SME IT on a Budget: How Outsourced Support Can Slash Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

Does size matter? Is it the number of employees or turnover that dictates whether outsourcing IT support is cost-effective? Or does outsourced support provide the stability and enterprise-grade service businesses of all sizes need?

As a managed IT provider, E2E Technologies works with SMEs of varying sizes and turnovers to provide a proactive, agile and cost-effective service based on IT expertise and earth-shatteringly good listening skills and business acumen.

Does this cost? Of course it does, but how does it compare with the cost of handling IT inhouse? And is outsourced IT of equal quality?

We know E2E customers value, and benefit from, the managed IT services we provide. Let’s look at how outsourced IT support can slash costs without sacrificing quality.

Reduction in labour costs, including training

Let’s not beat around the bush, an in-house IT team is expensive. Experienced IT professionals quite rightly demand salaries appropriate to their skillset, on top of which is employer National Insurance, career development and benefits.

An IT department needs to be ready for all eventualities. Having the right level of staff to deal with peaks and troughs can be very difficult; there is the risk they will be underproductive and stretched beyond capacity at different times. Do they have the knowledge and resources to quickly resolve an unexpected incident?

Training is also a significant cost, particularly given the speed at which technologies evolve and the range of IT knowledge a team needs to cover. What happens when trained staff leave? They take that training with them, leaving you back where you started.

Minimised downtime

Even the most profitable SME is unlikely to afford an IT team with broad enough expertise to respond to all possible incidents, or proactively prepare in case a particular issue arises. The downtime that such scenarios cause can be damaging to a business, impacting productivity, client goodwill and its overall reputation. Constantly working on preventative maintenance is key to avoiding downtime, but this requires the resources most SMEs don’t have.

An outsourced, managed IT team can draw upon its diversity of expertise and access to the latest technology to respond to incidents and manage preventative maintenance so that the impact of downtime is minimised.

Fixed costs vs variable/unpredictable costs

When it comes to budgeting, SMEs benefit from the peace of mind of fixed costs, rather than coping with expenditure that hasn’t been forecast and is damaging to cashflow. Businesses with outsourced IT support can allocate a regular fixed cost each month, with any excess capital ringfenced for long-term investment in new technologies and innovation.

Protection against cyberattacks

SMEs are having to focus more on protection against cyberattacks, data breaches and malware than ever before. Cybercrime is causing devastation across businesses of all sizes. High profile cases we hear about are just the tip of the iceberg. Whereas SMEs once considered their data and systems unattractive to cybercriminals, they are now very much aware of their vulnerability to attack.

For an inhouse IT team, protecting a company against cyberattacks is a necessary drain on resources. Cybercriminals are ahead of the game, using new software and scams to infiltrate company systems, with devastating results. An outsourced managed IT company has experts working on cybersecurity every day, updating clients’ software to protect them against future threats.

At E2E Technologies, we also carry out regular security audits on behalf of customers which identify where there may be vulnerabilities so that interventions can be implemented. This gives company directors, employees and their clients the peace of mind that data security is maximised and routinely maintained.

Scaling up or down

Scalability is critical for growing businesses. Flexibility in swiftly increasing users, and introducing new software to accommodate a change in focus or sudden growth, are key. Likewise, during a quiet or uncertain period, a business should be able to quickly react and save costs.

As a business scales up or down, the flexibility and agility of remote IT support comes into its own, with services being seamlessly adapted to manage change. Recruiting inhouse IT teams is expensive each time the business needs to scale up. It is also costly and difficult to cut teams down when needed.

Whether it is scaling up or down, a business with outsourced IT support will only ever pay for what they need.

Software updates and latest technologies

Managed IT packages generally include the continuous implementation of software updates and access to the latest technologies, removing the need for customers to purchase and store equipment, or assess the efficacy of the latest software for their business.

E2E Technologies is constantly monitoring the latest technology, software and innovations, understanding how each new development could benefit every customer. Based on our assessments we make recommendations and implement changes quickly. By working with businesses from across various industries we have a helicopter view that inhouse teams, focusing on internal IT systems only, don’t have the resources to research and implement.

Compliance

IT services are subject to a raft of regulations and internal rules relating to aspects such as how technology is used, data security (GDPR), access control, industry standards and incident response. Non-compliance can be costly to SMEs due to financial penalties and reputational damage.

The E2E Technologies team has a full understanding of IT and data compliance, and is constantly reviewing changes to regulations, licences and certified services to keep customers compliant.

We evaluate complex regulations, install proactive security measures, automate processes for audits and reporting, build disaster recovery and backup measures, and mitigate risks, all of which are key to remaining compliant. We also offer training for employees so that they have compliance and security protection in mind when completing tasks.

Speak to E2E about managed IT support on a budget

If you’re looking for a reputable managed IT partner, get in touch with E2E Technologies to discuss how outsourced IT support can slash costs without sacrificing quality.