Unexpected IT expenses can pop up at any time. From hardware failure to poor technical support, the high cost of managing business technology can take a toll on growing healthcare organizations. That’s why many practices outsource their IT operations to a team of technology experts at a managed service provider (MSP). According to CompTIA, an MSP can cut IT costs by as much as 40 percent while doubling operational efficiency.

What are managed IT services?

An experienced MSP is able to manage a variety of business technology services that can be customized to fit a practice's specific needs. They often include:

• Cloud solutions for storing electronic medical records (EMR) or data backups.
• Disaster recovery in case of a cyber-attack or a natural event like a hurricane or flood.
• Network infrastructure that configures and monitors firewalls, routers, switches, etc.
• Voice and collaboration tools that enable seamless and secure remote work.
• Security services that include threat detection and 24/7 monitoring.

Budgeting for IT

When a healthcare organization wants to reduce costs and gain budget predictability, an MSP can help. Here's a look at how managed IT optimizes your IT dollars. 

Fewer capital expenses. No longer worry about large capital expenses like replacing a dated firewall or communication toolset. For a set monthly fee, a managed IT company gives organizations of all sizes access to state-of-the-art infrastructure. This technology can easily scale up or down according to your practice's needs.

Reduce hiring costs. The cost of an in-house network administrator is prohibitive for most small- and medium-sized healthcare organizations. Salaries start at $65K, and that doesn’t include benefits and training. Plus, one administrator can’t be an expert in all things IT, so there will likely be additional IT needs. Practices get more expertise at a lower cost from an MSP than by hiring specialized employees. A well-rounded provider will have experts in networking, cloud, security, and more

Increase productivity. According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute. A recent report shows that more than 90% of employees say IT issues decrease productivity. An MSP improves efficiency by ensuring hardware and software are properly configured and patched with updates from the beginning. They make sure application servers and file servers operate in tandem and much more. An MSP also has an eye toward the future, advising you on how to avoid IT issues you might not see coming.

EVALUATION CHECKLIST

Looking for a managed IT partner?

Use this list of questions to compare MSPs and find the right technology provider for your practice.