IT Consultants: What Are They and How Can Their Services Benefit Your Business?
Information technology (IT) can play an integral part in helping small and medium businesses stay competitive and increase revenue potential.
But what business owner has time to become an expert in IT and stay on top of their industry?
Unfortunately, many don’t realize the importance of working with an IT consultant until they encounter a problem with their technology.
If you want to harness the full potential of your tech, consider proactively partnering with an IT consultant. Keep reading as we discuss the role of an IT consultant, the difference between IT services and IT consulting, and how utilizing an IT consulting service can benefit your company.
Table of Contents
- What Is an IT Consultant Business?
- 3 Benefits of Utilizing an IT Consulting Service
- What Is the Difference Between IT Services and IT Consulting?
- Fixed Fee IT — Customized IT Consultant Services That Can Benefit Your Business
What Is an IT Consultant Business?
An IT consultant business is a company that specializes in providing expert IT advice and solutions for businesses.
Businesses often seek the services of an IT consultancy to help them navigate the complexities of their IT systems, infrastructure, and strategies.
In essence, an IT consultant business is dedicated to resolving IT-related challenges and helping businesses effectively leverage technology to achieve company objectives.
What Does an IT Consultancy Do?
Generally speaking, an IT consultancy is responsible for helping businesses manage their technology.
From assessing a company’s cybersecurity and software performance to running data analytics, an IT consultancy can do more than just troubleshoot technical issues.
Partnering with an IT consultancy can be a game-changer for many businesses.
An IT consultancy can help businesses increase productivity and reduce costs by:
- Providing strategic advice
- Assessing security risks
- Maintaining security and compliance standards
- Optimizing existing IT systems
- Automating business processes; and
- Introducing new technology
Strategic IT Consulting
Strategic IT consulting services design a personalized IT game plan based on your business’s needs and long-term goals.
The best strategic IT consultants will team up with your leadership to fully understand your business, processes, and goals.
Next, they evaluate your processes, identify insufficient systems, and recommend technology to improve productivity and information security.
Whether it’s improving your cybersecurity, upgrading your hardware, or helping you transition to the cloud, strategic IT consulting should ensure your business is getting the most out of your technology.
The experts at Fixed Fee IT know the right questions to ask to design a strategic IT plan that’s custom-made for your business.
The best part is –– it’s all in the name. Fixed Fee IT’s strategic IT consulting services are included in your custom plan all for a fixed, per-person monthly fee.
That means you’ll never be surprised by additional costs.
Cyber Risk Assessment
Cyber threats can wreak havoc and potentially tank your business.
A cyber risk assessment should be considered a best practice, as it can flag any areas in your technology that could become an issue.
If your business uses technology of any kind, it’s imperative to address your cybersecurity and identify any potential risks. Don’t leave your business unprotected — safeguard your private information.
At Fixed Fee IT, we understand the risks cyber threats can have on your bottom line. Our expert cyber security team will thoroughly assess your technologies and determine the best way to keep your business safe.
You can rest assured that your business is in the right hands with Fixed Fee IT.
Cyber Security & Compliance
Cyber security and compliance is a key component in the services offered by an IT consultancy.
No matter the size of your business, collecting something as simple as client names and payment information could make you the target of a cyber attack.
One study found that 43% of cyber attacks targeted small businesses, and phishing was among the top methods used in cybercrime.
In today’s increasingly digital landscape, it’s critical to safeguard your business from an array of digital threats while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards.
Cyber security should include services like security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weak points.
The right IT consultant will check that your business’s IT procedures comply with the relevant financial regulations and standards, including:
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); and
- Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council
At Fixed Fee IT, we boast a cyber security and compliance SOC2 Type 2 attestation conducted by an independent third party, which certifies that we surpass security and privacy industry standards.
With Fixed Fee IT, your business can navigate the digital world securely and confidently.
Managed IT Services
Don’t have the resources for an in-house IT specialist?
That’s where managed IT services come in.
An IT-managed service provider (MSP) is a third-party provider contracted to proactively secure and maintain your business’s technology.
