Do Managed IT services benefit small businesses?

Small businesses face stiff competition trying to find their niche in a tough industry. On top of that, it may be difficult for them to focus on expanding their business. That’s why many decide to outsource various aspects of their business to managed service providers, including IT services. In the end, this choice may provide numerous benefits to your small business.

Many businesses are part of the so-called “gig economy”. They have a business model that includes trading services for money. It could be a small business or a large corporation. If you trade services, you can benefit by outsourcing some of your work to managed services providers.

A managed services provider (MSP) is a company that provides specific IT and network services for a fee. These services are typically designed to cater to small businesses and include things like IT support, backup solutions, cloud storage, onsite/offsite monitoring, etc.

You might be wondering if a managed IT service is right for your small business. After all, you undoubtedly already have plenty of responsibilities to juggle. However, the right managed service can take a lot of pressure off you in terms of providing tech support and repairing your technology.

Managed IT services are a great option for almost any business, but they’re particularly helpful for small businesses. The reality is that small businesses simply can’t afford to hire in-house staff to handle their IT needs on a full-time basis. That’s why outsourcing this aspect of your business to a managed services provider that offers a wide variety of IT services makes a lot of sense.

Cloud Computing for Small Business: Important Factors to Consider

Cloud computing is a technology that you may have thought was still in its infancy. But it’s now older than Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, have more users than any of those social media giants, and will only get more popular in the years ahead.

Cloud computing is a very hot topic these days and small businesses are starting to explore the possibilities it offers. Small businesses that choose not to embrace cloud computing may be missing out on some really important benefits. For example, cloud computing can save small businesses money and it can offer flexibility as well. In other words, the cloud makes it possible for small businesses to focus on being small businesses and worry about the technology aspect later.

Cloud computing, over the past few years, has become popular among small businesses, but many still have no idea how to implement it. Besides the technical side of things, there are a few things that you should consider before moving your systems and data to the cloud.

However, many small business owners are still unaware of exactly how it can help them. Cloud computing can streamline your business, offering benefits such as reduced costs and better security. However, it’s not right for every small business.

Today an increasing number of small businesses are turning to cloud computing as a solution to their computing needs. However, as with any change, cloud computing for small businesses also brings challenges that business owners should be aware of when planning their cloud strategy.

Here are some of the most important factors that you need to keep in mind before you make a decision.

1.     What cloud computing options are available to you?

·         Choose an On-Premise Solution.

·         Go 100% to the Cloud.

·         Create a Hybrid System.

2.     What are the Security Implications?

3.     What Will Cloud Computing Cost?

Chances are that you still have a lot of unanswered questions because this is not a simple decision. You don’t have to go this path alone. If you are looking for a technology partner to assess your overall IT strategy, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with the MCGComputer technology team.

Is Your Internal IT Team Backing Up Your Microsoft 365 Data?

 

The best way to make your employees more productive is to give them the tools they need to do their jobs well. But what happens when you can’t? Microsoft 365 is a fantastic platform that brings together the core productivity products for end users. But one major problem with it is that it’s not being run by an IT team.

When you’re running a business, it’s critical that you have the right tools in place to make sure that everything’s running smoothly. One of the most effective tools on your side is Microsoft 365, which can help you manage your business better and more effectively.

With Microsoft 365 becoming more and more popular, organizations are starting to rethink their collaboration strategies. As an example, small-to-medium size businesses are choosing to use Microsoft 365 because of its cloud-based capabilities, and even larger enterprises are flocking to the platform in hopes of staying competitive.

Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of cloud-based products and services that offer an integrated and easy to use experience, both on and off-premises.

It includes Microsoft’s most familiar productivity and collaboration apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Outlook. But this collection of services also includes more than 50 other apps and features to help you get things done. For example, you can manage all your devices from the Microsoft 365 admin centre. And you can see all your users and their activity in one place.

Each service provides the real-time information and collaboration tools needed to help employees be more productive and less time consuming. When implemented correctly, the various Microsoft 365 products can give your company a significant advantage over your competitors.

If you don’t have an internal IT team to help back up your data, the team at MCG Computers can help. MCG is a leading Microsoft Office service provider in Melbourne and also provides ongoing support for Microsoft Office 365.

10 Must-Know Cloud Computing Facts 2021

 

10 Must-Know Cloud Computing Facts 2021

Cloud computing has revolutionised the way businesses and consumers around the world use technology. From online storage to email services, cloud computing has become a go-to solution for all types of solutions. However, as the cloud continues to innovate, it's essential to know which facts will remain true in the next 5 years.

Here are 10 must-know cloud computing facts of 2021.

1.      At the end of 2020, 67% of enterprise infrastructure became cloud-based.

2.      With the above ones, 82% of the workload will reside on the cloud.

3.      As a result of this, more than 40 zettabytes of data will be flowing through the cloud servers and networks.

4.      81% of all enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy that is implemented or in the implementation process.

5.      As of today, the average person uses 36 cloud-based services every day.

6.      Amazon Web Services has the biggest Cloud Computing market in the world, accounting for 32%.

7.      66% of enterprises already have a central team for cloud or cloud centre of excellence.

