All kinds of outsourcing have become more popular in recent years, and it is not difficult to see why. When it comes to IT, an increasing number of companies are now outsourcing their IT support needs to third party providers, with an eye to reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

While some businesses – and some employees – might be hesitant to adopt this approach, outsourcing IT support can actually benefit an existing in-house IT team. Here are some ways that outsourcing can help an in-house IT team, and maximise the potential of your business IT.

1. Specialisation and expertise

Outsourcing IT support to a dedicated IT service provider gives businesses access to highly specialised and experienced IT professionals. These professionals have a vast amount of knowledge, along with proper training and certifications, which makes them capable of handling highly complex IT issues that might be beyond the scope of an in-house IT team.

This is not to say that in-house IT staff will lack the skills, experience or expertise needed to perform their roles effectively. Rather, employees at an IT service provider will tend to have more recent experience across a diverse range of clients and industries. This allows them to apply the latest knowledge and practices to different scenarios, bringing a new dimension to the existing IT team.

2. Increased efficiency

Another benefit of outsourcing IT support is that it can increase the efficiency of an in-house IT team. While an outsourced IT company will generally not be as responsive to issues as your in-house team, they can handle the sorts of day-to-day tasks that can take up valuable time and resources, distracting your in-house IT staff from more important tasks.

With this burden alleviated, your in-house IT team can focus on more structural issues, such as developing strategies or handling any emergency situations that may arise. In addition, outsourced companies often have proven methods, processes, and tools that can be applied to your in-house IT work, helping to streamline operations and maximise productivity.

3. Reduced costs

When a company outsources IT support, it can save a considerable amount of money. Having an in-house IT team can be expensive, as it can take significant budgetary and personnel time to hire, train, and maintain an experienced team that can cover the full breadth of a modern business’ IT needs.

By outsourcing, a company only pays for the services they need when they need them. Rather than having staff on the payroll for jobs that may only need doing periodically, the external IT support team can be contracted to perform them on an ad-hoc basis. With your in-house IT team focused on recurring tasks such as maintenance and upkeep, you can limit the need for recruitment, and keep salaries for IT specialists down, which can represent a significant saving over time.

4. Enhanced security

Outsourcing IT support can also help businesses boost their security. Many third-party IT providers are focused solely on cybersecurity, and they are better equipped to prevent, detect, and respond to security threats. They can also implement security measures more efficiently and quickly than an in-house team, which may require additional training or equipment.

External IT service providers also commonly abide by cybersecurity standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus, or the more advanced ISO 27001. By outsourcing some or all IT security functions to a qualified third party, companies can ensure that they stay updated on the latest security measures and best practices, helping to reduce the risk of a security breach.

5. Flexible services

Finally, outsourcing IT support can provide businesses with access to a wide range of services, which can be fully customised to suit their individual needs. From cloud services to technical support and consultancy services, companies can scale up or down on demand depending on their business needs.

This flexibility provides firms with a better-controlled budget for their IT needs, without the fear of overinvesting or lagging behind in technological advances. IT investments can be pursued when you are ready and able to, in consultation with IT experts who will help identify when you need to upgrade, and what level of investment is required.

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Outsourcing IT services to a third party is not meant to replace an in-house IT team, but can instead complement and support it. By adopting this approach, companies can enjoy the benefits of cost reduction, enhanced security, expert-level support, increased efficiency, and a more customised IT service – all without sacrificing valued and experienced staff.

Businesses can leverage the knowledge of the third-party provider to empower their IT teams to be more productive, and focus on initiatives that can drive business growth. SotaSupport sets the standard for managed IT support, with a unique Indirect option tailored to work with, and supplement, your internal IT department. To support your in-house IT team and allow them to focus on other IT tasks, get in touch with our experts today.