AI adoption has accelerated among small to midsize enterprises (SMEs). Up to 60 percent of SMEs now report some form of AI usage, more than double the rates seen in 2023. AI is now viewed as a necessity for competitiveness, particularly among growing SMEs.

That doesn’t mean that SMEs are using AI strategically.

The managed services model is a proven concept that’s been around for decades. It allows organizations to offload routine IT tasks, reduce operational overhead, and enhance security, performance and availability.

However, many organizations today want more from a managed services provider (MSP). In a recent KPMG study, 80 percent of organizations said that managed services should be outcome-based rather than tactical.

In our previous post, we explained why more organizations are adopting the managed security model and outsourcing some or all security functions to a managed security services provider (MSSP). Even the largest enterprises are often turning to MSSPs to help protect their data and IT environments, both on-premises and remote, from unprecedented levels of cyberattacks.

The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. is now at a record high of $10.22 million, compared to $4.44 million globally. The healthcare, financial services and industrial sectors are the hardest hit, but no organization is immune to the risk. One successful cyberattack could put any organization out of business.

How well is your IT infrastructure supporting your business requirements and objectives? That’s a difficult question for many small to midsize enterprises (SME) to answer. Few SME leaders have the technical savvy to evaluate the reliability, security and performance of their IT environment.

Ever hear of the “cyber insurance poverty loop”? It’s a growing problem that puts small to midsize enterprises (SMEs) at risk.

Many SMEs lack the resources to harden their IT environments. This makes them more vulnerable to cyber threats, which makes them less attractive to insurers.

Remote monitoring and management is a key benefit of managed services. The managed services provider (MSP) uses an array of tools to keep an eye on customers’ IT systems and maintain them proactively. When issues arise, the MSP’s team can respond quickly without having to travel to the customer’s location.

More than 3.7 million organizations worldwide use Microsoft 365 for productivity apps and collaboration tools. Many users are familiar with these tools, minimizing the learning curve and maximizing adoption. The Microsoft 365 platform is mature, scalable and continuously updated, with a well-established ecosystem of third-party resources.

Backup is not the most glamorous of IT functions. It doesn’t impress your customers, or your employees, for that matter. It’s not easy to connect the dots between backup and the bottom line. But backup is one of the most important IT functions that few people think about.

When organizations are looking to design and implement an A/V system, they seldom consider the long-term maintenance and management of the solution. They’re concerned about how the system is going to function — and, of course, the total cost of the project.