resolve issues before they happen, plan for future technology, and look at what could be improved. In this capacity, an IT helpdesk is not enough.
That’s not to say IT helpdesks aren’t necessary. In fact, to help things run efficiently, many MSPs will offer a helpdesk as a part of their services. This means people with a wider understanding of your business IT systems handle daily issues and minor complaints. The result is the helpdesk can make more fixes without impacting the broader system.
How will managed IT services support my small business?
To feel secure and safe in your IT system, you need professionally managed IT services. Usually, this encompasses four sections; the helpdesk, centralization, admin, and VITD.
By taking this thorough approach, you can be confident that someone is looking after your systems now and preparing for the future. You can still call the helpdesk when things go wrong or you need help setting up a video call. But with better data management, increased security, and improved communication, you’ll find fewer things go wrong.
And if the worst does happen, you know you’ve taken every step possible to protect your data and business. More than peace of mind, this means your business won’t fall foul of data protection laws. Get started today.
Managed IT service providers can tailor their services to suit your business. So there really is no excuse to rely on a single helpdesk for all your IT needs.
In the end, an MSP or any IT services provider should support your business in a way that you need support. You may use systems differently from competitors and require a specific level of support. You can create service-level agreements to suit your needs.
At Microbyte, we believe that by offering high-quality managed services for you, we can stamp out emergency IT support. When you work with an external company, you should see fewer data breaches, increased security, less downtime, and more fluid IT systems.
The right managed service provider will help your business and make your life much easier.