IT Services Help Nonprofit Organizations
IT Services

5 Ways Managed IT Services Help Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs)

Nonprofit organizations are known for their important missions. These groups of people dedicate themselves to making our world a better place, and they do so in many different ways! 

The ability of nonprofit organizations to succeed is based not only on their seemingly bottomless determination and selflessness but also on making the best use of available digital technology. The majority of nonprofit organizations are not using technology in a way that benefits them the most. Only 11% view their digital approach as highly effective, according to NetCharge’s long-running survey on this topic. That is why most NPOs are generating less revenue and achieving limited success. They rely on outdated processes and waste their financial resources by supporting legacy infrastructure that doesn’t serve users’ needs well enough or provide them with any value in return. While they also spend time trying to solve technical problems when none can be solved effectively from within these organizations themselves. 

The answer? Partnering with an MSP that understands the unique technological needs of NPOs and has plenty of experience in overcoming typical constraints in all organizations. The right Managed IT services firm then helps in the following ways.

1. Hassle-Free Access to New Technologies

The information technology (IT) industry has been evolving faster than most nonprofit organizations can keep up. For the last several years, we’ve witnessed an explosion in cloud computing. The cloud is a revolution in IT. It has allowed businesses to scale their infrastructures quickly and enjoy increased security and efficiency at lower costs than ever before, with no risk of data loss or disruption due to the advancement of technology. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are presumed to be the following vast drivers of competitive advantage, with artificial neurons being able to help us enhance our productivity in many ways.

MSPs are committed to making new technologies more accessible for their customers, and they do so by leveraging economies of scale. It allows them to offer affordable prices that even cash-strapped nonprofits afford with best-in-class digital solutions!

IT is a complex and quickly evolving field. MSPs provide organizations with assistance from initial planning through implementing their selected solution, eliminating any need for an in-house IT department while still offering tailored support that can be scaled based on your needs– all this at minimal costs!

2. Predictable IT Budgeting

Finances are tight, so every IT expense must be justified well and planned even better. It’s unfortunate when an IT employee resigns from their position. It is a significant setback for any organization, especially one struggling to find qualified staff members in this tight market environment. They say that peace of mind is worth more than any other gift and outsource your IT needs to an MSP for just this reason. You’ll never worry about budget cuts again! 

MSPs offer a variety of pricing options that reflect each customer’s size and complexity level. It allows them to accurately predict how much an IT project will cost while reducing all other expenses into one fixed fee. When NPOs know precisely how much money they need to allocate toward IT each month, the other essential business functions are better supported.

3. Robust Data Security and Compliance

It’s not just the money that NPOs spend on building relationships with their donors, but even one data breach incident is enough to harm them irreparably. It’s a sad situation when donors discover that their personal information has been exposed in breaches. They often feel betrayed and mentally impacted by the attack, making them susceptible to legal consequences for soon donating again. 

The cybersecurity landscape is so vast and complex that even small NPOs with a limited online presence need to see it as a necessary investment. Cybersecurity-savvy MSPs can perform initial vulnerability assessments that discover all weaknesses before suggesting implementing a set of controls and policies for eliminating threats. 

4. Ongoing Business Continuity Management

The smaller organizations sometimes believe that the mere existence of backups provides sufficient protection against all kinds of data loss disasters. In reality, backups are helpful if updated recently and tested to ensure their recoverability. They should also be stored in multiple safe locations across the world. 

The most comprehensive business continuity management program meets all three requirements to ensure your organization’s stability in case of disaster. What’s the worst thing about these types of plans? They typically realize how inadequate their backup is only when it’s too late.

NPOs shouldn’t spread themselves thin in a data loss incident by implementing their business continuity management program from scratch. They should leave this critically important task up to experts at what they do. 

When you work with an MSP with a wealth of experience in backup and disaster recovery, they can help avoid common implementation mistakes to guarantee that your data is always recoverable under the worst conditions imaginable. 

