How Nonprofits Benefit from Managed IT Services

How Nonprofits Benefit from Managed IT Services

Businesses in industries of all kinds have found that they have unique IT needs that go beyond the scope of an in-house department, and nonprofits are no exception.

MSPs offer expert IT support that both reduces costs and allows internal teams to focus on the work that needs to be done to keep these important organizations running. When it comes to managing nonprofit IT, a few things stand out:

● The importance of meeting stakeholder needs: Nonprofits differ from B2B or B2C companies that function primarily for the consumer. When it comes to nonprofit organizations, donors, constituents, and community members all have a voice.

● Tight budgetary constraints: It’s important that MSPs working with nonprofits understand that budgets are tighter, and hard decisions need to be made. In order for the organization to remain effective, it needs to stick to a strict allocation plan.

● A different kind of client: Because nonprofits are service providers and not product owners, they are fundamentally different from a lot of the clients that MSPs are used to working with. That means that the way they utilize technology is different, their need areas are different, and their expectations are different, too.

While these distinctions might seem like roadblocks to starting a business relationship that benefits both parties, the benefits of partnering with a professional provider are hard to ignore.

Scalability

Let’s say that your organization is hosting an annual fund drive that will require more specific, robust IT services that you need for the other 364 days of the year. Working with a managed IT services provider means they’re used to rolling back and ramping up scope according to client needs. They can work with you to make sure your budget is being used as effectively as possible, something that internal IT staff probably don’t have the expertise to advise you on.

Flexibility

MSPs have access to the newest IT tools that most nonprofit organizations probably don’t have the budget to invest in themselves. Think of a MSP as a buffet, where you can pick and choose what you need and leave what you don’t.

Cybersecurity

Nonprofit servers contain an abundance of proprietary information about internal operations, as well personal data on donors, and everyone else involved in ongoing projects. If you were to experience a cybersecurity breach, the extensive list of stakeholders we already discussed would have more than enough reason to feel a lack of trust. MSPs ensure that when threats appear, they are quickly dealt with.

Compliance

MSPs that deal with regulations and red tape constantly can make sure that your organization is as up-to-date as possible on anything and everything IT.

Of course, we could continue to list the benefits, but only you can know when it’s time to consider outsourcing your nonprofit’s IT. Are you dealing with challenges that are beyond your staff’s level of expertise? If you’re spending all your time troubleshooting, or constantly feel like you’re trying to play catch up when it comes to system updates and cybersecurity measures, it might be in your best interest to reach out.

Choosing the Right MSP for Your Nonprofit Organization There are an endless number of IT partners available to you, and plenty of factors to consider when choosing an MSP. Here are a few things we recommend looking at:

● Experience

If the provider you’re considering has never worked with a nonprofit before, they might not have a foundational understanding of specific needs of an organization like yours.

● Pricing

As we stated above, working with a provider that can understand why your budget might be more limited and that your needs are subject to change can make all the difference in the world. If they’re not willing to be flexible in their payment structure, they might not be the right fit.

● Reputation

You can surf websites all day long and read language that has been written especially to sway your opinions. The best way to gauge how a provider works with their clients and how they engage is to read reviews and check online testimonials.

As long as your organization’s mission and values are respected, your needs are understood, and your opinion is heard, hiring a MSP to help you leverage technology and maintain the health of your organization can be massively impactful.

Access One offers managed IT services that help you streamline, upgrade, and ultimately succeed. Feel free to reach out and schedule an introductory call so we can chat about your specific needs and start to get to know each other today.