Top IT Challenges for Nonprofit Organizations and How to Solve Them with Managed Services
Summary:
Nonprofits often struggle to access and afford IT support because of tight budgets and a general lack of resources. This can lead to extensive, days-long downtime and expensive call-out costs.
Old hardware, poor data storage and access policies, and disconnected remote work tools slow everyone down. HaaS, cloud migration, wraparound IT support, automated backups, and other Managed IT services resolve these issues for good.
Cybersecurity threats, compliance risks, and software conflicts are impossible for most nonprofits to manage. Managed IT comes with features like real-time threat detection, secure backups, disaster recovery, and safety training for staff—plus access to talented experts who can help.
Tech stacks and tools can start to fragment if they aren’t carefully selected, integrated, and implemented. Managed IT includes strategy, which ensures CRMs, donation platforms, shared dashboards are neatly integrated and as interoperable as possible.
Nonprofits rarely have the luxury of staffing a full in-house IT department. Budgets are usually tight, teams are already stretched thin, and every cent that goes out has to be accounted for and justified. When problems crop up, downtime can last for days as employees scramble to fix the problem on their own.
Managed IT can help nonprofits make the most of their resources and get the help they need with more cost-effective technology. Below, we’ll show you how our services address the five most common pain points and how you can find the best partner for your needs.
1. Hardware & System Upgrades
It’s hard to invest in new systems or hardware when you’re working on a razor-thin budget and have to carefully justify every dollar that goes out. That’s why most nonprofits usually end up using the same old, outdated infrastructure for months or years after it’s obsolete.
This leads to a number of challenges:
Devices crash, freeze, or become too slow to use effectively.
Older systems can’t integrate with modern tools or platforms.
Staff waste time troubleshooting instead of doing their actual work.
But there’s another more serious issue: older infrastructure almost always costs more to repair than replace. Groups may end up paying more in the end than they would if they bought new hardware from a vendor—and that’s a hard pill to swallow.
How to Solve it With Managed IT
Managed IT excels at reducing the burden of high upfront costs for IT. Nonprofits who go with this option get access to skilled tech experts who can roll out updates, fix minor problems, and provide on-the-spot help with upgrades that won’t break the bank.
End-to-end support with IT planning, procurement, installation, and maintenance/updates.
Scalable 24/7 IT help desk services so help is always just a call, ticket, text, or email away.
Revotech offers adaptable IT packages that make it possible for nonprofits to access enterprise-level tools and IT support for a fraction of the cost. Whether you need help upgrading WordPress or your physical hardware, we can help.
2. Data Management, Storage, & Access
Donor records, information on clients, financial records, and internal documents need to be organized, stored, and protected at all times. When nonprofits don’t have a data management strategy in place, these files can end up scattered across devices and accounts.
This leads to a number of negative outcomes:
Staff get locked out of important files or systems when they’re working off-site.
Teams waste hours recreating, correcting, and updating outdated documents.
Volunteers and employees may share confidential information over insecure channels.
Projects and applications stall out because no one can find the right information.
Everyone should be able to find the right files fast without worrying about version conflicts or unauthorized access. Setting up a secure, centralized storage and access point is the best way to resolve these issues.
How to Solve it With Managed IT
Managed IT can help nonprofits centralize and protect their data by migrating critical information and systems into the cloud safely and securely. This lowers the risk of data loss or exposure, but it also helps ensure that everyone can access the information they need right from where they are.
A solid provider can help you implement:
Role-based access controls with flexible permissions that keep data safe.
Automated backups that make it easier to recover from outages or accidental deletions.
Secure mobile access so teams in the field can stay informed, in touch, and up-to-date.
Nonprofits should never attempt to migrate into the cloud on their own. Revotech can help you plan to make the switch and manage the process without putting your data at risk.
3. Managing a Hybrid or Remote Workforce
Remote work styles help nonprofits keep costs down and pull from a much larger pool of talent without changing locations. But trying to keep everyone connected and productive can be a real challenge, so many organizations just let people work however they see fit.
This leads to several potential problems:
Remote staff struggle to access shared systems and files reliably.