Managed IT services can range from full IT systems management to singular IT utilities like:
- Network and system monitoring
- Security management
- New technology onboarding
- System maintenance and upgrades
- Backup and recovery
- Analytics
- Communication systems
- Compliance
- Help desk support
- And more
For over 28 years, Fixed Fee IT has been the managed IT services provider for businesses across Portland, fortifying their technology to keep business running smoothly.
As your partner, you can leave IT to us and focus on your business.
Co-Managed IT Services
Do you already have an internal IT department, but need additional expertise, resources, or support?
Co-managed IT services offer the perfect solution for businesses like yours.
A co-managed IT service can augment the capabilities of your internal IT team by filling in gaps to provide specialty services like advanced security management, cloud support, or help desk assistance.
You choose which services would be best served by your internal team and which your service provider would be better equipped to handle.
The co-managed IT services model at Fixed Fee IT offers your business the best of both worlds, allowing your internal IT department to maintain a hands-on approach while benefiting from our expertise and support.
We’ll assess how our additional resources can support your business needs and work seamlessly with your team to enhance your existing IT operations.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a subscription suite of applications including:
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint; and
- Teams
Microsoft 365 is a great tool that can help businesses amplify communication and collaboration through document management and coordination with mobile, remote, and/or in-house teams.
If you’re one of the many businesses utilizing Microsoft 365, an IT consultant can optimize your existing setup to ensure you’re getting the most out of your subscription.
If you’re starting from scratch, an IT consultant can assist in the deployment and configuration across all Microsoft 365 applications to facilitate a smooth transition.
The experts at Fixed Fee IT can make sure your Portland business takes advantage of the full power of Microsoft 365, enabling collaboration and productivity, all under a predictable, per-person, per-month fixed fee.
3 Benefits of Utilizing an IT Consulting Service
#1: Save Both Time and Money
Partnering with an IT consultant can provide you with unique competencies tailored to your specific projects, sparing you the expense of maintaining a full-time, in-house IT team.
That means you only pay for what you need when you need it.
Downtime is reduced by streamlining IT processes, providing quick problem resolution, and proactively managing risks to prevent costly tech emergencies.
This smart approach ensures your resources are put to better use, mobilizing your technology to boost productivity.
#2: Dial In Your Focus
With an IT consultant, you will get a customized plan with services curated specifically for your business needs.
They can handle simple or complex IT tasks, offer objective evaluations, and automate time-consuming business processes.
When you’re able to offload these tasks to an IT consultant with specialized expertise, you can trust your technology will support your business’s strategic goals.
Harnessing the capabilities of an IT consultant allows you to fine-tune your focus and concentrate on maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
#3: Utilize Skills and Experience
IT Consultants work with many industries and in diverse environments. This experience provides a deep knowledge that allows an IT consultant to address complex challenges more effectively.
Consultants can also provide training to your employees, transferring knowledge and skills that can improve your team’s IT capabilities in the long term.
Utilizing an IT consultant allows your business to tap into specialized skills and experiences that can lead to cost savings, improved efficiency, enhanced security, and better overall IT management.
What Is the Difference Between IT Services and IT Consulting?
IT consulting focuses on providing strategic advice and expertise to help meet a business’s technological needs while IT services are typically associated with the implementation and management of IT solutions.
Often, these two types of services complement each other, with IT consultants guiding businesses in selecting the appropriate IT services and solutions for their specific needs.
Fixed Fee IT — Customized IT Consultant Services That Can Benefit Your Business
Fixed Fee IT has been a trusted IT partner of Portland-area businesses for over 28 years.
Well-versed in the specific needs of the wealth management, accounting, legal, construction, and manufacturing industries, our IT consultants create a custom plan to improve processes, increase efficiency, and reduce the workload for your internal staff.
We aim to understand the technology needs of each client to ensure your tech is not only up to the task but also driving your business forward.
Whether you’re looking for an IT consultant to manage your technology completely or to supplement your in-house IT specialist, Fixed Fee IT can help with your technology needs.
Contact us today to find out how Fixed Fee IT can benefit your business, all for a per-person, per-month, fixed fee.
