When businesses start out, there’s often one factor that they find overwhelming – the technology that they need to operate. The list of what is needed can feel unending – from devices to software, to servers and storage. And those are just the physical components! What about the teams to support and maintain them, to make sure the software and servers are regularly updated, that data is being stored securely?

And it’s not only new businesses that face these challenges. Well-established companies can often find themselves dealing with the frustrations of technologies, and struggling to keep up with their demands. Thankfully, companies both new and old don’t have to face the challenges alone and don’t necessarily have to break their budgets to manage their IT infrastructure. There is another option, and one that South African businesses, in particular, should consider – outsourced managed IT services.

When we founded Solid Systems in 2003, we knew that there was a need for a company that could step in when technology became overwhelming, that could help businesses to invest in the right technologies without having to worry about upgrades and updates, maintenance and manpower. We had the expertise and the experience to handle these things on their behalf. We wanted to see companies focussing their efforts on the core areas of business that they thrived at, while we’d look after the technical side in the background.

It’s almost 19 years later, and the need for outsourced managed IT services has only grown. We have seen this in South Africa first-hand, where businesses often rely on a single qualified IT professional to manage their infrastructure, only to find that when they leave, the task of replacing them is exponentially more difficult due to lack of documented IT processes. This leaves companies unsure of which technologies are being used for what purposes, and where risks may lie.

Technologies have become more intricate and require more attention than ever. With remote working becoming more popular, it’s not just one network that companies need to concern themselves with, but one for every employee’s home office. It’s not just one desktop device per person that you need to ensure is secure, but every device that they might use, from their smartphone to their tablet and laptop.

Cyber threats are also ever-increasing, and data security has never been more vital to a business's operations. Time is a valuable resource, and having qualified professionals in-house focussing their time and efforts on the minutia of upgrades and bug fixes is not using them that time efficiently. Your technical team should be proactive, finding ways to enhance your business, rather than having to constantly react to the problems that pop up. Investing in managed IT services does precisely that.

Better still, where it used to be the tradition that companies would charge per hour (or part thereof) for IT services, Solid Systems has long believed in fixed monthly fees to ensure that, no matter how many questions you may have or how much work needs to be done, your business will be covered without breaking the bank.

At Solid Systems, we invest in IT professionals, train them, encourage them to upskill themselves, and ensure that our teams are prepared for any technical eventuality. Not only do the companies that we work with feel confident knowing that they can contact our helpful, human support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but we also invest time and effort in building up businesses. We provide onboarding for new products to make sure the employees know how they work and how to make the most of them, and training wherever we can to ensure that your teams are productive and efficient.

 
An example of the IT analysis that Solid Systems offer showing areas that a business can grow


To help us in this aim, we work together with every business that partners with us to extensively examine and measure their IT environments, limit their risk, and provide the insights that they need to not only support existing technology but invest in the right tech to reach their goals. The process is overarching, involving the documentation of infrastructure and apps, performing risk analysis and more. The end result – an IT roadmap that sees businesses advancing their technology over time.

We are a single point of contact for everything technical that a business might need. We’re a service desk that not only helps companies resolve technical issues that they’re experiencing, but finds the root cause of them. We’re an IT team that proactively monitors servers and networks for warning signs and stops failures before they can occur. We’re cloud specialists, ensuring that critical data is securely backed up and ready to be restored in case of a data disaster while limiting the risk that a data disaster could present by making sure that systems are updated and as secure against cyber threats as they can be. We’re vendor managers, liaising with ISPs and hardware providers on your behalf.

When you partner with Solid Systems, you’re not only gaining access to highly trained IT professionals, but also to specialised and sophisticated, top-of-the-market tools that ensure your business is following, and improving upon, industry best practices. What results is more than just updated and secure technology. It’s a business where IT systems, configurations and setting are documented and understood, not just by one qualified individual, but by stakeholders. It’s having teams that are working towards those goals, putting their knowledge, experience and resources to the best use for your business. It’s being able to step into the future confidently, knowing that your technology can keep up with your business goals and plans.

About Solid Systems

Since 2003, we have specialised in delivering leading technology solutions and offering guidance to organisations in South Africa and abroad, in the most human way possible.

We love technology and the exciting ways that it evolves, and are constantly improving the tools that we use. But humans are at the heart of our business. That’s why we value each relationship and prioritise a personal approach, finding solutions that deliver results for your company in the best way possible.

With our highly skilled and passionate professionals behind us and the latest and most sophisticated tools at their disposal, we ensure that the businesses we work with are constantly evolving, and can step into the future with confidence.

To learn more about Solid Systems’ managed IT services, visit their website at https://www.solidsystems.co.za/it-services/managed-it-services/.