7 Costly, Common Misconceptions About I.T. Services

Managing security, data storage, network connectivity, and everyday problem solving is a difficult task for any I.T. department—especially if it only consists of one or two people. Many small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can benefit from managed services, but they could be putting off making the switch because of misinformation.

If you’re considering partnering with a managed service provider (MSP), you’ve probably heard these common misconceptions at one point or another:

Network Downtime Is Inevitable.

If your business is using outdated network equipment, you probably know the cost of downtime—not to mention repairs whenever something goes wrong. Being blindsided by a lack of network connection isn’t just frustrating; it’s expensive. According to Gartner, the average cost of I.T. downtime is $5,600 per minute.

However, with an MSP, you can have guaranteed uptime of as much as 99.9%, as well as 24-hour network monitoring that alerts you to problems before they impact your business.  Managed service providers can also use the information they gather about network usage to optimize your network, making downtime a thing of the past. 

My Business Is Too Small to Be a Target for Hackers.

It’s tempting to think that your small business will fly under the radar, but unfortunately, hackers often explicitly target smaller companies due to their relative lack of security measures. A recent report by Verizon showed that nearly half of all data breaches target SMBs—and many businesses simply cannot afford the loss of brand reputation and revenue associated with being hacked.

I.T. departments at small to medium-sized businesses are often stretched thin, focusing more on keeping things up and running than making sure data is secure. As a result, preventable security breaches wreak havoc with businesses that can’t afford to bear the cost.

I Can’t Afford Cloud Services.

If you store data on in-house servers and hard drives, it could be vulnerable to hacks, disasters, and outages. The cost of losing the information stored on these devices is often catastrophic for a small business. Conversely, switching to secure cloud hosting with an MSP can easily be planned for is part of an affordable monthly cost in your I.T. budget.

Managed services provide more than just storage, as well—disaster recovery is another vital component of the services MSPs deliver. With a disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place, your business can withstand a data breach or equipment failure that might otherwise prove to be fatal.

If Someone Has Hacked My Network, I’ll Know About It.

This is true in some cases, such as ransomware attacks in which hackers extort money from their victims to restore access to their computers and files. However, PC World reports that in many cases, a network could be compromised, and you wouldn’t have any way of knowing.

For example, a computer could be turned into a spambot, launching hundreds of unauthorized emails and participating in DDoS attacks without your knowledge.  Malware often disables antivirus software and automatic updates so it can run on your system unobstructed, preventing you from detecting it. 

There are a few indications to look out for if you suspect your device has been compromised. For instance, if your computer has become suddenly sluggish and takes a long time to start up, it could indicate the presence of malware. Fortunately, managed services can help you avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime with security awareness training and risk assessment.

I Don’t Need an MSP—I Know How to Avoid Phishing Attacks.

One of the most common forms of cyberattack used against small to medium-sized businesses is phishing, the practice of sending emails designed to get users to click malicious links, divulge personal information, or download software.

You might have heard that pasting a URL from an email into your browser rather than clicking it will keep you safe from downloading malware, but that’s no guarantee your information will be protected.

Entering URLs into your browser will not defend against pharming, also known as “domain name poisoning.” In this type of attack, a URL is intercepted and redirected to a fake site—often impersonating a financial institution—designed to get you to enter personal information.

Cybercriminals are developing new ways to get unsuspecting users to hand over their information every day, making it difficult to stay on top of security best practices and run a business at the same time. With an MSP, you can be confident that you’re taking proactive steps to safeguard your business against hackers—while focusing on running your company.

Transitioning to an MSP Will Cause Turmoil Within My Company.

Moving to managed services is a big change, but it doesn’t have to cause friction. A strong service level agreement (SLA) and clear expectations will go a long way towards making sure everyone understands their new roles.

Often, existing I.T. employees are actually relieved at being able to focus on much-needed optimization rather than mundane tasks like help desk requests. In fact, most of your employees will not have any need to interact with the services an MSP provides, such as data storage and network monitoring, so there should not be any significant speed bumps on the path to transition.

My I.T. Team Will Lose Their Jobs.

This is a pervasive myth about managed services, but it’s simply not true. A recent survey by CompTIA showed that only 6% of companies that contracted with an MSP let their in-house I.T. department go.

 In fact, in many cases, an MSP causes little change in day-to-day operations, since most companies use them for tasks like data storage, disaster recovery, network monitoring, and security. Rather than threatening their jobs, an MSP allows I.T. workers to prioritize necessary improvements and upgrades.

Transitioning to managed services can help your SMB grow sustainably and meet any challenges that arise in the future. For more information about how managed services can help you reduce your company’s I.T. expenses and improve security, call 844-44-JMARK, email us at jmarkit@JMARK.com or use the Contact Us page of our website.