Everyone takes a different approach to car maintenance: some get the oil changed every 10,000 miles, while others have never even heard the words “oil change.” The first person probably spends very little money at the mechanic and the second might feel like their whole paycheck goes to fund the local garage.
For decades, IT support has acted a little like the second person: very little maintenance and a lot of time and money fixing problems as they pop up. But there’s been a shift in the cyber landscape as tools advance, and it’s doing your business a lot of favors! Here’s everything you need to know about proactive IT support and how it will help you run a better business.
What Is the Difference Between Proactive and Reactive IT Support?
Reactive IT support is the kind of service you’re used to, where you wait until something breaks down and then call a technician to come fix it. Proactive IT support, on the other hand, works on preempting issues and helping your business prepare for potential problems before they even occur.
Proactive IT support takes into account all the ways your business might be at risk and puts measures in place to protect your data. These strategies can include regular updates, antivirus scans, security monitoring, and more. This type of service helps ensure that your operations are running smoothly and securely, so you don’t have any nasty surprises down the line.
Proactive Support is More Than Routine Maintenance
Proactive IT support is more than just maintenance, like the car example. It’s being strategic about your business goals and using tools and systems to reach those goals. Let’s use a local ma and pa shop as an example.
Ma and Pa know their fabric store won’t survive without an online presence. Instead of setting up a website and hiring a managed service provider (MSP) to just monitor their network for cyberattacks, they ask the MSP to advise them on the best ways to manage their online orders from home.
They have one employee who helps them fulfill orders and run social media but that employee has young children and would prefer to work remotely. Instead of hiring a new employee or doing the work themselves, Ma and Pa ask their MSP to put remote work measures—like MFA and a secure VPN—into place so their employee can do their job securely.
No matter what industry you’re in, your business can benefit from proactive IT support. You won’t have to worry about unexpected downtime or security breaches, and you’ll be better able to reach your goals without having to constantly put out tech fires.
Why Is Proactive IT Support the New Standard?
In the past, the IT industry prioritized reactive IT support because it was the most cost-effective way to ensure your technology stayed functional. However, with all the new tools and services available, proactive IT support has become much more affordable.
Not only is it cheaper than waiting until something breaks down, but it’s also a much more secure and efficient way to maintain your network. By regularly monitoring your system for potential threats, you can catch any problems early on before they become serious security issues. And with proactive IT support, you can be confident that your business’s tech is up-to-date and running smoothly.
Proactive IT support also helps close the skills gap. Many businesses don’t have the resources to hire a full-time IT staff, so they hire an MSP instead. By leveraging their expertise and staying on top of what’s new in the industry, you can make sure your business is as competitive as possible without having to shell out for a ton of employees.
IT Support That Goes Beyond Fixing Computers: Stability Networks
Your IT can be so much more than just maintenance when you partner with Stability Networks. We focus on developing long-term relationships with our clients so we can know which technology will help them reach their goals.
For tech support that combines the best of both IT strategies, schedule a consultation with Stability Networks.
