IT has become an instrumental asset for businesses no matter where they are today. From the heart of Birmingham to the quieter town of Lichfield, robust IT support coupled with IT services is essential for driving success, staying secure, and making your team’s and customers’ lives easier.
Technology is at the core of most modern businesses, and your IT support provider should be equipped to empower your operational success. In this blog, we’ll cover ten key IT services that your provider should be offering to your business in Birmingham or Lichfield.
1. 24/7 Monitoring and Support
A key part of keeping your tech running quickly, reliably, and securely is 24/7 monitoring and proactive support that addresses issues before they can impact your business. After all, disruptions don’t work a 9-5 schedule; they can happen at any time!
24/7 monitoring and proactive support are the keys to keeping your IT working securely and at its best. It’s a service that keeps a finger on the pulse of your performance and security vitals and keeps your business beating from day-to-day.
2. Data Backup and Recovery
Data is often described as the lifeblood of any business, and a data backup and recovery solution is your lifeline. Your IT service provider should offer comprehensive data backup and recovery services to protect your data from loss due to hardware failure, cyber attacks, or even human error.
Having a data backup and recovery solution in place enables your business to bounce back from the unexpected and reduces the probability and impact of data loss risks across the board.
3. Cloud Services
Many businesses are transforming their IT by embracing cloud apps and infrastructure that enable them to use the hardware, data storage, and workplace tools that they need in real- time without anywhere near as much of the complexities, costs, and hassle of physically running and maintaining them. The key? The hardware and software are delivered through an internet connection.
Cloud services enable your business to integrate its tools and data more together, scale seamlessly, and make adjustments to services such as the users and lines of a cloud VoIP phone solution at the push of a button. They also enable your business to reduce upfront costs and pay for what it uses monthly, which is often more precise and tends to cost less. Whether it’s cloud storage, cloud-based applications, or cloud servers, your IT support in Birmingham should be able to guide and manage your cloud needs.
4. Cybersecurity Solutions
Cyber threats are growing in both number and sophistication, and they are using scalable and increasingly accessible tools to target businesses of all sizes. Around half of cyber attacks target small to medium-sized businesses.
Many, but not all, IT providers have evolved their cyber security solutions to reflect these developments, but they are not equal in this. Fixed defences like a simple firewall, network monitoring, and antivirus solution no longer cut the mustard when it comes to security, so ensure that you have a provider that wraps around several layers of protection for your users, emails, devices, and network to keep your business secure.
5. Network Setup and Management
Your network is your digital foundation, and it sets the tone for the wider security, scalability, and performance of your IT environment. A well-configured network is essential for the efficient operation of any business.
IT support providers should offer comprehensive network setup and management services, ensuring that your network is optimised for both speed and security. They should also help you evolve your network in alignment with your wider growth plans.
6. Hardware and Software Management
From procurement to installation and regular updates, managing hardware and software can be a complex task. Your IT support should handle this, ensuring that all your systems are up-to-date with the latest software patches and hardware configurations. They should also be able to help you use the right hardware and software for your workplace needs.
For example, an architecture firm that works with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools will need workstations and data storage solutions that can handle very large amounts of data with efficiency.
7. Tailored IT Help Desk Services
Virtually every IT support provider offers a helpdesk service, but it’s crucial to get one that can meet your needs. For example, some providers outsource their helpdesk services abroad which can compromise the delivery of the IT support service, or they may not be able to meet different geographic and time-based needs for your business. It’s worth considering how well-tailored and effective your helpdesk service is in terms of its capabilities and availability.
8. IT Consultation and Technology Road Mapping Services
IT service providers are no longer reactive partners; they are now much more proactive! Look for an IT provider that can help your business navigate the wider tech landscape effectively: one that helps you prioritise the right IT investments, smoothly and securely roll them out, and keep your IT fit-for-purpose when it comes to your wider goals.
IT providers can help you do this by allocating a dedicated virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) to your business and consulting with you to create a realistic, tailored IT roadmap for your business. This enables your business to realise more value from its IT over time and keep it future-ready.
9. VoIP Services
VoIP phone systems enable businesses to conduct quality calling over an internet connection as opposed to traditional cabled lines, meaning that calling for a business is no longer bound to on-premise servers and expensive cabling and hardware.
This is why VoIP is one of the most profitable and common IT solutions on the market today, offering the capabilities of other phone systems with some extras such as app integrations with tools like your CRM and Microsoft Teams, as well as enhanced oversight and easy scalability.
An IT provider can help you to scope out if VoIP is right for your needs and goals, help you find the best VoIP solution for your business, and then smoothly and securely implement it and onboard your team so you can hit the ground running with it.
10. Compliance and Security Assessments
Regulators and the requirements they put on businesses for data protection are trying to keep up with the evolution of cyber security technology, which has made ensuring compliance a hot issue for businesses.
From general regulations and certifiable standards such as UK GDPR and Cyber Essentials to industry-specific ones such as the MHRA and SRA, businesses have an opportunity to ensure compliance and simplify it with the help of IT.
An IT provider can help your business assess its compliance posture and deploy a compliance management solution that streamlines compliance enforcement, monitoring, and reporting in your business, enabling you to manage compliance as your business grows with peace of mind.
Why IT Services Are Key For Your Competitive Advantage
The world of IT has greatly evolved from being largely just about having friendly techs you can call upon when things go wrong. It’s a strategic asset for beating the competition, delighting your customers, and scaling your business efficiently and securely!
This is true for almost any business in Birmingham, Lichfield, or beyond that has the opportunity to maximise the value that IT has to offer while increasing profitability and performance across the board. Has your business tapped into this opportunity to its full potential?
The key is to have an IT company on your side that understands the operational and strategic needs and opportunities that your business faces. One that can keep your business secure while driving your growth and competitiveness without compromising personal service to your team. Your IT provider should be able to create both solutions and smiles!
How to Find The Right IT Service Provider in Birmingham or Lichfield
If you’re looking for IT support services in Lichfield or Birmingham, you’ll want to consider providers that can meet a checklist of expectations and needs that you have. The first thing is to make this checklist to set a benchmark for comparing different IT companies.
You can look at this in terms of:
- The scope of their services: do they offer everything that you need?
- How proactive their support is: are they strong on ticket satisfaction, response times, and solution times?
- SLA and agreements: Do they offer good support standards and are their contracts clear, simple, and transparent in terms of how the services and fees are structured?
- Their specialisms: in terms of vendors, industries they work with, and services on offer.
- Social proof: do others echo what they say about themselves?
- Their culture and ethos: are they compatible with your business and your team?
- Cyber security & compliance: do they offer comprehensive solutions for protecting your business and assuring regulatory compliance?
Partnering with a comprehensive IT support provider is a powerful way to use technology to its full potential in your business. By making sure that they offer these 10 essential services, you’ll be well placed to maximise the fruits that you get from your IT both in your day-to-day work and across the wider strategic plans of your business, all while staying secure and able to focus without disruption on what matters most: delighting your customers!
Remember, your business deserves the best. Don’t settle for anything less than a provider who can partner with you to drive your business forward.
MT Services: Enabling Birmingham and Lichfield’s Businesses to Securely Thrive With Managed IT Support and IT Services
Since 1973, we’ve been delivering IT services to businesses in Staffordshire and Birmingham and have kept up with the times. As a technology partner, we take away the pains of IT management, cyber security, and digital transformation for our clients and help them unleash their potential with more productive, scalable, and secure IT that fits their needs, rather than the other way around.
Discover solutions and insights for your IT challenges today by booking a consultation with our team. All that we ask for our time – is yours! Better results for your business start with a conversation.
