Graham Johnson - IT Management Outsourcing

Business-Enabling Information Technology Solutions

IT Management Outsourcing

Most enterprises today find themselves in a position where their Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, whether it be a single computer or many computers in a network, forms an integral part of their business – a part they are dependent on. However, when it comes to managing it to the best advantage of the enterprise, they often get lost in a world of technicality and incomprehensible jargon.

Traditionally, as an enterprise grows, it usually reaches a point where management realises that something must be done and then gets someone to "look after the computers" – someone they can call every time something goes wrong. When they grow even further, they usually appoint someone to "look after the computers" in-house. Further growth just results in more and more people being added to "look after the computers". The emphasis throughout is on reaction – action is only taken when something goes wrong. In the meantime, until it happens, management is in the dark, not knowing if everything is really working properly, just hoping it doesn’t “fall over” too soon.

Information Technology Management

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and that is one of the purposes of IT Management. The essence of IT Management lies in it being predominantly pro-active – rather than waiting for a problem and then “fixing” it, effective IT Management endeavours to firstly prevent as many problems as possible and secondly to be prepared to resolve problems that do occur as quickly as possible and with minimal loss of productivity. But effective IT Management goes further than merely addressing problems – it also seeks to ensure that an enterprise’s IT infrastructure is at all times optimally aligned with the enterprise’s operational requirements, constantly adapting to changes in such requirements to ensure that they are fully supported.

There are many advantages to be gained from managing IT effectively. Downtime is limited to the minimum. Data is safe – total loss of all data is practically impossible. Users optimize the value gained from IT by gradually learning more advanced methods and techniques. Management remains up to date on the status of IT in the company and is kept informed of possible changes that could enhance business operations. Planning and budgeting is easier, keeping unexpected expenses to the minimum. In the event that problems still occur, they are resolved much quicker because the people responsible are fully informed of all systems and hardware in use. All of this results in a stable and reliable IT infrastructure that truly supports the enterprise and becomes an effective aid to productivity rather than being the hindrance so many enterprises have become accustomed to.

The Problem

The problem that most enterprises face is that they can neither afford a full-time IT manager nor keep such a person busy for five days a week. Many enterprises that can afford it battle to get an individual or team of individuals with the necessary combination of skills and knowledge. A truly multi-disciplinary team is needed, irrespective of the size of the enterprise. This is where outsourcing fits in.

The Solution

By outsourcing its IT management an enterprise gets access to exactly the combination of skills they require. Where applicable such skills may be used (and paid for) only as and when needed. Human resource management is easier as the enterprise has no administrative responsibility towards IT staff and they never have the problem of their IT staff being off-sick or on leave.

Graham Johnson's IT management outsourcing service entails taking responsibility for ensuring that his customers' IT infrastructure contributes maximally towards their business strategies and objectives. Depending on the extent of the customer's IT infrastructure and budgetary constraints, this may involve anything from a single visit to the customer’s premises per month up to permanently placing a full IT department on-site – no customer is too big or too small. It is also important to note that we focus on supporting what our customers do and not on trying to make sure that they have the latest and greatest and most sophisticated in IT.

To find out how we can help you gain maximal advantage from your IT infrastructure, please contact us.

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