Unexpected I.T. downtime costs more than just money—here’s how proactive services can save you.
How much does unexpected I.T. downtime really cost your business?
The answer to this might be shocking. Some estimates claim the cost has grown to as high as $9,000 per minute. With some high-risk industries, including finance, government, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, media, and retail, this number can rocket as high as $5 million per hour.
So I.T. downtime prevention is essential to a business’s safety and success, helping to prevent issues that include:
- Security problems
- Poor customer experiences
- Operational inefficiency
- Losses of time and money
- Damage to business reputation
This is why it is critical to have proactive I.T. services to minimize disruptions and boost productivity.
What are proactive I.T. services?
Proactive I.T. services are all about anticipating problems and fixing them before they arise. Regular monitoring and maintenance are key to this approach, identifying and repairing issues before they escalate into major disruptions and downtime, requiring expensive and time-consuming fixes.
Entrepreneur magazine points out that a “proactive posture” is “a collection of values, processes, and positions that collectively allow your organization to work proactively rather than reactively. Proactive measures are designed to minimize the possibility of potential problems, hopefully long before they ever occur.”
Examples of I.T. downtime prevention measures include:
- Regular system updates to improve system reliability
- Around-the-clock network monitoring using a preventative mindset
- Constant data backups
- Specialize training for staff and contractors
- Regular I.T. system maintenance and audits
- Active awareness of cybersecurity threats
- Emergency contingency planning
- Leveraging the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI)
Benefits of proactive I.T. services
The right services, often provided by an experienced managed services provider, can free I.T. staff from constantly putting out fires so they can focus on core business activities instead. They can devote themselves to helping their companies succeed rather than doing routine tasks like software patching or dealing with emergencies. Employees can work smarter, not harder.
Proactive strategies don’t just prevent data breaches—they help you avoid fines, maintain customer trust, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Problems can also cause reputational damage that can be hard to repair. But by providing proactive service, companies can keep customers happier, and happy customers can lead to long-term success.
By addressing potential issues before they escalate, you can reduce support costs, increase efficiency, and avoid expensive emergency repairs.
Reactive vs. proactive: What’s the difference?
A reactive approach to I.T. services is like being a negligent car owner. You don’t do regular oil changes and maintenance tasks. You ignore that knock in the engine or the brake light that won’t go off until the problem becomes major and requires expensive garage repairs.
The prospect of large auto repair bills looming may eat into your peace of mind and keep you from focusing on what should be important in your life, including family, friends, and business.
A reactive approach to I.T. might involve dealing with a data breach after it’s occurred, losing customer records, requiring an expensive fix, and dealing with the damage to your company’s brand image.
With a proactive approach, you have an up-to-date cybersecurity strategy and tools in place so that attacks and security failures are much less likely to catch you unawares. Streamlined processes also mean that staff will be more productive, rather than dealing with a vast number of support tickets.
Better backups, redundancy, and operational protocols will help reduce downtime and the impacts on a business and dramatically reduce I.T. costs over time.
A proactive approach to I.T. downtime prevention is not just for large enterprises. Small and medium businesses (SMBs) can benefit just as much from working this way. Many I.T. leaders would argue that with scarcer resources and fewer people in chairs, SMBs need all the edge they can get by handling issues before they cause disruptions.
Choosing the right managed services provider (MSP)
One of the strongest proactive steps you can take is to partner with an MSP with proven expertise in proactive monitoring and troubleshooting. Good providers distinguish themselves by understanding your business inside and out to align their I.T. solutions with your business goals fully.
The MSP should have transparent, reliable pricing options so there are no surprises in your monthly bills. The I.T. infrastructure they set up should take care of your current requirements and be easily scalable to handle your changing business requirements.
Ultimately, the firm you hire should be a true partner who earns your trust every day and communicates consistently and clearly.
An SMB might be unable to set up an I.T. team with all the knowledge and resources necessary to provide a comprehensive, proactive approach. By hiring an MSP, they can acquire the services they need to stay safe and efficient.
Partner with Attentus for proactive I.T. success
At Attentus Technologies, we specialize in helping businesses stay ahead of the curve with customized proactive strategies. Our full suite of managed I.T. services can cover everything from software training and support to remote network monitoring and data recovery services, and from setting up VoIP phone systems to . . . well, you name it. Plus, with our reliable, personalized pricing options, you’ll never pay for services you don’t need or face surprises in your monthly bills.
One of our core values at Attentus is to deliver exceptional results. This means doing everything we can to understand your needs and ensuring every detail of the solutions we offer is exactly right so that all your needs are met proactively.
Communicate with one of our technical experts now to ensure you solve your I.T. problems before they become problems.
