Big data is changing the nature of IT support. The impact of big data on this field is two-fold:
- Companies are using big data to provide better IT support
- Big data technology has created a number of new challenges that need to be addressed
IT support services are exploring new ways to use big data to offer better services. Margaret Rouse of TechTarget reports that IT companies are using big data in innovative ways.
Changing Future of Remote IT Support in the Big Data Age
Forbes contributor Bernard Marr wrote about the growing role of big data in the coronavirus crisis. Some of the impacts of big data on this crisis are obvious. Other benefits are less publicized. One of the biggest benefits of big data is that it has led to new remote working opportunities, which has made it easier for people to work from home without getting infected.
At this point in 2020, remote working is less a preference than an absolute necessity. The global pandemic has already had a devastating impact on both health and the economy. At this stage, no one can be certain of the best solution to the problem, or when the situation will improve. Those of us that are able to work from home have an advantage, though most businesses are at least in some way affected by the physical distancing restrictions or the global recession. Business leaders need to stay optimistic, and find the best possible solutions for a challenging time.
There are fortunately numerous options when it comes to remote IT support. For London-based businesses, finding a reliable and experienced IT firm that provides remote support such as Mustardit.co.uk is easier than ever.
The available services
A wide range of services are available for business internal needs, or as third-party technical support. These services can be flexible, varied and personalised to meet the needs of every business.
Cloud support
Cloud computing is the ideal IT support service to be available remotely, due to the nature of the technology. Advanced solutions and multi-staged protection processes can be employed to provide protection against cyber threats. This may involve the collection of threat data from different sources, threat analysis, data synthesis and applied intelligence.
Managed services
Managed services can be defined as the outsourcing of various services in order to improve operations of an organisation or to reduce costs. Remote IT support can facilitate these services through consultation, server support, server deployment, help desk services and proactive management.
Installations
Installations and setups are an ongoing requirement for any organisation. They may include a wide range of installations or setups for both laptop or desktop computers, mobile devices, printers, scanners or any other peripheral equipment. Installations can be applied for different operating systems, group policy configuration, DHCP server configuration, or server migration.
Incident-based support
One great advantage of remote support is that it can be fast to respond to any incident. The technical issues will be worked upon, and support will be provided until the situation is resolved. This may take the expertise of a number of trained personnel, but a dedicated team will work on the case to deliver a positive outcome.
Product support
Product support is specific to the type of product that each business provides. This is another service that IT support can offer, by helping to facilitate product-related data or resources, managing situations in the event of product malfunctions, or giving any other technical advice or support.
Managed monitoring support
Managed monitoring comprises a range of monitoring services. These include website monitoring, network monitoring, server monitoring, event log monitoring, performance tuning, data retrieval, online connectivity monitoring, browser connectivity, virus or malware removal or system formatting issues. Monitoring services are especially important for businesses with many employees forced to work remotely.
The benefits of remote support
Businesses around the world have recently been forced to work remotely, but many will come to realise the various benefits of these working arrangements. This could cause a cultural change, as services like IT support that can more effectively be provided at a distance will be more commonly adopted in this way.
Increased productivity
A recent US study proved that employees working from home are more productive, as well as saving the costs of commuting and enjoying a better work-life balance. Remote IT support can better enable this mode of work. In addition to this, it allows a better allocation of labour so employees can focus solely on their tasks without the diversions of dealing with IT issues that they are not trained for.
Reduced costs
IT support services that are provided remotely avoid the travel time and costs that site visits incur. With these expenses saved, IT companies can use their time more productively. They are also able to lower their rates as a result of the lowered costs. Through outsourcing, the extra costs of employing full-time, on-site staff will also be saved.
Faster response
Bottlenecks can slow down operations and cause a significant loss of business. For this reason, it is essential that technical difficulties are addressed as soon as they arise. Remote IT support can ensure that problems are immediately dealt with when they occur. By contacting the relevant IT personnel, considerable savings in both time and money can be made.
Monitoring and maintenance
As monitoring and maintenance services can be provided remotely, networks can stay up and running at all times. Monitoring means that any unusual activity will be noticed and stopped from causing any possible damage. Regular maintenance means that updates to software and firmware will be received so security levels are increased.
A wider range of talent
When an organisation has an in-house IT team, they are limited to a certain range of skills. Support that is online is open to endless possibilities, as an initial remote team member is able to pass on the case to a colleague if it is beyond their training. In this way, IT issues can be escalated more rapidly so the issue will be resolved in a shorter time frame.
An increased business focus
A high proportion of employees complain of distractions that affect them in the completion of their tasks, and this causes their productivity to be reduced. One of these distractions is having to deal with technical issues that are beyond their training. Processes can be scaled by removing these responsibilities, and passing them on to remote IT staff that can be available at any time.
We all hope that all businesses will return to normal as soon as possible, or at least something close to normality. But until the health risks are abated and the restrictions eased, remote IT support will be an essential service for many businesses. As we cannot be sure how long this period will be, it is better that we become accustomed to the changes. Fortunately, IT support can be effectively provided for a majority of business needs.
Big Data is Vital to Remote IT Support
The IT industry is evolving with new advances in big data. Big data is playing a more important role in IT support than ever. Smart IT companies will utilize it to full effect in 2020.