Upgrade to Managed IT Services: Toronto SMBs Should Outsource

Here’s Why?

Richard, a young entrepreneur, opened a shop with 3 employees and a very basic online spreadsheet a few years ago. With his background in finance, a stable and reliable supply-chain, great team, and a lot of hard work, his business grew. Over time, he was able to expand the operation and increased his team to 20 people. Ironically, however, with the increased volume of stocks to meet demand, he noticed that more mistakes were made when it comes to purchases and order fulfilment. The breaking point was when he lost recent data during a meeting with a potential investor. This cost him added capital to acquire a brand he has been eyeing for months.  He should have invested in managed IT services Toronto.

Challenges for Growing SMBs in Toronto 

This kind of scenario is not news for various small and medium-sized companies in the Greater Toronto Area. Business owners from various industries have either heard a similar thing happening to a competitor or a friend or are currently experiencing the same. These are challenges that would have been mitigated with a proper IT system. Unfortunately, having an in-house IT support team also comes with more challenges than what they are worth. The best solution would be a managed IT support and services team.  

What Does a Managed IT Support and Services Provider Do? 

To understand this, we must first understand the important role of IT in today’s businesses. IT services in the modern sense are no longer confined to fixing computers. In an age where almost everything is digitized and connected via the internet, IT professionals are now key members of any company to help improve operations, secure systems, protect information, and meet regulatory requirements. 

In this regard, managed IT support and services firms provide the necessary skills, applications, and platforms for a business. This may also include the maintenance and security of these systems, depending on the company’s needs. 

But Why Outsource?  

The Real Cost of Maintaining Status Quo 

Change is scary especially for people who were able to grow their business from scratch. However, as your company becomes bigger, the challenges are likewise expanding. What used to work with your 5-person team will not be the same for a team of 20 or 50 people. Additionally, when the rudimentary technology that you have been using is compromised due to hacking or human error, the results can be catastrophic. 

Although it may be recoverable, if your system was down for a full day, this translates to 20 people being paid for a full day’s work without output as they wait for the system to get back up. If each person is getting $20 per hour, this means $3,200 down the drain for you. If you include loss of profit, cancelled orders, lost investment opportunity, and customer dissatisfaction, this number can escalate real quickly. In a 2023 study, they calculated that small businesses can lose as much as $400 per minute, this is also applicable to Toronto SMBs. This is exponentially more expensive than investing on partnering with a reliable managed IT support and services provider. 

The Trouble with Reactive IT Troubleshooting 

Traditionally, companies would call on the “IT guy” only when their computers stopped working or they needed to install Wi-Fi. This kind of IT service is called reactive IT troubleshooting, or simply, fixing the issues as they arise. This means that you only pay attention to matters such as your server, hardware, software, and cybersecurity only when you encounter issues. As such, your IT team would need to play catch-up in installing the latest versions of the software and updating hardware parts. This kind of approach is not just costly, as it mostly would need a lot of repairs, replacement, updates all at once, it also incurs a lot of opportunity costs. While your system is down because of the repairs, competitors might have already expanded their business, snatched your customers, and possibly, investors.  

Challenges in Creating an In-House IT Team

Availability and Salary

The number of skilled and experienced IT professionals is significantly less than what the market needs. In fact, this is one of the reasons cited by the World Economic Forum to cause the widening gap in the strength of cybersecurity posture between large corporations and SMBs in its Global Cybersecurity Outlook in 2024.

Employers who tried hiring IT professionals from the Toronto job market would be able to attest that the rate to hire one would be at least $50,000 annually. This does not include fringe benefits. Regular training of IT staff is also a necessary expense if you want a team that is up to date with the trends and threats. Hiring inexperienced and untrained IT staff will just lead to further issues should major attacks arise. 

High Turnover Risk

Now, say your company is able to afford salary, benefits, and training, for maybe even a team of 3 people in the IT department. Another issue that you would come across is the competition against large companies for these IT talents. While you are working up ways to afford a team, a bigger company might have already offered them three times the amount you can pay.  

On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to hire and train a team, there is no guarantee that they will stay longer than a few months. Usually aiming for larger corporations, some IT professionals use SMBs as springboard towards these corporations after a brief “experience.” Given this turnover risk, your investment for an in-house team may just go down the drain.

