IT Services – The Complete Guide for Indianapolis Small Businesses

When operating a small business, your information technology (IT) systems can mean the difference between failure and success.

Technology is essential for communication, information sharing, problem-solving, record-keeping, and so much more. It’s what enables you to reach your business goals and achieve growth, and is, therefore, a crucial element of your daily workflow.

However, managing your IT properly can be a challenge. Technology is an investment that you want to protect, but it’s often difficult to properly monitor and upgrade – especially when you have other responsibilities to oversee.

That’s where outsourcing IT services can help. An IT services provider will manage, maintain, and protect your IT infrastructure on your behalf. This allows you and your team to focus on running your business, with comprehensive aid every step of the way.

There are plenty of small businesses in Indianapolis, Indiana, that could benefit from outsourced IT services. Indianapolis was recently voted as one of the best U.S. cities to start a business in, and we’ve seen the fruits of that in the many startups in the past few years.

In order to be competitive, all of these startups (and other small to medium businesses) will need an IT support company that can help them juggle IT maintenance and other responsibilities.

Do you need help managing your business technology? Here’s everything you need to know about Indianapolis IT services providers and their offerings.

What Are IT Services Providers?

IT services providers are third-party companies that are outsourced by businesses to handle a myriad of different IT-related needs. They bring expertise and cost-effective solutions to small businesses that may not have the time, resources, or IT knowledge to handle their technology in-house.

An IT provider gives your business access to a team of expert technicians whose sole focus is improving your IT infrastructure for long-term growth. Indianapolis IT services specialists also help keep up with growing demands by adjusting IT systems accordingly.

A local Indianapolis IT services provider (like us) will offer your business:

• Better IT solutions
• Scalable service plans
• Reliable network security
• New IT equipment
• 24/7 support
• Consulting services
• Data protection

The bottom line: outsourced IT services allow you to focus on core goals and challenges by giving your business the tech support it needs to succeed.

How Can Indianapolis IT Services Help Your Business Grow?

Now that you have a better understanding of what IT services providers are, let’s discuss how they can help foster business growth.

Here are just a few of the ways your small business will benefit from outsourcing its IT services.

1) Advanced Cybersecurity

According to a recent report, roughly 54 percent of small business owners don’t have a plan to combat cybercrime – they think they likely won’t be targeted. Unfortunately, IT threats don’t discriminate between large and small businesses: they can (and probably will) happen to everyone.

Cyberattacks can cost your small business thousands of dollars in repairs and recovery fees, and if the attack is big enough, may even force you to go out of business. In addition, IT threats can steal confidential customer data, which severely damages your public brand and its reputation.

A worthwhile IT provider will minimize your IT risk by implementing multi-level cybersecurity. Layers of IT protection will safeguard your IT systems, data, and company information. These defenses effectively discourage cybercriminals from targeting your business.

An IT services provider will also monitor your IT systems for potential security breaches and make necessary security repairs right away. This ensures that your business is protected from the latest threats and cybercriminal tactics.

2) Solutions to Workplace Inefficiencies

Technology is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult for small business owners to keep up.

Still, it’s important to remember that outdated IT equipment and processes hurt productivity and make it difficult to achieve business goals. In juxtaposition, the right IT solutions can make a world of difference in your workflow and productivity levels.

IT services providers will help you improve inefficiencies in your IT infrastructure, for a cost-effective price.

IT services specialists are trained to spot inefficiencies in your IT systems and offer tools and technologies that will help your business perform better. A trustworthy Indianapolis IT services provider will not try to sell you unnecessary tools – just those that are needed to make your IT infrastructure perform at its peak level.

The tools and technologies provided through IT services are also usually more affordable than they would be if purchased separately. IT providers are able to purchase in bulk and pass the savings on to their clients, which helps you cut IT costs and reinvest in other areas of your business.

3) Improved Business Focus and Productivity

Finally, an IT services provider can help your business grow by removing the stress of IT management from your day-to-day operations. This vital support frees your employees from mundane technical tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more important objectives.

An IT provider will also boost internal productivity by keeping your IT systems up to date and running smoothly. This helps you and your employees meet demands with minimal disruptions.

What Services Should You Look for in a Local Provider?  

Now that you know how outsourced IT services can benefit your small business, let’s discuss what to look for in a provider. Here are a few services to look for in an Indianapolis IT services provider.

Comprehensive 24/7 IT Support

An IT failure or cyberattack can occur at any time of day – even outside of your regular hours of operations. If an IT issue isn’t immediately addressed, it can cause downtime, cost you sales, and potentially damage your brand’s reputation.

As a result, it’s a good idea to look for a provider that offers IT support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that you and your employees will have access to IT experts that are ready to help in times of IT emergencies or failures – no matter when they occur.

A local Indianapolis IT services provider is often more accessible and responsive to IT issues than a national IT services company. They will serve fewer clients and are in the same time zone, which makes support faster and easier to secure.

The faster your IT concerns are resolved, the less money and time you will lose. Don’t underestimate the importance of 24/7 professional IT services.

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery

You probably already know how important it is to keep your business data and private consumer information secure. However, even if you’re on top of your protection, a cyber threat or natural disaster (such as a flood) can prevent you from accessing your data – or worse, eradicate it completely.

IT services providers will further safeguard your data by providing data backup and disaster recovery solutions. With this service, your data will be automatically backed up to a secondary location, such as a Cloud server. That way, you can regain access to your data, even if your IT systems are compromised by a security threat or destroyed by a catastrophic event.

VoIP Phone System

If your business uses an outdated phone system, it could be causing you to miss client calls and valuable sales opportunities. IT services providers that offer voice-over-internet protocol, or VoIP, can enhance your communication systems. No more garbled messages or skipped customer calls.

VoIP allows you and your employees to make and receive phone calls the internet. With this service, you can communicate with clients and employees from anywhere at any time – without draining your IT budget.

In addition, VoIP allows you and your employees to make or receive business calls on cellphone and laptop devices. This is crucial in a world where remote work is the new norm.

IT Consulting

IT consulting is another service to look for in a great Indianapolis IT services provider. With this, your company will be provided with a dedicated IT specialist (consultant) that serves as your team’s expert IT resource.

IT consultants provide advice on a part-time or full-time basis. They work with your team to develop an IT roadmap that outlines goals for each department and how your technology systems can better support your business’s overall objectives. An IT consultant may also provide IT training to improve collaboration and productivity.

IT consulting services can make IT management more efficient by pinpointing IT weaknesses, finding redundancies, improving security, and increasing your profit margins. Your consultant may even rework your service plan to help you meet IT goals faster.

In Conclusion

Indianapolis IT support has plenty to offer to small businesses. IT providers remove the stress and anxiety that small businesses face when trying to maintain and protect their technologies on their own.

Furthermore, an Business IT services provider will give your business the IT know-how it needs to be successful, no matter its size or budget constraints.

Why are IT services important to your small business’s growth? Let’s find out together.