ICT infrastructure is becoming more complex. Managed ICT service provider experts say there is a greater need to link up with mobility and adopt game-changing resources like Microsoft Office365 and the Cloud in order to ensure clients are able to compete.
Ukuvuma Solutions, a South African ICT consulting and service development specialist, says any sized operation today faces a number of challenges, including how to leverage data, mobility, Cloud, security and proactive monitoring.
The ability to develop and sustain the efficiency of an ICT environment is what separates competitors today.
“The foundation has been laid for the eradication of manual processes, for the simplification of implementation methodology and more proactive monitoring of client infrastructures,” says Hein van den Heever, technical manager at Ukuvuma Solutions.
“A proactive, joint approach to infrastructure management with our clients means being able to mitigate or prevent potential infrastructure risks,” adds Van den Heever. “Clients who partner with an experienced service provider – whether it is development, website design or managed services – certainly have the upper hand.”
ICT managed services continue to make a difference and van den Heever believes a co-ordinated, proactive and strategic approach is definitely extending the value of infrastructure investment and application.
The domestic ICT market has certainly progressed, but there is still a long way to go before the market is on a par with overseas counterparts he adds.
Managed services includes, amongst others, ICT consulting & strategic direction, network, server and strategic direction, Microsoft Office365, Microsoft Exchange Administration & Support, Microsoft Lync Support and IBM Domino Administration & Support.
“IT systems management is more than just monitoring and patching. A complete, proactive and automatic Managed IT Services systems management strategy can eliminate many of the tedious manual tasks typically associated with IT maintenance, allowing IT professionals to improve efficiencies, increase performance, reduce risk and manage growth,” he continues.
“Controlling the costs of IT systems management cannot be achieved by constantly fighting fires, responding to problems and reacting to user requests and environmental problems.
“The IT professionals that have managed to lower the cost of general support and systems maintenance and taken back control of their environment have done so by implementing deliberate processes throughout the entire IT environment, and, most importantly, introduced automation throughout the delivery of IT service as much as possible,” Van den Heever concludes.