Equipment and Software

If your company would be lucky enough to find an IT team that has pledged allegiance to you, then congratulations! However, the challenge does not stop there. Any IT team is dependent on the tools they use to get the job done. This includes additional hardware, various software for monitoring and protection from threats, pieces of equipment for troubleshooting, and licenses. Additionally, regular updates on these tools, and periodic staff training are also imperative. 

All these would incur additional capital for the business. To make matters worse, these tools, although necessary, are mostly underutilized in small and medium-sized businesses in Toronto. This means that these tools and capabilities are used only occasionally and would not be able to fully depreciate.  

How Managed IT Support Firms Work 

As mentioned above, outsourcing to a trusted managed IT support provider basically allows you to have an IT team, albeit outside of your office and payroll. Acquiring their services does not only provide you with a team of experts to handle your IT and cybersecurity needs, it also provides all the necessary tools, software, and platform that you would have otherwise bought yourself but cannot maximize the use for. But did you know that there are a lot more things that they can do for you aside from fixing your Wi-Fi connections? 

Proactive Measures, System Updates, and Issue Resolution  

Unlike the traditional way of reactive troubleshooting, managed IT services, Toronto-based firms especially, focus on proactive measures. This means that the health of the network is equipped with a 24/7 monitoring IT system to pinpoint possible issues. Hence, should there be any impending failures, appropriate measures are quickly applied to mitigate the matter, regardless of the time of day. Therefore, if your software encounters problems at midnight, your team will be none the wiser and come into a continuously smooth-running system by office hours.   

It also includes periodic checks, software updates and maintenance scheduled outside business hours. For small and medium-sized businesses in Toronto, this means significantly decreased downtime and operation remains uninterrupted. Moreover, it also means your expenses are consistent and predictable as any changes and updates in the system as forecasted. Hence, expensive emergency repairs and expedited ordering of parts, software, and hardware are avoided.  

Dedicated, Accessible, and Expert Helpdesk Available for Your Team 

Managed IT services Toronto, especially by EB Solution, provide a support team available 24/7. Monitoring IT and troubleshooting would not be a cause of concern for your team members as professional help is just a call away. Hence, instead of bothering each other for assistance that none of them can truly assist with, individual employees can simply call and have the problem mitigated quickly. No matter the issue, from password resetting, installation of software and even connectivity challenges, expert IT personnel are at your team’s service.  

Strategic IT Planning Included 

Aside from managing your current system and ensuring that it is safe from cyber risk, a reliable Managed IT services Toronto-based company would also offer suggestions to improve your business system. This includes strategic planning for system upgrades, improvement, and scale of overall tech infrastructure. They can also provide valuable input on which investments relating to technology offer the best return.  

Why Outsource IT support Toronto SMB-Friendly and Beneficial 

As a business that is small to medium-seize, outsourcing your IT to a trusted provider is the best option. Below are some benefits that this option gives you.  

24/7 Monitoring, IT Support and Availability but Not 24/7 on Payroll 

Your company’s operation does not stop just because your office closes at 5pm. The business’ website, online store, email, and chat services are still up and running. This is the power of technology, and this is the reason your system needs 24/7 monitoring. Managed IT support services therefore play a major role here. However, because this is through a provider, you don’t have to pay in-house personnel 24/7 as well.  

Additionally, for companies who do operate at most times of the day because of their diverse and dynamic customer needs, help is always available. Need to reset password at 2am, no problem, just give your trusted IT management provider like EB Solution a call.  

Get Expert and Professional Help All the Time 

Let’s face it, most of your team knows how to use the computer only because they are trained to do their jobs on specific apps and platforms. But, if you talk about systems and troubleshooting, no one would be knowledgeable enough to do it. What is more dangerous is to attempt to fix things you do not know about. This is why outsource IT support, Toronto SMB-focused like EB Solution, is advantageous. You get premium service from an expert and professional IT and cybersecurity team without paying top-tier employee salary. No matter how complex the issue is, you are assured that they know what they are doing and can troubleshoot with tools and experience in their arsenal. This is something that you cannot maintain in-house unless your company is a major corporation.  

