How Mid-market Companies Can Optimize their Technology Investments through Managed IT Solutions

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1 How Mid-market Companies Can Optimize their Technology Investments through Managed IT Solutions An Executive Brief Sponsored by DSS

2 Stratecast Frost & Sullivan HOW MID-MARKET COMPANIES CAN OPTIMIZE THEIR TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS THROUGH MANAGED IT SOLUTIONS INTRODUCTION In a recent Frost & Sullivan survey, mid-market business leaders identified their top IT challenge as keeping up with new technology. The concern isn t just academic: in today s hypercompetitive global business environment, adopting the right technology solutions can help a midsize business succeed against larger competitors. In recent years, the market has seen an unprecedented flood of business-enabling applications that can benefit mid-market businesses. Business processes can now easily be automated, integrated, and streamlined to increase productivity and provide visibility into valuable data. Employees, partners, and even customers can collaborate on building solutions that enhance product value, encourage innovation, and engender loyalty. Electronic storefronts, mobile applications and round the clock customer care can open new markets and increase satisfaction. But new applications require hardware infrastructure to support them: servers, appliances, network. With tight capital budgets, midsized businesses often are unable or unwilling to make the necessary investments in infrastructure (in fact, dealing with aging, inefficient equipment ranks second among mid-market IT challenges in the Frost & Sullivan survey). And, with staff members who wear many hats, midsized businesses don t have the luxury to assign legions of technicians to research, implement, administer and manage IT solutions that can improve application performance and business agility. The unhappy truth is that most midsized businesses still fit the rule when it comes to IT: 80% of time and budget is spent managing old technology, updating old servers and patching legacy systems; and just 20% is spent exploring new technology solutions that can drive business growth. So what s the answer? How can a growth-minded mid-market company take advantage of the technology available in the market, without being overwhelmed by the cost and complexity of implementing those solutions? How can it ensure that strategic technology investments are not derailed by tactical hurdles? For an increasing number of mid-market companies, the answer is managed IT solutions Stratecast. All Rights Reserved.

3 Managed IT Solutions for Mid-market Companies How Managed IT Solutions can Benefit Mid-Markets Businesses With managed IT solutions, a company shares responsibility for IT functions with an expert partner. While businesses of all sizes can benefit from managed solutions, the model is especially suited to the resource constraints experienced by mid-market businesses. IT Solution Providers vary in the services they offer, with the most popular services including hosting or private cloud services, application management, and network management. A full-service solution provider, like DSS, offers a broader range of services than most, including virtualization and management of premises-based server and desktop infrastructure, application integration, virtualization services, and a 24x7 service desk. DSS also provides both project-based professional services, such as assessment, design, and implementation, as well as ongoing management and optimization services. There are several ways mid-market customers can benefit from a relationship with the right managed solutions provider: Reduce IT costs: While budget-conscious companies may be concerned that adding a new vendor will increase overall costs, most mid-market companies experience a reduction in costs for managing applications freeing up budget to invest in new applications. For example, DSS will help your company virtualize your existing servers a strategy that optimizes server capacity and thus defers investment in replacement hardware. Alternatively, or in addition, DSS offers hosting and private cloud solutions, allowing your business to save not only on hardware but also on maintenance contracts and labor. Implement new technology solutions: A managed services partner can act as a virtual CIO, helping you research, assess, and implement the most effective technology solutions for your business. DSS experience crosses industries, markets, and workloads, enabling it to help clients understand their options and implement the best solution for their needs. Offload less strategic tasks: By relying on a managed solutions partner to implement and manage IT infrastructure and processes, you can free up employees to focus on strategic business initiatives. DSS infrastructure management services cover the full range of high-touch, time-consuming management tasks, for elements ranging from desktop to server room to network. Ensure compliance and resilience: Mid-sized businesses are subject to the same heavy compliance burden as the largest of global enterprises. With long experience working with mid-markets, DSS can help your company build a compliant solution (on -site or hosted) that fits within your budget and needs. Furthermore, DSS offers a range of backup and recovery solutions that keep your critical applications available. Provide positive return on investment: Technology is never a set it and forget it 2012 Stratecast. All Rights Reserved. 3

4 Stratecast Frost & Sullivan proposition. Ongoing management is required to ensure servers and network facilities continue to operate at optimal levels, as business priorities shift and application usage fluctuates. By selecting a managed solution partner like DSS, you can protect your technology investment. Furthermore, DSS will provide reporting and visibility into your IT environment, so you can easily track your operations. Stratecast The Last Word In the past, mid-market companies viewed technology planning and management as a luxury they couldn t afford with their limited IT staff and budget. That view is changing, as mid-market businesses recognize that new technologies can be critical to business survival. As such, a whopping 88% of mid-market businesses say they are planning to consult an external partner for assistance in developing and implementing their IT strategies. In choosing a partner, they should look for a managed solutions provider with deep experience in serving the unique needs of mid-market businesses. The provider should offer a broad range of managed and professional services, spanning both onsite and hosted solutions. It should augment the company s own IT resources by offering expertise and staff where needed, whether to staff a help desk, integrate social networking tools into applications, or simply ensure that hardware is running efficiently. Flexible and cost-effective managed IT solutions from a provider like DSS can mean the difference between competing in the global economy and falling behind. Midmarket businesses should take heed. Lynda Stadtmueller Program Director Cloud Computing Stratecast Frost & Sullivan lstadtmueller@stratecast.com Stratecast. All Rights Reserved.

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