While the right technologies can be game-changing for businesses, they don't always work as they should. Hardware can break down, software glitches can arise, and system issues can disrupt business operations. Fortunately, businesses don’t have to deal with these technical issues on their own.
In the same way that you can order groceries, get examined by a doctor, or collaborate with colleagues all while sitting in front of your computer, you can also get IT support. Remote IT support enables you to contact an IT support technician and get your problem solved all in a matter of minutes.
What is remote IT support?
You’re likely familiar with traditional IT support, where your computer breaks down or otherwise has an issue, and you call a technician to fix it. You then sit and wait for hours or more for the person to arrive and address the problem. It's a frustrating experience at the best of times, but it's one that remote IT support can streamline.
Instead of coming all the way out to your workplace, remote IT support technicians use special software to access your computer over the internet while they talk you through the solution over the phone. In this way, the technician can see what you see, inspect your computer, and even control input through their keyboard and mouse. Essentially, it’s no different than the support provider sitting down at your computer to solve the problem.
With a single phone call or even a simple online chat, you can get your IT problem solved quickly and efficiently.
Are there downsides to remote IT support?
As useful as this technology is, there can be some slight risk involved. For one, remote IT support is effective at solving software issues, configuration problems, and even malware threats. However, if your problem is severe or is a hardware issue, hands-on support will be needed. Most IT services providers make up for this drawback by providing on-site support for more complex issues.
Another issue is that opening up your computer to remote access is giving away the keys to your digital kingdom, and a bad actor with that access can do irreparable damage to your organization and finances. This is what’s known as a remote access scam, wherein criminals try to trick you into installing remote access programs so they can steal your private information.
That’s why you should work with a trustworthy managed IT services provider and only install remote access programs under the instruction of a trusted source.
The benefits of remote IT support
The risks associated with remote IT support can be easily mitigated, so its benefits to your organization far outweigh any drawbacks. These benefits include:
- Reduced costs: Paying for IT support every time an issue crops up is expensive, and maintaining in-house tech support is not much better. Remote IT support reduces your operational costs and support costs while providing valuable services.
- Faster response times: Sitting around waiting for a support technician to arrive is both boring and costly, as every minute of lost productivity is lost revenue. Remote support, however, is nearly instant, which means less downtime for your operations.
- Knowledge sharing: Remote IT support also often includes IT help desk services, which both help solve problems and provide answers to technology inquiries. Want to know how to optimize your software? Just call the help desk.
- Better maintenance and management: Remote IT support can not only solve your problems with remote access, but also help maintain and upgrade your IT systems. This takes the pressure off your IT staff and keeps your network at peak performance.
- Higher focus and productivity: Frequent IT problems and slow response times can erode employee satisfaction and hinder business growth.
If your DC Metro Area business is suffering from frequent IT issues but can’t afford in-house IT support, contact outsourceIT. We provide high-quality remote IT support that keeps you productive and your employees happy without breaking your budget.
