What Does IT Support do and Why Do I Need It?
You may have contacted IT support at some point in your professional or academic life. Maybe you forgot your username or password, or the document you sent to the printer didn’t come out, however many times you clicked print!
The technical support people work their magic and your problem’s fixed.
But have you ever wondered what IT support do, other than tell you to restart your computer or reset your password? Much of the behind the scenes stuff is very technical – you may even draw a blank face if we explained with all the IT jargon mixed in.
That’s why in this post we tell you what IT support does and why you need it, in a clear and easy-to-understand way.
What exactly does IT support do?
IT support covers a wide range of computer-related tasks, from diagnosing software and hardware faults to simply resetting a password. Day-to-day tasks of an IT support technician include:
- Managing IT jobs, often using a ticketing system to track changes
- Gathering information from users to resolve IT problems
- Providing maintenance to hardware and software such as updates
- Training other staff members
- Fixing urgent IT faults
An IT support technician will have strong technical skills and often hold a degree in a technical related field such as computer science or information technology. They will have excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
In-house vs outsourced IT Support
IT support can either be in-house, where a business hires IT staff to work internally, or outsourced to a third-party IT support company. Often businesses struggle to decide whether to outsource their IT or keep it in-house, but there are options to mix them both.
An IT support company can advise a business on what IT services will be most useful for their needs, taking into consideration costs, scalability and other factors. They can offer a range of cost-effective outsourced services such as virus protection, cloud solutions, wireless internet, hardware and software support, and much more.
An in-house IT team usually provides all the IT support required for a business. It can be a good option for companies with unusual setups and those looking for tighter control. However, hiring full-time internal IT staff can be expensive. It can also be too restrictive for companies needing 24/7 support and a range of expertise at their disposal.
Why do I need IT support?
You may wonder, do I really need IT support? If you’re a medium to large business, the answer is almost certainly yes. But even if you’re a small business, having a dedicated team of IT pros looking after your equipment can make everything function as it should.
Whatever size your business, IT support allows you to focus on your business and not on frustrating technical issues.
Here are some reasons you might consider using a managed IT support service:
Stay productive
Managing the various aspects of your business is hard enough without IT problems getting in the way. Productivity can take a real set back when IT faults occur and can affect everyone in the organisation. Being able to rely on IT experts coming to the rescue when things stop working gives everyone peace of mind.
Insightful consultations
There’s no getting around how complex IT can be to understand for anyone not in the field. Trying to figure out the best IT solutions for your business can feel like an impossible task. A managed IT provider can give you advice that’s tailor-made for your needs and explain things in a simple way.
Bulletproof security
Have you considered the real consequences of a data breach to your business?
98% of US businesses now operate online, and with web-based attacks on the rise, small businesses are especially vulnerable.
In fact, Cybint Cyber Solutions say 43% of cyber-attacks target small businesses, and 64% of companies have experienced web-based attacks.
IT support companies offer a range of cutting edge security solutions to meet all budgets and sizes such as managed anti-virus, best in class firewalls and 24/7 monitoring.
Are you thinking about IT support for your business? OSCS provides a range of managed IT services so your team can focus more on your business and less time worrying about IT problems.
Contact us today to find and how we can help your business transform.
