There are many benefits of 24/7 IT support for SMEs, as part of a suite of managed IT services that can be tailored to the specific needs of the business.
In a perfect world, nothing would go wrong with IT systems. But even then, SMEs would still need help when installing new servers and workstations during times of expansion, and when making upgrades to keep computers up to date.
With this in mind, there is a long list of benefits from round-the-clock IT support across a number of different areas, for example:
- Availability: Keep IT systems online and running correctly day and night.
- Reliability: Minimise avoidable losses due to IT infrastructure downtime.
- Security: Proactively protect data and take steps to recover from cyber attacks.
If you’re a small business and wondering if 24/7 IT support is necessary, this guide is for you. We’ll take a look at some of the biggest benefits of 24/7 availability and how these contribute towards the business case for investing in this kind of IT partnership. Let’s dive in.
1. 24/7 IT support keeps your business competitive
The at-all-hours nature of 24/7 IT support is exactly why it helps to give your business a competitive advantage.
It’s different from managed IT, although there is some overlap. Managed IT services are an ongoing, outsourced contract, whereas round-the-clock IT support is there when you need help with a problem you’re facing in-house.
This allows you to learn from your experiences of IT, both good and bad, to reduce the chances of the same issues arising time and time again.
Ultimately, one of the biggest benefits from an always-on service is effectively cancelling out any downtime. By responding quickly to support requests, systems can be brought back online as soon as possible, so you don’t lose that competitive edge over your rivals.
2. Delayed responses can impact downtime
It goes without saying that the longer it takes to respond to an outage, the longer the downtime that will be experienced. However, there can be more to it than that.
For example, if a problem arises from corrupted data, a failing hard drive, or the introduction of malware on your network, a fast response can have a material impact in terms of saving more of your data from damage.
If you already have managed IT services in place (or you plan to enter into a managed IT contract) you might be question whether 24/7 support is really necessary.
We addressed this in our article Five Common Managed IT Myths Debunked. Outsourced managed IT services don’t mean you can’t also benefit from round-the-clock reactive support.
By combining the two, you get the best of both worlds: minimised IT management burden, with on-site and remote tech support when you need it most, no matter when that is.
3. 24/7 IT support protects your business in and out of office hours
Remember, 24/7 IT support includes the daytime too. It’s not just an out-of-hours helpline.
Downtime during office hours can be even more costly, as it prevents your employees from being productive at a time when you’re paying them to be there.
Having a professional IT team on hand at all times, day and night, gives your business the maximum level of protection against human error, mechanical failure and malicious attacks.
It’s just one example of how an IT company can help smaller businesses, who are much less likely to recover from a substantial period of downtime due to the much greater impact of any loss of productivity and earnings.
4. Customer satisfaction benefits from uninterrupted support
Another angle to help form the right decision on this level of IT service is to approach things from your customers’ perspective. Modern consumers want confidence in the brands they use, and in the security of their data.
Businesses with a website or app may find that there are no longer any times of day or night when downtime is acceptable, or when customers will not notice an outage.
That’s why the speed of response is one of the key cyber security questions to ask your IT provider, so you know that remediation measures will be implemented as soon as possible, even in the middle of the night.
Uninterrupted support improves your chances of offering uninterrupted service to your clients, allowing your business to generate revenues around the clock.
5. Reliable and consistent IT support helps fuel your business growth
In the end, it’s all about fuelling growth. You want to maximise your profits and minimise your losses, and the key 24/7 IT support benefits help you to do exactly that.
Some of the biggest benefits of round-the-clock IT support include:
- Get support when you need it, day and night.
- Gain a competitive edge over rival businesses.
- Minimise downtime to satisfy night-owl customers.
- Keep systems online to avoid losing revenues.
- Maximise customer satisfaction via online channels.
We understand that investing in outsourced IT support can be challenging, especially for new startups. That’s why we tailor our IT services for small businesses to suit your company, so you’re not paying for services you don’t need.
What you need, when you need it – and fast. That’s what makes 24/7 IT support as valuable for SMEs as it is for multinational corporations, and a worthy investment to drive your growth in an upward direction at all times.
