Have You Considered Managed IT Services For Nonprofits?

Managed IT Services For Nonprofits?

Nonprofits struggle with many challenges that traditional enterprise-based corporations do not, given that they often operate on the bare minimum of resources, staff, and volunteers.

While you’re likely grateful for every last person who gives of their time and talent to assist in the organization’s efforts, they don’t always have all of the skill sets you need to successfully run the operation. This often means that you have to pick up the slack – but everyone has their limitations.

Especially when it comes to IT.

Properly implemented technology isn’t easy to achieve when you are dependent on volunteer labor and have a small budget.

More than that, you have a lot of places you need your money — and personnel — to go. Unfortunately, technology and IT employees are sometimes the last things to be considered in the budget.

Why Is IT So Difficult For Nonprofits?

No IT Plan: Technology should not just be an afterthought. It’s critical that you align technology to your organizational goals so that you’re not wasting money or technology you’ve already bought.
Unreliable Technology: Given how crucial technology is to everyday tasks at your nonprofit, you need to make sure your infrastructure is up to the task of handling it. That means taking stock of your hardware and determining if it is capable of supporting your daily operations without needing to be fixed repeatedly.
Poor ROI: You’ve only got so much money to work with, right? Then why are you spending it on the wrong technology?
- Ineffective technology: This refers to your consumer-grade, free-trial (i.e. cheap) technology. Sure, it may be the least expensive option, but if it doesn’t work well, or doesn’t last long, was it really worth your money?
- Technology you don’t need: A smart hub from Google or Amazon may be cool, but do you really need it? The same goes for a massive cloud suite subscription, like Microsoft Office 365 Business.

All of this goes to show why the right management and planning are so important with IT for nonprofits. Have you considered how managed IT services will help?

What Are Managed IT Services (And What Do They Offer Nonprofits)?

By definition, Managed Services are a set of best practices, processes, and tools that, when combined with technical knowledge and proper facilitation, delivers an ideal IT-based result for businesses.

In English? Managed IT Services take care of everything IT-related for your organization, proactively preventing problems instead of fixing them after the fact. Simple as that.

For many businesses, the cost of hiring even a single internal IT person is too expensive. They need a salary, training, benefits, vacation… it’s a lot to budget for. That’s why outsourced IT services have largely become the norm, with service levels varying depending on the Managed IT Services company in question.

Managed IT services for nonprofits will help you:

Save Your Money
Reducing IT costs is one of the most appealing reasons businesses work with an IT company. Businesses that choose to outsource can convert unplanned IT expenses to fixed, predictable ones. This frees up capital for other aspects of their business.

Plus, it saves on hiring (and firing) in-house staff, paying benefits such as sick leave, health insurance, and social security. In addition, your IT company will be available 24/7, whereas in-house staff may take off due to personal issues or illness.
Protect Your Business
Security is one of the most important aspects of technology. While technology evolves and data expands, the number of ways your IT network can be compromised increases.

But to make sure your offsite server is secure, it must be continuously monitored and assessed. Your IT company can provide security services, advise you on the credentials of vendors, and conduct ongoing risk assessments to identify network vulnerabilities.
Reduce Your Risks
Technical issues can affect more than just your systems – as soon as downtime affects your staff and your supporters, your reputation is at risk. You don’t want to worry that your information has been breached, or that a faulty backup means you lost it altogether. With an IT company on your side, you can reduce and mitigate risks associated with IT.
Harness New Technology
Many nonprofits find it difficult to keep up with the latest advances in technology. Outsourcing your IT to a local IT company provides easy access to the latest technology so you can be more competitive in this technology-driven world.

Furthermore, with an IT company, these solutions are less expensive than if you purchased them yourself. Most IT companies have partnerships with vendors and can provide new technologies at a reduced cost.
Grow Your IT With Your Nonprofit
As your organization grows, your IT needs to grow as well. Keep in mind that new service offerings often come with significant upgrades or new software. Your IT company can provide the flexibility you need to change your products/services or add new ones when required.