So, you play the French horn? Managed Services and Managed Service Providers like BastionpointTechnology are a great opportunity to listen to the entire band play. For example, I personally think it’s cool and all if you can play any kind of instrument because… quite frankly, I can’t. From dating someone who is musically inclined the French horn can be a beautiful instrument on it’s own -but after hours and hours of play, you begin to get the same feeling of “here goes that horn again.” It’s the same for any instrument really, but when you can bring together multiple instruments, think of the variety of different things you can play as well as learn from one another.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to bring a marching band to your office, but I wanted to put it into perspective from an IT Standpoint with something most people can relate to. For example, when it comes to IT Support for your SMB, do you gravitate towards a “tech wiz” for your IT support? Lots of Companies grab for the youngest person in the room when it comes to the battle of the tech bulge. This often works great with cell phones, but when it comes to your business, you should probably be taking a more proactive approach to security and infrastructure for growth. We all know that once problems begin, we also tend to scramble and reach out to those who we think can help us the most, and often that introduces the “I know a guy.” Not much different from the “tech wiz”, but these persons may already do some level of programming or day to day computer operations for another smaller or mid-size organization, or they are a one-man show that can be spread too thin to accurately fix your issues, especially if they continue popping up and in a timely manner.
Maybe your business is doing well, and you decide it’s time to hire a full-time IT guy, or an IT Department. Perfect! Except when it comes to time off, new personnel, managing responsibilities, and limited flexibility. A prime example is what if your need is heavy right now, but very slow for the other 7 months out of the year? You can’t continue to hire and lay-off, trust me it will drive you crazier than your IT issues! That’s a losing combination for any company. Some people decide to take their issues online. Not too bad if you know what you are looking for, but maybe you run across that “Online University Computer Repair Grad” or an “Online Expert” -do you really have time to drudge through what’s real and what’s fake out there? Both types are usually filled with non-relevant information to fit your exact business need or have colleagues to lean on for a broader depth of discovery. (Hit the music!)
This brings us to Managed Service Providers. MSP’s give you an option that ends up being the best of both worlds: the professionalism of a dedicated IT department with the freedom that comes from hiring a single contractor. You hire the company, not individuals, so there are no HR issues to worry about.
Here at Bastionpoint, we offer comprehensive Service Agreements where, once everything is set up, you pay a monthly fee, (usually less than the cost of one full-time IT person), and we come in on an as-needed basis to resolve any issues that may arise. Plus, we also monitor and remediate your site around the clock. That’s something most small to medium businesses cannot afford. We are business technology experts and focus on educating ourselves on the latest, ever-changing technology landscape. When you have an MSP in place, you can take IT off your plate and focus on your area of expertise, and we can focus on ours. This is a partnership for success. If you want to continue to play in churches or coffee shops or sell-out venues -the choice is yours. If you truly want your business to grow, using an MSP can help your organization make beautiful music for not only yourself but others.
Chief Information Officer / vCIO
I provide CIO and IT Support Services alongside a mid-sized technical support team of engineers for business. Bastionpoint Technology is a managed service provider for businesses ranging from 1-500 users! We specialize in Legal, Medical, and Professional services, but support so much more. Retail, Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Non-Profits, and you’ve certainly heard of our clients. We offer unlimited on-demand services, with an on-demand price point to meet every client’s needs. Just call on us – we put your business first!
