What Are Infrastructure Managed Services?

IT infrastructures are an integral part of operations for businesses of all sizes and from various industries. Organizations rely heavily on these complex infrastructures for many purposes, from general operational support to enhanced productivity to maintaining a competitive edge. Given their role, the demand for sophisticated IT systems has skyrocketed, encompassing everything from networks and servers to storage and security solutions.

However, managing this complex technology infrastructure can be tricky for small startups and large enterprises alike. Tech advancements and cybersecurity threats are ever-evolving, so it’s important to stay abreast of changes to avoid related challenges.

To address these unique challenges, many organizations are turning to managed infrastructure services. These services take the stress out of managing and optimizing IT infrastructure, allowing businesses to focus on and prioritize their core activities.

Understanding Managed Infrastructure Services

Managed infrastructure services are simply outsourced IT infrastructure management to a third-party service provider. The provider assumes the responsibility of monitoring, maintaining, and optimizing the IT infrastructure to keep everything running smoothly, efficiently, and securely.

These services often include network, server, storage, and security management. In modern business environments, where technology is crucial to business success, those services play a vital role. They ensure businesses have access to specialized expertise and advanced tools to keep IT systems performing well, reliably, securely, and compliantly with industry standards.

Components of Managed Infrastructure Services

Managed infrastructure services typically involve four core components: network management, server management, storage management, and security management. Each serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall function and security of the organization’s IT infrastructure.

Network Management

The network management portion of managed IT infrastructure services covers the network itself. It involves monitoring and maintaining network performance to ensure data can move smoothly and efficiently throughout the organization.

Service providers leverage high-tech tools to detect and resolve network issues before they spiral out of control, minimizing downtime and optimizing performance. They also implement robust security measures to protect the network, warding against cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Server Management

Servers are the backbone of the well-oiled infrastructure machine, so proper management is integral to business continuity. Managed infrastructure services take care of this, routinely updating and maintaining the servers to promote smooth and secure operations.

Providers ensure the servers are up-to-date with the latest software patches and security updates. In addition, they continuously optimize performance to ensure servers can handle workloads efficiently.

Storage Management

Managed infrastructure providers also handle storage management, designing and implementing strategies that securely store data. These services provide comprehensive solutions for all aspects of storage management.

This includes data backup and recovery, ensuring organizations have reliable backup solutions in place to prevent data loss and ensure quick recovery in disastrous events. It also includes storage optimization and scalability to manage storage resources, ensuring optimized usage and accommodating growing data needs.

Security Management

Effective security is essential for any business. Managed infrastructure services handle this, too, offering robust security management strategies designed to safeguard the organization. Threat detection and prevention are core elements of a well-rounded strategy. Providers use advanced tools and techniques to detect and prevent cyber threats.

These strategies also include compliance measures designed to ensure IT systems comply with relevant regulations and industry standards. Since failure to comply can lead to penalties and data breaches, this is another integral part of a security management strategy.

Benefits of Managed Infrastructure Services

Switching to managed infrastructure services can be highly beneficial for organizations of all sizes. Hiring a professional service provider can offer:

• Cost savings and budget predictability: By outsourcing IT management, organizations can reduce the need for in-house IT staff and infrastructure, leading to lower operational costs. Furthermore, since managed services usually offer predictable pricing models, organizations can more accurately plan budgets.
• Improved system reliability and performance: Managed IT service providers utilize advanced monitoring tools and proactive maintenance practices to keep IT systems running smoothly and efficiently. This translates to improved system reliability and performance for the organization, reducing downtime and boosting productivity.
• Enhanced security and compliance: Cyber threats are on the rise, and businesses need to take measures to protect their data and systems. These services provide comprehensive security solutions, ensuring your system is well-protected to ward off cyber threats.
• Focus on core business operations: By offloading IT management tasks to a service provider, organizations can focus on core business activities. This can free up time and resources that can be reallocated to strategic initiatives and business growth.

Managed IT Infrastructure Services

Managed IT infrastructure services encompass numerous offerings, each designed to support and enhance a business’s IT environment. While services may vary from provider to provider, they often include:

• IT support and helpdesk services for around-the-clock assistance to address IT issues when they happen
• Hardware and software procurement assistance to help select, purchase, and deploy IT hardware and software
• IT consultancy and strategy planning guidance, complete with expert advice that ensures IT infrastructure aligns with business goals
• Integration with existing systems for a seamless switch to managed services

What is Included in Managed Infrastructure Services?

Managed infrastructure services often include:

• Proactive monitoring and maintenance to detect and resolve issues before they escalate and impact daily operations
• Regular updates and patches to keep systems current with the latest software updates and patches
• Data backup and disaster recovery planning to ensure data protection and business continuity in case of cyber attacks or similar catastrophes
• Network security and compliance management to ensure that IT systems are secure and compliant with relevant regulations and industry standards

In addition to the basics, managed infrastructure providers may offer extra services that meet specific business needs, including:

• Cloud services and management to optimize performance and scalability
• Virtualization support to assist with implementing and managing virtualization technologies
• End-user support and training to enhance productivity and ensure effective use of IT systems

Final Thoughts

Considering the complexity of the ever-evolving technology-driven business world, managed infrastructure services can be a worthy investment for businesses of all industries and sizes. These services offer a strategic advancement, giving businesses more time and resources to focus on core activities without sacrificing IT infrastructure, security, or compliance.

If your business is seeking managed infrastructure services, chat with our team at Infiniwiz. Our managed IT services cover all aspects of your organization's needs, from hardware and software to technical support and strategic consulting. Contact us today at (847) 499-1515 or complete our online contact form to get started.