Is it Time to Consider a Virtual IT Department?

(PRWEB) February 3, 2010

The Buck (and IT) Stops Here!

The evolution of technology and the Internet over the past several years has resulted in the majority of todays businesses being reliant on IT. This increased importance, coupled with the expense of IT has resulted in technology decisions and personnel becoming part of the CFO or controllers domain. The current economic climate has only served to further cement IT with finance.

For small businesses (less than 50-employees) the majority now outsource their IT to a local reseller or small IT shop. The predominant relationship remains block service where the client calls when there is a problem and the IT guy goes onsite to fix it, charging for total time of the service call. The more complex your IT, the more problems you have, the more it costs you

In contrast, a virtual IT department remotely and proactively monitors and manages your network, desktop, Smartphone, printers, applications and security. The fee structure can be fixed or usage-based depending on your requirements and budget, with monthly IT and security performance reporting, service metrics and trending. Having a team of experts available on-demand is optimal in todays ever-changing business and technology environment.

Enter the IT Manager?

The discussion above is typically music to any CFOs ears reducing costs, better data security and performance reporting. For mid-market companies (50-250+ employees) outsourcing has generally been met with resistance from internal IT. That was then, this is now!

Forward-thinking mid-sized enterprises (and their IT managers) are increasingly adopting the virtual IT department concept for a few key reasons:

Cost-savings and efficiency virtual IT is generally 50-60% of the cost of the traditional model.

Expertise having access to industry-leading personnel and processes.

Information security developing an information security program with ongoing monitoring.

24 x 7 business world receiving support outside of standard business hours.

Off-loading mundane tasks tactical services like end-user helpdesk and security management.

Partnering approach internal and external IT work as team from a central service desk system.

Geography working with a service organization with a large geographic footprint.

Back-up and disaster recovery safeguard the most critical corporate asset your data!

Business applications knowledge of key accounting, CRM and vertical applications.

As companies look to the future in the new economic climate, the criticality of technology will require a new approach to deliver true value Better Service at Less Cost thats More Secure. The days of purchasing technology and related services in a vacuum are gone. The CFO now has the tools to navigate an area they once considered the black hole.

Next months article entitled Is Your Technology Battle-ready for Busy Season will discuss how to ensure your IT and security systems are ready for the upcoming busy season now until June 30th for many of us. Take our free Network & Security Assessment at http://www.theutilitycompany.com/NSA and get a head start!

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Is it Time to Consider a Virtual IT Department?