Do Small Businesses Need IT Support?

With limited resources and smaller teams, it can be easy for small business owners to put IT support on the back burner. We get it, but in reality, it could make or break the livelihood of any business. When a major catastrophe arises, such as a company-wide server crash, emails going offline, or a major data breach, it's the worst time to realize that you need a preventative plan in place retroactively.

Unfortunately, that's when a lot of businesses do realize that they need some kind of tech support. The fact of the matter is, IT support is not just an option if you want your business to run smoothly—it's a necessity.

But why go with a flat fee, fully managed IT service like Ripple? Why not just use someone in the office to troubleshoot problems as they occur? Or maybe an hourly help desk service?

While it’s true that these solutions are better than nothing, having a dedicated team of IT experts watching over a company’s network decreases the likelihood of an emergency situation arising in the first place. Not only that, but when there is a big problem, knowledgeable IT folk can get you back on track without taking time away from your employees or you having to worry about the cost of being on the line with a “by-the-hour” IT service.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the reasons why managed IT services for small businesses are so important, as well as how these businesses can use a full managed service provider to keep people productive and ultimately grow the business.

1. Your Productivity is Your Company's Lifeforce

Office managers already have their day-to-day tasks to complete, so it's not sustainable or efficient to have them worry about small business IT support. Productivity can take a considerable hit when your employee's attention is divided between too many tasks. What they need to do to keep your business running smoothly and make sure everything is working properly can feel impossible when they have too much to worry about.

Obtaining the best IT support keeps your people doing what you’re paying them to do instead of fiddling with a malfunctioning printer or some software issue for an hour or more.

2. Keep Your Change

Constant hold-ups and wasting time on broken technology also cost money. The more smoothly things run, the more money is saved.

Not to mention, your organization could save a lot of money by not hiring an entire in-house IT staff. This may be feasible for large corporations, but it's exceptionally hard and not financially sound for most small businesses. 

When you have a dedicated team of professional IT staff, you can continue to grow your business, grow your profits, and maximize savings. Not to be cliché, but time really is money!

Here's what to look for as you narrow down your search for the best IT partner for your business.

3. Get a Professional Consultation

Simply put, small businesses that invest in IT—including getting consultation from experts in the field—are more likely to thrive than those that don’t. 

For this reason, investing in small business IT support should be a prerequisite for any business, no matter its size. IT solutions for computer software, hardware, and more recent innovations like VoIP phone systems and cloud storage are pretty difficult to understand unless you’re a certified IT technician. 

Most importantly, outsourcing IT support allows you to take a proactive approach so that you can avoid unnecessary downtime and ensure your strategic IT supports your business goals. 

4. Stay Secure From Anywhere

Security can be a big problem for many small businesses, largely because hackers know that most companies of this size don’t impose tough security measures. These security issues are even more of a problem now that most businesses are implementing work-from-home or hybrid work environments.

Many small businesses lack the knowledge about the potential security threats out there, or they perceive the cost of being protected to be too high. 

Furthermore, internet bots don’t care how small the business is. They’re just automated hacking programs going through a list. And if your server somehow makes it onto that randomly generated list, then the damage caused can be pretty extensive. Being up-to-date with security measures should be a huge priority for your organization, no matter the size of your business or whether you have a physical office.

And again, unless you’re in the IT industry, it’s near impossible to keep up with all the latest preventative measures, especially in this ever-changing, work-from-home environment. It's important to make sure your data is safe from wherever you and your team continue to work this year.

5. Keep Everyone Happy

When things work smoothly, everyone is happy. Work culture and employee retention is a huge part of keeping a business going, and if you're anything like us, your people are the most important part of your business.

We all seek to be happy, and happy employees lead to delighted clients. Delighted clients then turn into fans, and fans sequentially lead to more clients, which will probably make you happy, too! 

How Do Small Businesses Find IT Support?

We recommend looking for independent IT support companies that have a good reputation for flexible pricing, responsive customer service, and proven security measures and procedures. If you need help deciding on a small business IT support organization, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Ripple!

FAQ's

What is the average cost of IT support for small businesses?

The average cost of IT support for small businesses depends on location, needs, size of an organization, and many more factors, which makes it difficult for us to throw out a number for certain. The most important thing to consider when pricing out IT support is to do your research and ensure you’re entering into business with a reputable provider!

Should small businesses outsource IT support?

In our opinion, the answer to that is an absolute yes. It is essential for small, growing businesses to outsource their IT so as to keep their employees happy and their resources secure.