When it comes to managed IT services, the biggest myths and misconceptions are from companies who understand a very limited level of IT, without being fully conversant in programming. Many businesses have a vague idea of what their IT technician does when the server crashes, or when an employees system is corrupted with an email virus from unsafe attachments. They know it has to do with computers, and in some instances, may be able to grasp some of the basic concepts, but other than that, there are many grey areas.
Some of the biggest myths regarding managed IT services include the following:
* IT Myth 1: Server upgrades matter
The reality: Don't pay extra for upgrades, you will never need this. Unless the server has crashed, or is in the process of crashing or causing any issues, upgrading will only end up using precious company resources, and is not entirely necessary at all. The server stores all key information within a network and a reliable and efficient server is hugely valuable for many reasons - mostly as this means that network issues within the office are fewer, and computers within the network face less down time, ensuring better productivity on all fronts.
* IT Myth 2: 80% percent of corporate data resides on mainframes
The reality: In actual fact, this figure is close to 50% or even less. Since they were first developed in the 1950s with the birth of IBM, mainframes have become the gatekeeper for all important corporate information. It was only in the 1970s and 1980s that this began to chance, with the advent of mini computers and then micro computers, with unstructured corporate data like e-mail, web pages, Microsoft Word documents, and various technologies to manage and store this digital data creating an alternative to mainframes of yester year. Despite this, many companies have and still do rely on the old-fashioned mainframe - although according to the managed IT services experts, this is becoming less evident as time progresses.
* IT Myth 3: All big shops run multiple platforms
The reality: This 'myth' is closer to fact than fiction actually, and has a strong basis of truth. Managed IT services experts state that there is a lot of truth in the statement that enterprises seek heterogeneity rather than single-vendor solutions - smaller companies might stay homogenous, however larger companies face things like mergers and acquisitions that often make them more heterogeneous. Previously, the ratio of homogeneous to heterogeneous environments was about 80-20, but this ratio has now reversed itself, in an interesting turn of events that sees larger corporations turn to a number of different vendors rather than sticking to one single platform for their IT needs.
* IT Myth 4: Most IT projects fail
The reality: This is quite a subjective myth, and is not always based on accurate fact. While some projects may fail, obviously others don't. It depends on the level of service offered by your IT company and the nature of the project, plus the external circumstances that will affect the project success. With high service standards and a good track record, IT projects have a good chance of succeeding.
* IT Myth 5: IT doesn't scale
The reality: Pretty much any technology is scalable, as long as you combine the right ingredients and implement them effectively. Consult a trusted managed IT services company, and learn how IT is scalable in your industry.