As companies grow in both size and in the scope of their IT Network infrastructure it becomes important for them to be intimately aware of the health of each machine on their network. This can be a complicated process for most companies, as it can require IT professionals to log in to each machine, monitor the log files, look at the fragmentation of drives, etc. If you have a large network with numerous servers and workstations it can become cost prohibitive and be a major draw down on resources.
The solution to this conundrum is from a service known as "Managed Services" or "Network Monitoring Services" - these services are generally provided by outsourced IT agencies, where they are able to install monitoring tools that report back to the IT company the health details of each machine on the network. This gives them the ability to remotely administer updates, patches, defragmentation, network diagnostics, process bottlenecks, license renewals, and many other valuable metrics for server and network health.
Using managed services provides companies with a proactive methodology for maintaining network health. Studies show that this process of intervening and monitoring prior to a critical failure leads to shorter down-times, faster overall recovery and progressive strategy that does not take away from the core functions of the small business.
For many small businesses it is unlikely that they have a staffed IT professional within their office, opting instead to outsource to an IT company that handles many of the expansion and "break-fix" repairs of their equipment and systems. Though this seems like an effective way to keep costs down, most companies do not factor in the lost revenue associated with critical systems failures and higher price tags connected on-site support. Imagine an automobile that you have never taken to have a tune-up or oil change. After a while, simply operating the vehicle can cause the car to fail. Once this happens you end up taking it to the shop and having to replace components that would have otherwise not been destroyed, had the car simply been well maintained. These repairs often cost much more money than a simple oil change, and result in greater downtime (parts must be ordered or repairs take longer). In much the same way, your computer and network infrastructure is your vehicle. Abuse it, or ignore the maintenance and you will end up paying more for things in the long run.
So what is the middle ground? How do you proactively protect the health of your network while keeping the costs within check? There are several ways that companies can effectively take advantage of Managed Services. Most IT companies that provide Managed Services, or Network Monitoring provide different service levels. The lowest generally being a simple monitoring service- They notify you when there is an issue or a serviceable item. You can choose whether to have the IT Company address it and then bill you for the time or to ignore that particular issue. This is the simplest form of network monitoring, and is generally a rather cost effective way of staying aware of your systems health.
The next tier offered will often have several health components monitored and automatically fixed. This can be an excellent entrance into Managed Services, because the IT Company will handle the majority of the issues on your computer system without you having to be involved in the processes, and by doing so you will not have to endure downtime, or can be prepared for system failures and take proactive steps to minimize or eliminate the issues (drive failures, equipment failure, etc).
The top tier Managed Services will generally have included remote support or help desk services, allowing unlimited remote support of the network and computer systems. This can be an excellent way for small businesses to have the benefit of an IT professional without the sizable annual salary of an on-site IT professional.
No matter what your situation or circumstances, it is always a good idea to be as proactive as possible within your business means. It is always easier to handle an issue before it spirals into a critical failure.
The solution to this conundrum is from a service known as "Managed Services" or "Network Monitoring Services" - these services are generally provided by outsourced IT agencies, where they are able to install monitoring tools that report back to the IT company the health details of each machine on the network. This gives them the ability to remotely administer updates, patches, defragmentation, network diagnostics, process bottlenecks, license renewals, and many other valuable metrics for server and network health.
Using managed services provides companies with a proactive methodology for maintaining network health. Studies show that this process of intervening and monitoring prior to a critical failure leads to shorter down-times, faster overall recovery and progressive strategy that does not take away from the core functions of the small business.
For many small businesses it is unlikely that they have a staffed IT professional within their office, opting instead to outsource to an IT company that handles many of the expansion and "break-fix" repairs of their equipment and systems. Though this seems like an effective way to keep costs down, most companies do not factor in the lost revenue associated with critical systems failures and higher price tags connected on-site support. Imagine an automobile that you have never taken to have a tune-up or oil change. After a while, simply operating the vehicle can cause the car to fail. Once this happens you end up taking it to the shop and having to replace components that would have otherwise not been destroyed, had the car simply been well maintained. These repairs often cost much more money than a simple oil change, and result in greater downtime (parts must be ordered or repairs take longer). In much the same way, your computer and network infrastructure is your vehicle. Abuse it, or ignore the maintenance and you will end up paying more for things in the long run.
So what is the middle ground? How do you proactively protect the health of your network while keeping the costs within check? There are several ways that companies can effectively take advantage of Managed Services. Most IT companies that provide Managed Services, or Network Monitoring provide different service levels. The lowest generally being a simple monitoring service- They notify you when there is an issue or a serviceable item. You can choose whether to have the IT Company address it and then bill you for the time or to ignore that particular issue. This is the simplest form of network monitoring, and is generally a rather cost effective way of staying aware of your systems health.
The next tier offered will often have several health components monitored and automatically fixed. This can be an excellent entrance into Managed Services, because the IT Company will handle the majority of the issues on your computer system without you having to be involved in the processes, and by doing so you will not have to endure downtime, or can be prepared for system failures and take proactive steps to minimize or eliminate the issues (drive failures, equipment failure, etc).
The top tier Managed Services will generally have included remote support or help desk services, allowing unlimited remote support of the network and computer systems. This can be an excellent way for small businesses to have the benefit of an IT professional without the sizable annual salary of an on-site IT professional.
No matter what your situation or circumstances, it is always a good idea to be as proactive as possible within your business means. It is always easier to handle an issue before it spirals into a critical failure.
Ian McCain
AM Data Service, Inc.
32233 Schoolcraft Rd.
Suite 101
Livonia, MI 48150
http://www.amdataservice.com
http://www.amdataservice.com/managed-services.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=I_S_McCain AM Data Service, Inc.
32233 Schoolcraft Rd.
Suite 101
Livonia, MI 48150
http://www.amdataservice.com
http://www.amdataservice.com/managed-services.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6534221
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