That's where IT comes in handy. Technology that can help unburden your team and reduce their administrative workload is a godsend. But it's also expensive, making the modern IT infrastructure many NPOs would need to realize their vision beyond reach.
Thankfully, managed services can help make that dream a reality.
A reliable managed service provider (MSP) can offer enterprise-grade IT services at more attainable rates. They offer service packages that can not only provide IT support for your NPO but also help secure your data from cyber threats.
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Managed IT Services is the process of delegating your IT tasks to an expert third-party organization that specializes in those responsibilities. These organizations are known as MSPs. They can take up anything from portions to all of your IT operations as agreed upon in your Service Level Agreement (SLA).
MSPs offer many different types of services. Some may specialize in or are better equipped to provide for a client's specific needs. It's never a one-size-fits-all because each organization is unique, and so is each MSP.
To select the one that would fulfill your organization's IT needs, you will have to determine your business objectives clearly. Setting defined goals will help you find the right IT support company to achieve them.
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MSPs with experience working with NPOs like yours understand the sector's unique ins and outs. In other words, they can help optimize your systems for critical functions like accounting, project management, document management, and more. That helps streamline your operations as it improves your ability to adopt new technology and boosts the performance of existing systems. In addition, hiring an MSP frees up your team to concentrate their efforts on taking steps to realize your organization's mission, instead of focusing on keeping the lights on.
A steady cash flow is crucial for NPOs that are already working with a limited budget. You need cash to reach out to new donors, keep current projects moving forward, and pay your staff. Unfortunately, getting full-time IT support will take a huge bite into your cash reserves. Managed services can help address that. They are often offered at fixed rates and predictable and scalable fees, depending on your organization's needs. The buy-in is also lower compared to building your own IT department from scratch, allowing you to keep more money in your reserves.
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Achieving your organization's goals is already a challenging task. However, unplanned outages and downtime can make it so much worse. They could potentially wreak havoc during key projects or cause you to lose donors and volunteers. A reliable MSP can help minimize downtimes with proactive maintenance that prevents tech issues in the first place. They can also help you recover from system issues much faster, effectively reducing delays.
According to a 2021 study by Accenture, the number of successful breaches — which include unauthorized access to data, applications, services, networks, or devices — is 31% higher than 2020 findings. Managed cybersecurity is a comprehensive solution that can help you address that. It's a holistic service that can effectively protect you and your data. That helps you keep sensitive and proprietary information safe, as well as prevent and mitigate costly security incidents.
Services like managed VoIP and cloud services can drastically improve communication and collaboration between your team and your clients. Those are vital capabilities that can help you make a bigger impact in the communities you serve.
Your technology can fail at any moment, derailing your projects. In those cases, you need an MSP that can offer you support 24/7 so that you can get your tech back online and your projects on time.
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When you hire a managed service provider (MSP) to handle your data and equipment, you're basically giving them access to your systems and data. While this is necessary for them to provide the best service, some organizations see it as an issue, especially if your nonprofit entity puts a premium on data security and control of information.
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MSPs may have a lot of security measures in place, but many cybercriminals make the effort to penetrate them. As mentioned, MSPs have access to your sensitive data. That means if a provider gets hacked, a cybercriminal could gain access to several organizations simultaneously. Ccases like these are few and far between but it has happened in the past.
Most MSP firms operate remotely. That means they don't provide an on-site IT team and will often handle issues online or via phone. The process usually involves calling someone or submitting a ticket, then waiting for MSP technicians to get back to you. In addition, if you do need a technician to be physically present, you will have to ensure the provider has a local site near your organization and wait for them to arrive at your location. An in-house IT will be able to handle those tasks a bit quicker as they are already physically there.
On the contrary, here are the possible reasons why an MSP may not be a good fit for you:
In this case, you may be better off on your own or benefit more from co-managed IT.
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All organizations want to cut expenses and save costs one way or another. The problem is spending less doesn't mean you're earning or saving more. That's especially true when it comes to managing your technology. With that in mind, you shouldn't think of managed IT services as a monthly expense but rather as an investment toward realizing your organization's mission.
Choosing an MSP is not a popularity contest. The biggest or most expensive one isn't always the best for your NPO. Instead, seek out the one that can meet your organization's needs. It's all about finding the right fit. What's best for some may not necessarily be the best for you. However, to help you make an educated decision, we've compiled a list of the basics that you need to look for in an IT support company.
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Managed IT services can offer a wide range of benefits for your NPO. It gives you the opportunity to outsource IT functions so that you can focus on realizing your vision.
At ITS, we make sure that we can meet our client's needs and ensure that we are a good fit for their business before taking on any project.
Want to find out if your NPO is a good fit for managed IT services? Schedule a meeting with us or fill out our form for a free tech assessment.
Managed IT services can offer a wide range of benefits for your NPO. It gives you the opportunity to outsource IT functions so that you can focus on realizing your vision.
At ITS, we make sure that we can meet our client's needs and ensure that we are a good fit for their business before taking on any project.
Want to find out if your NPO is a good fit for managed IT services? Schedule a meeting with us or fill out our form for a free tech assessment.
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