5. Workplace Flexibility and Scalability

The needs and means of NPOs also change rapidly. We live in challenging times, but this gives us more reason to persevere! The volunteers are collecting donations from members of their communities. The next day, they must shelter in place and work only from home as a safety measure for themselves or others around them during an emergency. 

The unpredictable nature of uncertainty in the current climate means that NPOs must be flexible and scalable, which isn’t possible when they rely on static IT resources or staff.

MSPs know that their customers’ needs will change, and as such, they offer a variety of services to meet those fluctuations best.

MSPs make workplace flexibility and scalability a reality with their vast services. It includes everything from flexible pricing to cloud migration support, making it easy for businesses who desire greater control over how they operate in the modern office environment while still meeting business needs throughout various stages. 

Managed IT Services for Nonprofits from ITsGuru

At ITsGuru, we strive to work with nonprofit organizations so that they can use available technology solutions and better accomplish their essential missions.

We have a team of experts devoted to providing comprehensive IT services. Our wide range includes everything from managing your networks and servers to cybersecurity solutions – even end-user support! We take care of all aspects to eliminate unexpected expenses to provide this service at an affordable price every month without interruption or delays. 

Contact us today to learn more about how our managed IT services can help your nonprofit organization thrive.

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IT Services Business Advice for Houston: Have an Open Door Policy?

The ‘open-door’ policy is a well-known and popular concept among many companies. However, not all businesses have the IT services company in Houston or plan to implement such an innovative idea effectively enough to ensure successful results for their employees’ work satisfaction and productivity levels. 

An open-door policy is when leadership actively listens to what employees say about their projects and how they’re going. It includes hearing from leaders if there are problems with new initiatives or any other issues that may need addressing and feedback on future growth plans.

Closing the door from feedback not only misses out on tons of information but also leaves your business vulnerable to improvements in other areas. With a lack of morale, employees will feel like management is not valued.

Want to make sure your open-door policy is working? Here are some tips for how you can do that.

Have Specific’ Open Door’ Times

With the amount of work that business owners have to do, it can be not easy if their employees come in and out all day. It is the reason many executives shut doors without ever opening them again because they don’t want any more distractions than necessary while trying to maintain productivity levels. One way to avoid the problem of feeling too busy for meeting new clients is by clearly establishing specific hours where your door will be open, and employees are encouraged to set up a quick conversation with you.

If you are searching for unique methods to make your marketing strategy more effective, then consider limiting the time that it takes. For example, every day could be one hour open or five days with no deadlines so long as they work well within your schedule and don’t shy away from trying new ideas to find what delivers the best results. 

Listen without Judgment or Prejudice

The goal of having an open-door policy is to listen and be willing and take feedback from others. When you are judgmental or prejudiced against any given information, it becomes more challenging for your company’s success because there will always remain uncertainty about what actions should happen next based solely on hearsay. There are plenty of unique ideas coming from new employees, especially if they’re involved in the business growth. It’s essential to focus and listen with an open mind, and you might be surprised by what your team has to offer. 

Discuss Ideas with Others and Implement Where Possible

When employees constantly bring up issues and suggestions without intervention from management, they will lose faith in the “open door” policy. The best approach to deal with this is by coming up with a plan that will help you discuss and implement the new information.

Put IT in Place That Facilitates Communication

Sometimes it’s just not possible for employees to walk into your office and chat. Some of them may work at remote offices or regularly take care of business from home. Others may feel uncomfortable talking with you face to face and would instead deliver a written message or have a video chat. Hiring the right IT services provider in Houston can make your life so much easier. 

You don’t want any more trouble than necessary, do you? These days there are many options for channeling communication between employees and management. You should choose one with all of this capability. 

Conclusion

When you have an open-door policy, it allows your company to grow and increase employee morale. A reliable IT services provider in Houston is necessary for communication which helps facilitate this growth while always keeping feedback from all sides.  At ItsGuru, we can provide you with any assistance to ensure your business runs smoothly and efficiently! Contact us today if you have some technical questions or want more information about our services.