So, what the heck is “remote IT monitoring and management?” Sounds like engineering got involved in naming a new toy. Not exactly…

The idea behind this is simple – a managed service that leverages ASPEx IT tools and expertise to allow you to focus on your business – not in managing IT. We work to make IT more effective, and less costly, for your business.

 I know what you’re thinking – another snake oil salesman promising the same thing – “Step right up ladies and gentlemen! Ladies will become more beautiful, men more strong, and children brighter and well behaved if you simply sign up for this service!”  (If we could deliver on these promises we wouldn’t be writing this blog.)

The reality is this – the vast majority of small and medium sized businesses do not have the resources to engage a comprehensive set of expert IT skills and world-class IT tools. However, ASPEx has the tools and skills you can’t afford – at a fraction of the cost. How? Leverage. The tools allow us to manage and monitor your IT assets on a continual basis including servers, networks, desktops/laptops, printers, firewalls, switches, routers, etc. We do so with a toolset designed to allow us to perform this work for multiple clients on a remote basis. This allows us to utilize expert IT talent for many clients simultaneously. Leverage.

And yes, we do come on-site when needed to deal with issues. Our technicians will be dispatched quickly as we are able to see what’s happening with your systems on a real time basis. Leverage.

Do you have an IT staff that is having a difficult time keeping up with the day-to-day maintenance? Allow ASPEx to take responsibility and free up your IT staff to work on more strategic efforts. Leverage.

Do you wonder if your IT environment is secure? Allow ASPEx to take this on for you using our tools and skills. Leverage.

Does your business struggle to locate someone with the “right” skills to deal with a specific IT asset? Allow ASPEx to take on these responsibilities on an as needed basis. Leverage.

Are you growing and need to focus your resources (money) on more important initiatives than adding new IT staff to manage your growing IT infrastructure? Allow ASPEx to do this at a lower cost. Leverage.

So what do we call this thing – remote IT monitoring and management – We call it Total IT Care. Call us for more information. We will show you how Total IT Care can improve IT efficiency and lower on-going IT operating costs. Leverage.

Preaching to the masses – It’s tough out there right now! How far can we cut our costs? How do we keep our employees on board? How do we keep our (suffering) customers happy?

In the midst of all of this, and  nearly countless of other issues, why do we need someone to help us think “strategically” about technology? What a waste of money…

Only problem is – the pace of technical change continues to directly impact nearly every facet of the business world. One key example – Have you given any serious thoughts to old fashioned marketing lately? Don’t look too closely – marketing is HEAVILY driven by various and sundry technologies. Twitter is not all about making sure that you know what your best friend had for breakfast. Face Book is being leveraged for a whole lot more than figuring out who has the most friends. Basically, the marketing world has been turned upside down. The common denominator to all of this is technology.

How about your work force? Mobility has been a force for a number of years. What has made that realistic – again, technology.

How about collaboration between you and your customers, and, or, suppliers? Yep, technology driven…

Business metrics and intelligence gathering – yet again another example of an area utterly transformed by technology.

Want to cut costs out of your operation? Almost all cost cutting is enabled to some degree by an underlying technology.

Most (all?) SMB’s cannot afford a full-time “C” level type to help think through technology-related issues. But, you say, we do have an IT manager! Yes, you probably do. And, they almost certainly have their hands full keeping the current tech infrastructure working/patched/secure/etc. Do they have the time to meet with your leaders and help figure out technology can/should support the business strategically?

You need to decide – do you allow them to off-load certain “mundane” work so that they have the time to work with you and your leaders, or do you find someone who can come in and help deal with the strategic issues. Consultant? Full-time? Someone on retainer?

Or, do you “let technology happen?”

Your call, boss.

We all know the trials and woes of IT. “They speak Greek.” “They never know how to fix it right the first time.” “They tell me (it) can’t be done.” And the song goes on – and on.

Would your business benefit by:

Allowing you the opportunity to spend your time on your business – not “managing” IT?
Having access to a much wider pool of technical skills and talent?
Being able to utilize the amount of effort needed, when you need it?
Eliminating the risk that the “one valuable person” will suddenly resign?

Where to Start?

Many businesses achieve these benefits by allowing an outsourced service provider to serve as their “IT Team”. Deciding to explore IT outsourcing can be emotional and difficult to make – (perceived) loss of control, (potentially) terminating long-term employees, (unknown) professionals who you’ve not worked with before…there are many obstacles to making the decision to explore outsourcing.

Remember the word “exploring” does not imply commitment. Yes, you need to be circumspect and keep it quiet. But, you also need to understand whether your business would truly benefit by using an IT outsourcing service. To explore this you need three things:

Someone who can walk you through the pros and cons of outsourcing
Knowledge that exploration does not mean commitment

We can help with the first two points – you need to internalize the last point.

Complete Confidentiality

We understand the sensitive nature of these conversations and the process you’ll go through. Yet, you’ve never met us. Why should you trust that we will keep your situation confidential? Because we will execute a non-disclosure agreement with you before we ever have the first meeting to discuss your specific situation. We need you to be confident that you can trust us.

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing

There are countless articles and whitepapers that describe the general pros and cons of IT outsourcing. There is one reality – your situation. Each situation is unique. Not every business is well-suited to an outsourced solution. That said, until you examine how IT is used within your organization, what the costs are, and whether IT adds value, a realistic answer cannot be arrived at. While our business is IT outsourcing, the last thing we want to do is to take on a client where there is a poor fit. Simply put – it’s bad business for everyone. Our early assessment tool will help us to work with you to quickly determine whether outsourcing is a viable option for your situation.

Exploration Does Not Equal Commitment

Understanding how outsourcing works, and whether it has potential for your situation, will allow you as a leader to plot a better path. Allow us to help you determine if IT can add value to your business.  If you stay with the status quo because you’ve researched the pros and cons of the alternatives; you’ve made a decision that’s right for your business.  That’s very different from staying with the status quo without understanding your options.

Please let us know if we can help you in any way:

John Maddio    General Manager, ASPEx    651-292-2702   jmaddio@crc-aspex.com
Herb Leifeld    President & CEO, ASPEx    651-292-2701  hleifeld@crc-aspex.com