IT Maintenance - Why Have It?

An increasing number of companies are trying to cut costs by not taking out IT maintenance contracts. Many are now regretting this decision. When IT problems arise, they experience unexpected bills and business disruption. Two things in life are certain: death and taxes. Many people might also add "problems with IT". This isn't a cynical view of technology. The rapid pace of change in computing and business means at some stage you inevitably face problems with your IT. These problems are often part and parcel of daily work. As a result, you can deal with them in-house. Other difficulties are not so easy to solve. You require external help. What's more, you need that help quickly. The longer a fault remains on your network, the more your business may suffer. IT maintenance contract The answer is to have an IT contract. If you can't fix a problem in-house, you use the contract to call an expert in to help. You aren't obliged to have a contract, of course. By not paying for this service, many companies believe they're saving money. In the current economic climate, cutting costs is an appealing idea. The reality is otherwise. Network support businesses are reporting an increase in calls for help from companies without contracts. These companies have network faults that they can't fix in-house, and are desperate for assistance. This means the company ends up paying unexpected, one-off repair fees. They experience costly delays to their business. And they may also suffer serious disruption to compliance. The benefits An IT maintenance contract helps you avoid these difficulties:

• With a contract in place, you ensure continuity for your network service. When a problem arises, you can solve it quickly and efficiently.
• It gives you a predictable operational cost. You don't have to find money for a repair you have not budgeted for.
• You ensure compliance. With a contract, you can call on instant help.
• You can include the latest updates and fixes in your contract. These can pre-empt likely network problems.
• You protect your IT investment and assets. This way you gain reliability and security.
• You achieve peace of mind. You can focus on the core competencies of your business knowing that your network is in good hands in the event of a problem.

  A maintenance contract doesn't eliminate IT problems. But it does something vital for any business: it helps put you back in control.