Top reasons to shift to a managed network services approach  

The network is the key foundation of most businesses today. Yet, the ongoing need to access extra capacity and tap into new functional capability, coupled with budgetary pressures and a lack of in-house technical expertise mean that many organisations reach the point when managing their own networks is no longer viable.

Today, the drive for extra capacity and capability and the ongoing pressure on cost control are increasingly demanding a new standard of network provision. That’s why many organisations are opting for a managed network service approach that enables them to focus on their core business in the certain knowledge that their communications infrastructure is in safe hands.

So, why should businesses be looking to shift to managed network services and what are the key benefits they are likely to attain from doing so?
Access future proofed services using best of breed technology - Leading managed service providers must use the best technologies and equipment on the market to deliver services. IT services are continuously upgraded with no additional cost or financial risk to the business itself. This means that the company itself never has to worry that its managed IT services will become obsolete.

Moreover, managed services providers are typically best positioned to deliver the high-speed and high-capacity next generation networks that provide the infrastructure over which the business can provide the latest feature rich voice and data services allowing them to differentiate themselves and stand out from the competition. They are also ideally placed to deliver a wide range of connectivity options enabling businesses to connect all their locations and drive more effective internal communications.

Achieve low capital outlay and predictable costs – For any business building its own network, the investment in specialist hardware and software is likely to high and we would expect to see it skyrocket over time. A managed service in contrast, will typically offer the highest-quality enterprise and carrier grade solutions to customers at competitive prices. Fixed monthly payment plans mean that customers know exactly what they are going to get and how much this will cost over the course of the contract without having to worry about unexpected upgrade charges or sudden changes in fees.

Refocus your core team - By outsourcing the running of your network to a highly-skilled expert third-party IT team, you not only gain the peace of mind of knowing your network is in good hands and is being proactively managed and maintained, you also have the opportunity to refocus your own in-house IT team away from simply keeping the lights on and making sure the network is up and running, to concentrate instead on advancing the business’s core strategic goals.

Attain resilient, robust and secure infrastructure - A managed service provider’s data centres and network infrastructure are likely to be far more robust than a standard enterprise IT service. Infrastructure is likely to be run under 24x7x365 management, using government-approved security procedures.
The customer also has the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the network will be kept up and running at all times. The delivery of services is the life-blood of the managed service provider. They have designed networks and data centres that will always be available, resilient and redundant for maintaining business continuity. Businesses can take advantage of this significant technological investment while resting assured that their data will be safe and voice services continue to be delivered even if their main office is lost.

Obtain flexible service delivery - Managed service providers can very flexible. By delivering pay-as-you-go payment plans, they enable the business to grow quickly when necessary or to achieve cost savings when it needs to consolidate.

Moreover, multiple managed IT services can be provided over a single "converged" connection, resulting in cost-savings on infrastructure. There are additional productivity and efficiency benefits, in the fact that remote staff working from home have access to all the voice & data applications that the organisation’s HQ staff use.

Centralise applications – With the help of a managed network, organisations can benefit from the ability to centralise all their applications and servers within managed data centres. This leads to improved performance of staff, regardless of location. Access to centralised data centres within the network can also provide access to virtual services, as well as storage and backup infrastructure.

Tap into new skills and expertise – By selecting managed services, the business gains access to staff with specialist skills, including typically a rich mix of technical and project skills, dedicated to proactively monitoring the network round the clock.

Benefits Drive Expansion
Today, the Managed Network Services market, which has long been buoyant, is continuing to expand fast. Indeed according to a recent report from research firm, MarketsandMarkets, it is expected to grow from $30.67 billion in 2014 to $50.83 billion by 2019, at an estimated CAGR of 10.6 from 2014 to 2019.

It’s hardly surprising. The network has the potential to be the backbone of every modern business. Often, though, where businesses with limited resources and small IT teams are trying to do everything in-house, it instead becomes a constraint on growth. That’s the core problem that managed network services can address, taking away the hassle and the unpredictable cost of in-house network management and freeing up an organisation’s resources to focus on ongoing strategic goals.