It’s safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a massive eye-opener for business owners in every industry. Due to social distancing and lockdown measures, many companies have had to close for the time being, and for those that remain open, there are many new challenges because they’re unable to get the support they need.

A perfect example of this are businesses that have in-house IT departments whose staff are likely furloughed at the moment and require someone to maintain their IT needs.

Therefore, remote IT solutions may well prove to be the optimal choice for businesses that want to ensure that their network, cybersecurity and other tech-based aspects of their company are safe and sound regardless of the circumstances.

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of services such as remote IT support and why your business will benefit from them both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Efficient and Reliable Remote Working

Due to guidelines for social distancing and lockdown procedures, many businesses have opted for work-from-home (WFH) employees. While for some, this hasn’t been too challenging, as a great deal of the resources they require are accessible online, for others, it has proved to be challenging to run their business while out of the office.

This can be for any number of reasons, but one of the critical factors to consider is the lack of IT support and services if you are accustomed to having an in-house IT department at your disposal.

In the digital age, pretty much every industry relies on computers and other technology to get by, and having bespoke and remote IT services available instantly offers increased efficiency and reliability, regardless of whether you are working in an office or if your office happens to be at home.

There’s a good chance that many businesses may opt for a combination of in-house and WFH employees post-COVID, making remote IT an ideal solution that suits both purposes.

Cut Costs

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the world in a way (many ways, actually) that no one could have predicted or prepared for.

Unfortunately, it has created financial difficulties for businesses all over the world, especially smaller companies that were already working with the tightest of budgets. It’s good business practice to find ways to cut costs, but now it seems like it’s going to be somewhat of a necessity for companies, to stay afloat. 

People who use remote IT services benefit from having a dedicated team of professionals working behind the scenes while they focus on their workload, without having to deal with an in-house team — but the key benefit to note is the cost.

The office space, labour and hardware required for onsite IT all come at a cost, one that’s significantly more than paying for remote IT services each month. Without the need for servers and other forms of hardware, you will pay fewer bills and avoid the expense of equipment.

Not only this, but without the need for additional space, you also have the option to downsize to a more cost-effective office space. 

Allow Your IT Team to Focus on Crucial Projects

Although some businesses may opt for fully remote IT, if they plan to restructure or downsize, there are many companies for whom an in-house IT team is crucial. But does this mean the latter has no need for remote IT support? Absolutely not.

In fact, a hybrid approach of in-house and remote IT may be the decision that helps them to reach new levels of success while encouraging employee growth.

Think about it: if your IT team is constantly dealing with common issues and answering queries from your employees, they have minimal time to utilise their expertise in a more impactful way.

Whereas if you opt for remote IT services, your team now has the freedom to focus their efforts on critical aspects of your projects and increase productivity across the board. By doing so, you may well be in a position to take on larger-scale projects and therefore increase your business’ income. 

24/7 Remote IT Support

While there’s no doubt that today’s tech is more advanced than ever, nothing is perfect. So there’s always a chance that you’ll run into issues that require the assistance of a professional. This is all well and good when taking care of IT problems between nine and five, but what if you’re experiencing issues outside of work hours?

Having to wait until the next working day (even worse, if it falls on a weekend) can run the risk of cybersecurity vulnerability and downtime, both of which can directly impact your business’ ability to make money and brand reputation.

It’s for these reasons that many businesses today opt for remote IT support, as it provides you with a 24/7 help desk, where the person on the other end of the phone is an experienced and knowledgeable professional.

This means both minor and major IT problems can be tackled as quickly as possible, ensuring that your company doesn’t suffer due to tech issues. And the insight of an expert who works with many different businesses can be a valuable resource to expand your own IT knowledge.

Integrated Working

It is possible you may have a situation where some staff have to be in the working environment and cannot conduct their roles entirely from home. In that case, you will need to take a hybrid approach. 

The right IT tools can support you by allowing this flexibility. Choosing cloud-based applications means that staff can access key documents and files in any location with a Wi-Fi connection, whether they are having to split their time between an office or home working, or having to make essential travel to sites across the country. 

If you do have some staff members who must come into an office setting, as well as implementing deep cleans and limiting staff numbers to ensure social distancing, then using a proximity contact tracing service can help to identify and isolate those who may have been in contact with the virus and quickly alert managers and other staff members to ensure maximum safety for your staff as they carry out their duties.

Collaborative project management platforms such as Trello can also create full transparency, so that if a staff member does have to either self-isolate for a period of time, or is off sick, then everyone involved can see where the project is up to and what actions have taken place, making it easier for colleagues to pick up and take over where necessary.