What Are Managed IT Services?
What Are Managed IT Services?
Amie T. Geary of NBM Explains the Value of Managing the Complete Network Infrastructure
BURLINGTON, MA – August 2020 – A common theme among many small to mid-sized companies is their inability to micro-manage their network. These organizations are typically understaffed and lack the sufficient skill level, technological capacity or resources to keep their network operating in a fully optimized state.
Running an efficient network is not easy, especially with the convergence of equipment, voice, and data. Too often companies are caught up in day-to-day operations that mission-critical network maintenance and security management get overlooked. In today’s business environment, you can’t afford to let your guard down. There are too many threats and other issues that plague network integrity and performance. So what are companies supposed to do? One answer is to outsource the management of their network services to a qualified partner.
Essentially, managed network services are designed to assist companies in maintaining and supporting their network and IT infrastructure. Types of services may include remote network monitoring and reporting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, firewall monitoring, intrusion detection & remediation, patch assessment and vulnerability scanning, preventative tasks, disaster recovery, data backup and regular performance analysis. The strategic process was developed to give a 360 degree view of the network at all times to ensure optimal use. As we all know, the network is the backbone of a business and if it is not managed correctly employee productivity and profitability rapidly declines.
Therefore, outsourcing of a company’s network has a number of unique benefits. First and foremost, experts in the field analyze the network to develop a complete game plan. Modeling and simulation tools assess current network traffic and evaluate the performance of desired enhancements and upgrades to determine the most appropriate solution before implementation. The end result is a custom designed system that supports future growth and change through flexible and scalable network environments.
Above and beyond the installation, testing and training phases, the provider will remotely monitor the network from their Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC provides advanced network control, systems management and help desk operations to ensure optimal performance on a daily basis. This is a critical component because a network is so susceptible to change everyday. For instance, at one company two employees uploaded webcam software onto the network so they could watch their children at daycare. The live video stream shutdown the entire network and bandwidth destroying productivity for the day. Remote monitoring would have proactively identified the problem as well as the appliance causing the issue.
Ultimately, managed services gives small to mid-sized companies the ability to focus on their core competency, while feeling comfortable knowing that their network is being managed by a highly skilled team of experts focused on efficiency and productivity. This strategic process is a welcome relief for IT managers with understaffed departments. It also eliminates the stress normally associated with IT for owners and enables them to work on their business and not in their business.
ABOUT NBM
NBM is an award-winning technology provider of managed IT, managed print, and office automation technology to businesses throughout New England. A leader in the industry, NBM designs and delivers proactive and comprehensive IT solutions that simplify and leverage the latest technology and cybersecurity to accomplish specific customer business objectives. Celebrating its 35th year in business, NBM continues to provide outstanding customer service and innovative technology that enable organizations to focus on what matters most—running their businesses. Family owned and operated, NBM has locations in Burlington, MA, Boston, MA, Londonderry, NH, and Mansfield, MA. To learn more about NBM’s products, services, and support, please contact NBM at 781-272-2034 x1970 or visit www.nbminc.com.