What’s Better For Business: Managed IT Services or Hiring a Network Admin?

Should You Engage a Managed IT Services Firm or a Network Admin?

Centerpoint IT discusses the differences and benefits of engaging a managed IT service provider or network administrator to keep your network running reliably.  

Technology becomes more prevalent in business operations each day and at an increasingly rapid pace. Businesses of all sizes strive to keep up with the latest trends and innovations to stay competitive in their respective industry. Such efforts are time-consuming and often detract from working toward achieving and polishing core competencies.

The network for a business services as the company’s foundation, allowing for optimal customer service and employee efficiency. It makes sense for forward-minded business leaders to seek solutions to provide more support for this vital aspect of business operations. Any business with more than one computer needs a network to share information and to perform a variety of invaluable functions:

• File sharing
• Printer sharing
• Communication and collaboration
• Organization
• Remote access
• Data protection
• Cybersecurity

What Type of Business Should You Engage to Support Your Network: Managed IT Services or a Network Administrator?

Some form of IT support has become essential to businesses around the globe. The question often comes down to the type of support that reduces network downtime and improves overall efficiency. The most common choices to answer this question include engaging a managed IT services firm or hiring a network administrator.

Explore both IT support options to determine which solution may work best for your organization’s needs.

What Is a Network Administrator?

A network administrator is an IT expert who specializes in managing a business’s computing network. This key staff must have the ability to grasp the organization’s network and must also possess technical knowledge that goes beyond the specific network. This position is often the highest IT position within an organization, with the network admin professional ensuring that networks remain operational by monitoring functions, tasks, and operations within the network.

Core responsibilities of a network administrator include installing, maintaining, and upgrading various hardware and software needed to keep the network running efficiently and effectively. They must also understand that the computer network may extend to include the local network area (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and the internet and intranet.

What Is a Managed IT Service Firm?

A managed service provider performs the duties of a network administrator and much more. Since modern businesses rely on factors that extend far beyond internal networking, managed service providers have become the most encompassing solution for growing companies who need support for features such as cloud technologies, business phone systems, and Microsoft Office 365.

Everything a business needs to manage the complex and ever-transforming arena of technology, a managed IT service firm can offer:

• Network security
• Managed IT
• Voice and video communications
• Connectivity solutions
• Business telephone systems
• Disaster recovery
• And much more

Just as importantly, managed service providers can deliver these functions reliably and at consistent and affordable rates while allowing core IT staff to perform daily functions to support core competencies.

Which Type of Network Support Service Is Best for Your Business?

While network admins offer highly specialized and invaluable support for a business’s computing network, managed service providers can provide those services and much more. Laurie McCabe from SmallBusinessComputing.com offers more benefits you will discover if you engage a managed services provider: “Managed services providers can offer services such as alerts, security, patch management, data backup and recovery for different client devices: desktops, notebooks, servers, storage systems, networks, and applications. Offloading routine infrastructure management to an experienced managed services professional lets you concentrate on running your business, with fewer interruptions due to IT issues.”

Do You Need to Hire Managed IT Services in Atlanta, GA?

If you need assistance in improving your network, hiring a managed IT support service can serve your needs and improve your operations. Centerpoint IT serves healthcare, financial, legal, and startup firms in the Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our Centerpoint team to learn more about how our menu of managed services can add operational value and efficiency, relieve stress on your IT team, and boost your business growth.

Learn more on how Managed IT Services can help your business.
Discover the best IT Company suited for your business.