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On May 3, 2022
5 Reasons Why Your Startup Needs Professional IT Services
Start-ups and small tech firms have limited resources and little time to keep their businesses running smoothly. Even with a limited budget, these businesses often have no idea where to begin to keep their operations running smoothly. Many start-ups turn to professional IT services to help them get running as quickly as possible. Startup IT services have been around for a long time, and they’ve become a necessity for many businesses, no matter their size.
Cloud-Based Software – SaaS Management
Your startup probably uses a lot of cloud-based tools. Think Google Workspace, Office 365, TrackVia, and Dropbox, just to name a few. And while these cloud-based tools are great for keeping your business running smoothly, they can sometimes be difficult to manage.
That’s where a Managed IT Service Provider comes in. MSPs offer SaaS management services to help your business keep its cloud-based tools running smoothly and securely. SaaS management also helps startups keep track of all their SaaS subscriptions and ensure they have the proper licenses. Overpaying for software licenses is no fun, especially when you’re bootstrapping.
IT Infrastructure
Understanding complex network infrastructure is a core competency for any professional service provider. When start-ups don’t have the time to understand complex infrastructure or don’t have the resources to hire someone who understands it, they turn to professionals to help them with it. IT infrastructure is often confusing for start-ups with non-technical founders.
In addition, IT infrastructure has changed significantly over the past few years, especially for businesses that haven’t been around for a long time. The most important items that IT infrastructure encompasses are virtualization and cloud technology. Virtualization and the cloud allow businesses to remove physical servers and replace them with virtual servers. This reduces costs, eliminates backup issues, and allows businesses to scale up and down. IT infrastructure can also include network connectivity. Many networks have become so complex that it’s become almost impossible for businesses to understand their configuration. The explosion of mobile devices has also changed how IT infrastructure is handled.
Start-ups don’t have time or resources for internal IT infrastructure experts, but they need someone to keep the lights on. This is where managed services providers (MSPs) can help. MSPs are companies that provide outsourced IT infrastructure management services to businesses. They typically provide a wide range of startup IT services, including server and storage management, monitoring and support, virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and more.
Network Infrastructure
Whether it’s connecting your laptop or mobile phone, the network is the backbone of your startup. If your network goes down, so does your business. Many startups still choose to rent offices, in which case their network infrastructure has to be set up from scratch. This means setting up the network switches, routers, and firewalls. A trusted MSP can help you with this.
If your startup decides to work 100% remotely, you will still need a competent MSP to help you set up your network infrastructure. They can provide you with remote network monitoring, security, and support. You can also hire them to help with VPN connections and other remote access solutions.
Employee Training
Employee training is often a task that must be done by a business after it has expanded. But it’s an important task that must be done as part of the start-up process. If a start-up doesn’t train employees on new technologies and processes, they may become a liability to the business. This can lead to fines and other penalties if the technology or process is a legal requirement. Training employees on new technologies and processes can be challenging for businesses. It often requires time and effort, which many start-ups don’t have. But the benefits of training your employees far outweigh the costs.
Many MSPs offer employee training services. These services are often part of a managed services package but can also be purchased separately. Some MSPs offer online training, which is great for employees who work remotely or don’t have access to training facilities.
Training can vary greatly in price and length, depending on the size of your company and what you want to teach your employees. They are often priced per employee per hour. The cost of training may be one of the reasons a business chooses to outsource this task to an MSP.
vCTO Services – Investor Relations
When investors search for potential investments in start-ups, one of the areas they look at is your executive team. A strong and experienced team is crucial for any successful business, but finding and retaining the right people can be challenging.
Many small businesses struggle to find and keep the right people on their executive staff, so they may benefit from vCTO services. vCTO stands for Virtual Chief Technology Officer. These services offer small businesses the opportunity to work with an experienced CTO without worrying about hiring or retaining them full-time.
A vCTO works with your current staff to improve processes, solve problems and create new growth opportunities. They also provide insight into how your company can better position itself for future success. A vCTO’s knowledge and experience can help improve communication between departments within your business, improving efficiency and productivity throughout your entire organization. vCTOs can work directly with investors and boards, providing confidence in your company’s future and ability to deliver on its promises.
Bottom Line
Start-ups require a tremendous amount of creativity and drive. Startup IT services can help these businesses run as quickly and efficiently as possible. These businesses often have limited budgets, so they need services that can be provided by a one-stop-shop.
Many start-ups don’t have the experience to handle complex IT infrastructure themselves. They also don’t have the resources to hire someone with these skills. Startup IT services allow these businesses to get running more quickly.