Regardless of the type of financial services firm you run–from accounting to banking or to wealth management–all financial service providers need to keep their customer data secure. Back in the day, this simply meant keeping physical records safe from prying eyes. Today, it involves sophisticated software and 24/7 monitoring of secure databases. 

Setting up your own IT infrastructure and hiring a qualified IT professional to manage it can be costly. Luckily, there are affordable solutions available for small and medium-sized enterprises–one such solution is known as ‘managed IT services.

What Are Managed IT Services?

Simply put, an IT managed services provider is an IT company in Houston or elsewhere, that you contract to handle all of your IT needs. IT service providers offer a wide variety of services to their clients.

Remote Server and Cloud Access

Rather than hosting your files locally, a managed IT services firm can hold all of your data in cloud servers at their secure IT facility. This makes their services accessible from anywhere, which is especially beneficial for businesses with remote workers and clientele. For financial services firms, this requires having the highest level of software protection available. 

Cyber Security Solutions

Installing simple antivirus software on your company’s computers is not a substitute for professional-level cyber security. With threats from malicious hackers to automated bots constantly searching for vulnerabilities, keeping your customers’ financial data secure is best managed by qualified organizations. Managed IT services offer an array of solutions that meet the security needs of businesses of all sizes and types.

Software Implementation and Optimization

While your current software may be sufficient to handle the needs of your day-to-day business, there are likely efficiencies that can be realized by implementing better software solutions. Managed IT services are experts in a vast spectrum of business software solutions and can suggest solutions to help optimize daily operations. 

What Are the Benefits of Managed IT Services?

While you may have some concerns about handing over your IT infrastructure to a third party, efficiency increases and incidents decrease when a company outsources its IT needs.

Long-Term Cost Savings

Long-term savings are some of the biggest benefits of managed IT services. Many small and medium-sized businesses struggle to attract and retain qualified IT specialists, and those that can often pay a small fortune for the privilege. 

Managed IT services replace this expensive proposition with a simple and affordable subscription fee. This eliminates the headache of not only payroll for IT but also the difficulty of retaining talent. 

Round-the-Clock Access 

Managed IT services can offer 24/7 support that in-house IT professionals can’t match, and at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, both you and your customers can rest easy knowing that their financial data is secure and available at any time of day. 

Constant Up-to-Date Protection

Managed IT service firms have a team of professionals, each dedicated to an area of expertise. This combined depth of knowledge is worth its weight in gold and is typically far more comprehensive than even the most well-rounded IT professional. What this means is that because each member of the IT services team is a specialist, they are able to stay well-versed on the latest trends and technologies in their corner of the IT world. 

In smaller businesses with just one or two IT employees, it’s a challenge to make sure these areas are up-to-date, and that challenge becomes more difficult with each software addition and business expansion. This leads to knowledge gaps that allow malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in your business's financial IT systems. 

Unlocking Success with Managed IT Services

By having the combined powers of an entire team of IT professionals at your fingertips, managed IT services can offer unparalleled access, protection, and software optimization while allowing for a host of cost savings for your financial services business. 

Financial services are one of the most commonly attacked business categories in the world of cyber security, and maintaining vigilance is paramount to protecting not only your customers’ data but also your firm's reputation. Managed IT services offer affordable solutions to keep your business running smoothly, effectively, and safely.