Businesses are always looking for innovative ways to improve their IT operations, reduce costs, and increase security measures, especially in the constantly evolving technology landscape. Managed IT infrastructure has gained a lot of popularity recently, as it provides a plethora of advantages, especially when used alongside cloud-based services. This approach can transform the way businesses manage their IT resources, giving them the ability to optimize their usage.
In this blog, we delve into the advantages of managed infrastructure, with a focus on cloud-based solutions like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). We will also explore how partnering with a trusted provider like ATSG can supercharge IT outsourcing, and optimize resource utilization.
What is Managed Infrastructure?
Managed infrastructure is a practice where organizations delegate the task of IT infrastructure management to a specialized third-party provider, also known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP). This arrangement involves a comprehensive range of services such as server management, network operations, security, and storage solutions.
By partnering with MSPs, businesses can avail themselves of the expertise and knowledge of professionals in the field, and shift their focus towards achieving core organizational objectives. Additionally, this practice ensures the smooth and reliable performance of IT systems, freeing up valuable resources for other critical business areas.
The Advantages of Managed Infrastructure
Reduced IT Workload
One of the primary benefits of managed infrastructure is alleviating the overall IT workload. Instead of juggling multiple tasks related to infrastructure maintenance and troubleshooting, internal IT teams can offload these responsibilities to a dedicated MSP. This allows them to concentrate on strategic initiatives that drive innovation and business growth, rather than getting bogged down by routine maintenance tasks.
Predictable Costs
Managed infrastructure services often operate on a subscription-based model, providing businesses with predictable monthly expenses. This eliminates the need for hefty up-front investments in hardware and software (CapEx), as well as the un-predictability of infrastructure maintenance costs. With a clear understanding of their IT expenditures, businesses can better allocate resources and budget for future growth.
Scalability & Flexibility
In today’s dynamic business environment, scalability is paramount. Managed infrastructure offers the flexibility to scale resources up or down, based on changing business needs, without the hassle of procuring and configuring additional IT hardware. Whether experiencing rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations in demand, businesses can seamlessly adapt their IT infrastructure to accommodate these fluctuations, ensuring optimal performance at all times.
Enhanced IT Security
Cybersecurity threats continue to pose a significant risk to businesses of all types and sizes. Managed infrastructure providers employ robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data, and mitigate the risk of data breaches. This includes proactive monitoring, threat detection as well as response, and implementing industry best practices to fortify the IT infrastructure against potential vulnerabilities. By outsourcing security responsibilities to experts, businesses can enhance their overall cybersecurity posture, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
Choosing a Capable Managed Infrastructure Provider
When selecting a managed infrastructure provider, several factors warrant consideration, to ensure a successful partnership that aligns with your business objectives.
Experience and Reputation
When searching for a managed infrastructure services provider, it is important to consider the track record for reliability and efficiency. Look for a reputable MSP that has a wealth of experience working with different organizations in various industries. A reliable MSP should be able to demonstrate expertise in addressing your unique needs and challenges. Therefore, it is imperative to perform your due diligence, and choose a capable MSP that can deliver the quality of service that your business requires.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
SLAs contain service agreement details between a client organization and the Managed Service Provider (MSP). They outline key performance metrics, response times, and support availability that the MSP must adhere to. It is vital to review SLAs carefully, to ensure they align with your business requirements, and expectations for uptime as well as reliability. By doing so, you can enjoy peace of mind that your MSP will deliver the services you need, to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently.
Cybersecurity Protocols
When it comes to choosing a managed infrastructure provider, it’s crucial to prioritize robust cybersecurity. To ensure that your data is safe and protected, you should inquire about the provider’s security protocols in detail. This includes understanding the service provider’s approach to data encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications.
In addition to these measures, you should also assess the MSP’s ability to detect and respond to security incidents promptly. By doing so, you can minimize potential risks to your business, and ensure that your data is always in “safe hands”.
ATSG’s Cloud Based IaaS Offering
Resilient, Scalable and Cost-Effective
As businesses increasingly embrace cloud computing, ATSG offers a fully managed, cloud-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solution that delivers un-paralleled resilience, scalability, and cost-effectiveness to client enterprises.
Resilience
ATSG’s cloud infrastructure is built on a resilient architecture, designed to withstand potential disruptions and ensure high availability of services. With redundant components and multiple failover mechanisms in place, businesses can minimize downtime and maintain the continuity of critical operations, even in the face of unforeseen events.
Scalability
With ATSG’s cloud-based IaaS offering, businesses can scale IT resources up or down on demand, without the need for up-front capital-intensive investments in hardware. Whether expanding operations, or simply adjusting to fluctuating demand, the flexibility of the Cloud enables businesses to optimize resource utilization, and maximize efficiency.
Cost-Optimization
By leveraging ATSG’s cloud based IaaS infrastructure, businesses can achieve significant cost savings compared to traditional, on-premise solutions. With a flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing model, businesses only pay for the resources they actually consume, eliminating the need for upfront capital expenditure (CapEx), and reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) over time.
Conclusion
Managed infrastructure, particularly cloud-based options like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), offer numerous benefits that can revolutionize the way businesses manage their IT resources and operations. By partnering with a trusted global provider like ATSG, businesses can harness the power of the Cloud to supercharge their IT, enhance cybersecurity, and optimize costs. This in turn enables deploying organizations to focus on driving innovation, and achieving their strategic objectives in an increasingly digital world.
Contact ATSG for fully Managed Cloud, Managed Operations, Managed Security and Managed Network solutions for your organization.
