How IT Service Providers Support Small Businesses in Uncertain Times

Businesses of all sizes are trying to make it through the chaos caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial that they protect their cash flows, while focusing on their core competencies.

IT service providers are providing businesses with comprehensive IT support to keep them operational amid these uncertain times.

Different Ways IT Service Providers Are Empowering Businesses During the Global Crisis

Managed service providers can prove to be an essential part of a company's operations. They are keeping organizations across the globe afloat and secure, while helping them function smoothly. Here's how IT service providers are doing it. 

1. Offering Infrastructure and Service Desk Capabilities

In these unpredictable times, IT service providers are doing their best to fulfill business demands while helping them keep running.

IT service providers are providing organizations with IT infrastructure to help them manage their logistics. They are taking on a plethora of network tasks such as configuring hardware, establishing remote connections, and managing backup and storage. This ensures that business networks are competent enough to facilitate a workforce that has gone remote.

Businesses can also leverage service desk capabilities offered by IT service providers. They provide companies with a centralized resource for employees, customers, and business partners to answer questions and troubleshoot problems. In short, IT service providers are giving organizations consistent and timely support, which is crucial in times of doubt and insecurity.

2. Streamlining Cloud Adoption

Organizations need to modify their IT environment to meet the changing demands of remote work. Cloud adoption is an ideal solution for meeting the rapidly changing demands. IT service providers are helping businesses use cloud monitoring and cloud-based data back-up and recovery, as well as other technologies. They are also assisting companies move their data and applications online.

Cloud migration is a complex process. IT service providers offer managed migration programs to assist companies in transferring their key workflows and processes to the cloud safely and seamlessly.

3. Providing Consistent Remote Support

Transitioning the majority of the workforce to remote work has been hard for businesses. IT service providers have been a major support for companies by easing the transition process. From remote network monitoring to maintenance and security offerings, IT service providers have enabled remote work through the following ways:

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Remote employees can safely connect to their company's network through Virtual Private Network (VPN). IT service providers offer guidance on installing and configuring VPN for businesses. They also help organizations set up authentication criteria to safeguard data and identities.

Communication Solutions

IT service providers offer team collaboration tools like Skype, Zoom, Slack, VoIP phone systems, and more to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among employees. Simply put, these collaborative tools help employees stay connected and meet organization's objectives efficiently.

4. Delivering Flexible Solutions

Business needs change constantly. IT service providers are offering support to organizations by delivering impeccable solutions in the below-mentioned ways:

IT Project Assistance

Businesses often lack the right skills and resources to handle complex IT projects. IT service providers are helping companies manage these projects by providing the expertise and technologies needed to complete them.

Short-Term Contract Initiation

Some businesses require IT support, but are not in a position to commit to long-term contracts. Other companies wish to augment their IT support only for the duration of a crisis. IT service providers are helping these businesses by providing flexible IT solutions. In short, IT service providers are giving companies all the services and support they need. 

5. Offering Better Customer Service

A lot of businesses are still adjusting to the new normal. IT service providers are working extensively to provide positive customer experiences. From offering faster turnaround time to offering 24/7 customer support, IT service providers are working effectively to ensure that a business's IT infrastructure is working effectively.

6. Enforcing Data Security Regulations

Remote work, combined with uncertainty from the ongoing pandemic, has encouraged cyber-attackers to exploit critical business data. 300 unique online threats trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic have been detected. Cybercriminals are targeting businesses by initiating data security breaches through malicious spam emails, files containing malware, and fake websites masked as governmental services. 

IT service providers help organizations maintain security in their business network by leveraging the following data security solutions:

Multi-Factor Authentication

IT service providers enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to decrease the probability of a breach. MFA requires additional verification information such as one-time password (OTP), answer to security questions, and biometric expressions such as fingerprints, facial recognition, and more for getting extended proof of a user’s real identity.

Network Access Restriction

Restricting employee access rights according to their job enables IT service providers to minimize the damage done even if a cyber-attacker invades a business system.

Alert Set-Ups

Businesses can properly configure their systems through IT service providers. The alerts allow organizations to function proactively and stay ahead of cybersecurity threats.

End-Point Protection

IT service providers help businesses employ email authentication and web filtering tools along with antivirus software. They also ensure that every end-point is protected to mitigate cyber-attacks.

Patching

Patches are regularly installed and vulnerabilities are fixed by IT service providers through regular software updates.

Wrap Up

In these unprecedented times, organizations are adapting themselves to remote work and adjusting the way their employees conduct day-to-day business. IT service providers are working as an invaluable partner to businesses navigating these uncertain times.