IT support plays a critical role in any modern business that utilises technology. A thorough IT management plan and infrastructure ensures employees have the necessary tools and resources to perform their jobs effectively, efficiently and securely. 

Whether you work in Legal, Construction, Healthcare or Property, if you don’t have managed IT support, you may struggle to keep up with the ever-changing technology landscape, resulting in lost productivity, security breaches, and other costly issues.

Why is IT support so important? 

One of the most important functions of IT support is to provide employees with the hardware and software they need to do their jobs. 

From laptops, desktops, printers and servers, to mobiles, software applications, cloud solutions and operating systems, it’s the responsibility of an IT support team to ensure these devices and software are properly configured and maintained. 

Keeping systems safe and secure through IT support

When an operating system is outdated, it can leave companies at risk of cyber attacks and data leaks, and the impact may be detrimental.

One of the most infamous cyber attacks in the world infected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries, and resulted in global costs of £6 billion. WannaCry, a ransomware worm spread through a number of Windows computer networks in May 2017, encrypted files on the computer’s hard drive which meant users were unable to access them, and would demand bitcoin payment to decrypt them. 

Organisations such as The NHS were severely impacted, as they were locked out of computers, medical devices and other critical pieces of equipment. They were infected as they were using unpatched and/or outdated Windows operating systems.

This is where IT support comes in. Responsible for updating and patching software to protect it against any vulnerabilities, flaws and bugs, they drastically reduce the risk of security breaches and attacks. 

why is it support important

Maintenance and preventive support 

In addition to providing support for employees, IT support teams are also responsible for maintaining the security of a business’s network and data. 

This includes cyber security including implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures to protect against hacking, malware, and other types of cyberattacks. IT support teams also work to ensure that data is properly backed up and that disaster recovery plans are in place to minimise the impact of any data loss.

Technical support 

According to Linkedin, technical faults and issues cost UK businesses £3.6million in lost productivity and business annually. 

When your team experiences downtime and they don’t have a team of experts to turn to, they’re left trying to fix the problem themselves, which can make it even worse. Technical problems can also impact customers, which may have an adverse impact on brand reputation. 

However, IT support provides your employees with the technical assistance they need to resolve problems with their devices and software. Whether it’s an issue with a printer, a problem with a software application, or a question about how to use a new feature, IT support teams are available to help employees troubleshoot and resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.

Staying compliant with regulation 

IT support teams play a vital  role in helping businesses stay compliant with regulatory requirements, such as the Data Protection Act, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and GDPR. 

These regulations set strict guidelines for how data must be stored, transmitted, and protected, and IT support teams are responsible for ensuring that a business’s technology infrastructure and security practices comply with these regulations.

IT support is essential for the smooth running of any business. It is crucial for providing employees with the tools and resources they need to perform their jobs, resolving technical problems, maintaining network security, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. With the constant changes in technology, it is important for businesses to have access to a qualified and reliable IT support team.

Speak to an expert today or email [email protected] to find about our IT support services.