8.      94% of the global workload will be controlled by the leading cloud data centres around the world.

9.      50% of enterprises spend more than $1.2 million on cloud services per year.

10.   Organisations will start to leverage cloud strategies with almost five platforms on average.

Cloud computing is becoming a vital part of modern IT strategy. This is because it offers a number of benefits over traditional methods. Because of this, cloud computing will likely be even more critical by the end of 2021. If you're ready to explore cloud solutions in Melbourne or upgrade your IT infrastructure with cloud resources, reach out to MCG Computers for IT consultation. To know more about our IT services in South Melbourne, give us a call at (03) 9681 6800.

Is replacing the old server is a better decision than to move to the cloud?

 

There is no one right answer to this question. There are advantages and disadvantages to both the options. Either a cloud solution or a server might be correct for you. The choice depends on your needs. You can think of replacing your server if it is - getting old, running slower than expected, increased downtime and other hardware issues. 

At MCG Computers, we as a managed IT service provider with cloud-based solutions have seen both the scenarios where for some clients, moving to a cloud solution is better and while for others upgrading the server makes more sense.

Here are the cases:

A cloud solution is ideal for start-ups and small companies because on-site server costs are high, and it needs office space. A cloud solution allows small companies to be more flexible and it saves on IT cost as well.

Some companies already have a server in place and applications running on it. For such companies, upgrading the hardware is much cheaper than a new cloud solution.

Here's how they compare the cost for both the options

A cloud solution can be expensive if you're not careful. With the cloud solution, you need to work on your annual or monthly costs (they multiply by 12 to get yearly cost) per user basis. Therefore, buying a new server and paying a lump sum amount upfront can be cheaper.

Cloud is a better option if you are a small business with remote working professionals. The costs are coming down, and the technology is becoming even more accessible for small firms.

Is Cloud Computing a Game Changer For Every Business?

 

Cloud computing has unrivalled contribution to the way in which organizations function these days.It allows businesses to store vast amounts of information, run almost unlimited computing resources, experience the latest and most innovative technologies in the field… and all without heavy investment in the infrastructure and systems.

Today cloud is where reality resides. In business, the cloud provides the infrastructure on which applications are built, and enables information processing, as well as intelligent information systems, which use AI and machine learning.

Businesses regardless of their magnitude are capitalizing on every introduced cloud technology just to remain competitive in market. This ultimate shift in web delivers flexibility, cost-saving and efficiency which is necessary to facilitate digitization of the industry and keep up the with the requirements of the dynamic of the changing industry.

It has ultimately become a standard version for every technological companies to access IT infrastructure, hardware and software resources.  The technology allows companies to use high end application and resources which are properly taken care by the third party’s that are stored in high-end servers and networks.

Today’s era of global economy is mostly driven by and on digitalization. To attain success in this knowledge-driven economy, sharing of information is a must and information is considered as an asset.

These services are available on one’s demands and often users buy it as “pay as you use” or on monthly or yearly subscription basis. It’s as simple as we would buy electricity, or telephone or broadband services from a utility or a service provider. Some service providers like Google’ Gmail provide it as free of cost to the users.

Cloud infrastructures are known to be in the support of environment friendly, as it powers the virtual services instead of physical products and hardware, and other bigger contribution towards reduction on paper waste, improving energy efficiency, and (given that it has the allows employees access from anywhere with an internet connection) reducing commuter-related emissions. Thus, it has a very important role in future call of go green and zero emission mission.

Cloud computing has become a fundamental and essential component of any techno-business transformation. So, it won’t be wrong to say that yes, it a game changer for every business. As a part of a suite of managed services, MCG's highly trained IT Consultants in Melbourne can resolve your most complex IT challenges and can add incredible value to the organisation.

5 Considerations to choose a reliable help desk service !

Technology is the core of business. It’s unfair to keep it in the hands of amateur. You might feel it’s a good idea to save money to let the internal IT staff handle the fuss. But subsequently this might kill your productivity.

That’s why we say, somethings are better left for experts. When your internal team is engaged onto just mundane tasks of passwords and troubleshoot, an outsourcing computer support in Melbourne can be a boon in your space. But, how should you select them-

•   Impromptu Service- Technology doesn’t ask for permission to fall sick. It can happen any time, any crucial moment. You can’t afford risking things; and thus having an immediate 24/7 computer support is necessary.

•   Nearby location- Against the overseas consultancy, look for a domestic IT service provider in South Melbourne for easy communication, no language barrier, less holding time and convenient support.

•   User-Experience- It’s safe if you already have knowledge of the company’s experience and customer-focussed approach.

•   Budget Suitability- You can get IT Support in Melbourne ranging from $0 to $950. So, along with measuring the reputation, experience, you ca have leverage to choose a support firm of your budget.

•   Comprehensive services- Your service desk provider should be equipped with knowledge on offering wide varieties of services.

If you are searching for cost-effective, professional and experienced IT consultant in South Melbourne, visit MCG Computers at https://www.mcgcomputer.com.au.