Scalable Services That Adjust with Your Business 

Your business will continue to grow, that is inevitable. Therefore, your IT needs would also change. Furthermore, your IT requirement may also need to adapt to peak and off-peak seasons. Having an in-house team would not be too flexible when it comes to this, that is why outsource managed IT support, Toronto SMB-friendly. Your team of professional and experienced IT experts are able to scale up and adjust to your needs as they fluctuate. This also means that you only pay for exactly what you need. So go ahead and strike your deals for business growth, EB Solution’s IT management support and services team will handle everything else, tech-wise.  

Stronger Cybersecurity Posture 

It is not a secret that along with the development of technology, the threat increases. Unfortunately, small and medium-sized businesses are excellent targets for hackers. This is because SMBs usually do not have enough cybersecurity strength to prevent or counter an attack. Here is why IT managed support’s 24/7 monitoring IT activities come into play. Trends will be checked and any deviation from normal can signal an impending attack or hackers “testing the waters.” With a team of experts from firms of managed IT services Toronto, not only will you be able to prevent this attack, but you can actually resolve one quicker in case it gets through. Moreover, most managed IT services Toronto also offer business continuity and disaster recovery protocol that you might want to explore and invest in. 

Service Level Agreements Guaranteed 

Since you are dealing with IT and cybersecurity professionals, service is always guaranteed. This means that response and resolution times for any concern have a set time frame. This is why outsource IT support, Toronto SMB’s best option. You don’t have to spend time waiting or following up for action and when the system gets back up, in the unlikely event of a downtime. You and your team can therefore set your expectations and provide accurate feedback to your customers as well.  

Stability and Predictability of Investment and Capital 

Yes, a good managed IT support and service partner is an investment. In the same vein, every money spent on this service can be considered capital. This is because it elevates the value of your business. Your outsourced IT management team will provide you with monthly billing and a list of billable services ahead of time. Similarly, in the event of expansion, adjustment, procurement of hardware and software, all these are scheduled periodically. This means that you will not be bothered with emergency expenses that cost more. Hence, making planning financially simpler and easier. 

Elevates Business Value 

A strong cybersecurity posture and a well-established IT system adds value to any business. This does not only help with increasing productivity and optimizing operation. It also means that the company is compliant with industry regulations, especially on data protection. In the same vein, the business is protected from issues that can cause expenses like ransomware, customer compensation, and legal fines. In this day and age, investors, especially younger ones, are keen on these details as they understand modern risks involved. 

Case Study: Downtime Slashed by 89% for Toronto-Based Business 

DISCLAIMER: Business profile intentionally changed to protect client privacy and uphold non-disclosure agreement.
However, the measured outcomes in percentage are accurate.  

Metro Sporting Goods* is a chain of retail stores currently with multiple locations in the province of Ontario. Relatively a new player in the industry, their business saw exponential growth only in the past few years post pandemic. Initially starting off as an online retailer of sporting equipment that eventually led to store operations in different locations. Like many entrepreneurs who started on the couch, their IT technology started and was mostly maintained by social media marketplace and a basic program in a spreadsheet. As they grew, the systems have become more complicated with each additional location, staff, and products. Hence leading to inconsistency and lack of backup procedures.  

Issues Experienced 

System crashes are commonly experienced, almost on a weekly basis, that lead to missed orders and unhappy customers. Additionally, gaps in the supply-chain are also traced back to these downtimes. They employed a systems consultant, who eventually admitted that an in-house IT team is something that is not feasible for the business at this point. 

This happened after their Anniversary sale led to a lot of complaints from delayed deliverables when the system broke with only part of the data recoverable. It led to days and a lot of overtime hours spent back tracking all means of communication to ensure that every order was accounted for and delivered. Fines and additional expenses were also noted from expedited shipping of orders from suppliers. 

Moreover, franchise meetings and business development plans were put on hold following this event. 

EB Solution’s Plan and Implementation 

After getting in touch with EB Solution, a meeting was set to get an idea of what the vision and desired outcomes are. IT Experts were also able to assess and understand the current system. This led to a proposal so that technology can meet the business owner’s goals. Some hardware was upgraded, while others were totally replaced. Software updates were also done, including POS and inventory management system. Better programs and platforms were implemented that connected all stores but also maintained local accessibility. A 24/7 monitoring IT system was established. After which, store managers and employees underwent training for both the system implementation and cybersecurity risks prevention. This also includes going through the business continuity and disaster recovery plans.  

Measured Outcomes 

The changes were not implemented all at once. Every action with the plan was scheduled such that it will not require the business to pause operation. Completed in a span of three weeks, with improvements noticed as early as the first phase of the plan implementation during month 1 of the IT upgrade. After observing for three months from completion of the plan, downtime was recorded to have decreased from an average of 16 to 20 hours a month to less than 2 hours.

Response time to these downtimes is recorded to be an average of 18 minutes and resolution is achieved as quickly as 13 minutes to, at most, 68 minutes. Recent sales and promotional campaigns also showed stable system conditions despite the influx of orders. All these were billed a monthly amount which is at least 20% less than previous monthly IT expenditure from reactive troubleshooting and emergency IT rescues. This does not include costs lost from missed sales and overtime pay for employees to sort out order issues and inventory.  

Is Your Business Ready for Our Managed IT Support and Solutions? 

If you are still unsure about diving into outsourcing your IT needs, there are some signs that can help you determine if this service is for you. 

• Your IT team or personnel is swamped fixing issues rather than planning and scheduling updates and upgrades. This means that you have far too many breakages and your IT team is playing catch-up on the updates as they fix the issue instead of having periodic maintenance. 
  

• Increasing number and length of downtimes. This usually means that your system is having an infrastructure issue and may need an overhaul before it totally crashes beyond recovery. 

• History of Breach. Any form of cybersecurity attack is a red flag. It means your system has been compromised and an infection can still be hiding within.  

• IT issues consume more time than business development. This indicates that your IT issues are already hindering business growth. As such, it must be resolved immediately so that the focus goes back to business initiatives. 

Why is EB Solution the Best IT Partner for Toronto SMBs? 

We are Local but can Offer Remote Support 

Yes, we are a legitimate business operating with the GTA. This means we know the challenges that local small and medium-sized businesses encounter. Similarly, we can provide quick onsite assistance, if needed. However, we are also remote. This means we can provide assistance off site for quicker response time. Hence, keeping our end of the service level agreement of providing response and resolution in minutes, not days! 

Ground Experience, Beginning and Expansion 

Our team are experienced professionals who started in the front lines of a larger business telephone company. We have slowly worked up and expanded our knowledge and skills set, overtime. This means we know first-hand what your business needs and what we can do to deliver these services. Our business has basically started with the goal of providing small and medium-sized businesses with the technology that was, previously, afforded only to larger corporations. Now, we cater to all businesses, regardless of size.  

IT Expertise Across Various Industries 

Our team here in EB Solution team is now composed of various professionals with experience working in different fields prior to coming in together as a distinct team. Hence, we are able to work with Toronto SMBs across all industries, finance, law, retail, manufacturing, logistics and transport, healthcare, hospitality, and more! We understand industry-specific compliance requirements, workflow needs, and technology challenges better than anyone. 

Microsoft and Datto-Certified Engineers 

Our technical team has certifications to back up their experience and skills. Ensuring that our services are reliable and trustworthy. Our engineers here at EB Solution hold recent certifications from Microsoft, Datto, and other leading technology vendors. We make sure to keep ourselves abreast with updates in technological best practices and business processes, so we only provide the best service your company needs. 

Award Recognition and Credibility 

It is our pride and joy that EB Solution is a finalist for the CanadianSME Award. This means our team has demonstrated excellence in serving small and medium businesses in the country. This recognition shows our commitment to providing nothing but the best service to drive real business results for our clients. 

How to Get Started 

First things first, schedule your discovery call with us today! Will get to know more about you, your business, and your goals. We will then assess your system and see what the gaps and pain points are. With the data gathered, we will make sure to create a custom plan that will answer the current issues. We will provide a detailed description of each phase, expected costs with no surprises, backup plans, among others. These solutions will be specific to your needs in order to meet your goals.  

Following this planning stage would be the onboarding process. Our average is 10 business days, however, depending on the case it can stretch into months. No worries as we always make sure to prioritize more pressing issues over others. We will also ensure to work with your business hours to ensure that there is minimum to no disruption to your operation. Equally as important, staff and team training will also be conducted to ensure that the end-users are equipped with skills and knowledge on how to work within the new system. 

Transform your IT Challenges into a Competitive Advantage! 

Book your consultation with our Toronto-based IT consultants and schedule your technology assessment. Our team will provide customer solutions specific to your needs and goals. No obligation and no pressure, just honest and subjective advice on how to approach your IT challenges so you can turn them into your competitive advantage.