Personal devices used for work can put sensitive data at risk.
Communication gaps lead to delays, confusion, and duplicate work.
Staff rely on a patchwork of tools that don’t always work well together.
Complex setups like these need the right oversight to be useful and effective. Hybrid work environments need to be carefully managed by an expert to stay stable.
How to Solve it With Managed IT
Managed IT helps nonprofits develop seamless platforms for communication and collaboration that feel intuitive to use and don’t put data at risk. Company intranets, VPNs, endpoint protection, email filtering, and 24/7 monitoring ensure that everyone can focus on work, not the latest IT problem.
Services like these are especially helpful:
Device management keeps company-issued devices safe and secure.
Redundancies and fail-overs that keep remote teams working when systems fail.
Revotech can also help nonprofits screen and hire new staff or volunteers with AI-driven recruiting services. You focus on the mission, while we focus on helping everyone work more effectively.
4. Cybersecurity Risks & Compliance Issues
Up to 46% of all data breaches occur at businesses or organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees, and most nonprofits fit squarely into this category. Most nonprofits don’t have their own cybersecurity specialists on staff, so they’re especially vulnerable to these kinds of cyberattacks.
Not having access to IT support raises the risk for:
Phishing attacks aimed at staff, volunteers, or donors.
Ransomware attacks that lock staff out of donor databases and internal files.
Breaches that violate PIPEDA, PIPA, and other privacy laws.
Data leaks that erode public trust and damage fundraising efforts.
Nonprofits cannot plan for and mitigate issues like these on their own. Attacks are growing more sophisticated and bad actors are now using AI and other technologies to hide their tracks. They can fly under the radar for months or years before they finally attack.
How to Solve it With Managed IT
Think of a managed IT partner as your nonprofit’s digital security watchdog. It’s their job to work around the clock to spot and stop threats before they become a crisis. Cybersecurity experts like these know how to work proactively and reactively to keep your organization’s data, people, donors, and clients safe.
To get the protection you need, look for:
24/7 monitoring and threat detection to catch issues before they spread.
Endpoint protection and encrypted backups that keep data safe and secure.
Regular risk assessments and system hardening to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Security awareness training to help your staff learn to follow best practices for safety.
Revotech can help you build a protection strategy for a fraction of what it costs to hire your own in-house security specialist. We stay on top of emerging technologies and evolving attack vectors for you so you never have to worry about what comes next.
5. Disconnected Tools & Platforms
It’s common for nonprofits to build their tech stack one tool, system, or platform at a time. Without a clear strategy in place for managing all of these moving parts, integrations and pathways can quickly become a tangled, disorganized mess.
This leads to a number of frustrating outcomes:
Donor platforms, CRMs, and communication tools stop integrating seamlessly.
Staff need to enter data manually in multiple locations, which eats up precious time.
It becomes impossible to keep track of logins, passwords, critical files, and key updates.
Tools start conflicting with one another, crash, or glitch out at the worst possible time.
Platforms need to “talk” to one another seamlessly in order for teams, staff, volunteers, and donors to work together for the greater good of the mission. But making that happen—and ensuring that integrations stay intact over time—takes a significant amount of knowledge and skill.
How to Solve it With Managed IT
Managed IT isn’t just about retroactively fixing what’s broken right now. It’s about building a long-term IT strategy for your tech stack that maps out what tools you should use, how to integrate them, and how to scale their use as your organization grows.
To solve this pain point, look for services like:
Full support for integrations, like CRMs, donation platforms, collaboration tools, and more.
Shared dashboards and reporting tools that improve visibility and aid decision-making.
Ongoing support for incompatibilities, conflicts, and inefficiencies to maximize performance.
With Revotech, you get access to full-service or co-managed IT services for your entire tech stack. That’s a great way to make the most of what you have now and plan for the future.
How to Find a Managed IT Provider You Can Trust
A good provider will take the time to get to know your nonprofit, your mission, and your IT goals before they start pushing to close the sale. They should function as an extension of your own staff instead of feeling like a vendor or hardware seller who only offers reactive support.
Look for qualities like these in every potential provider:
Transparent, upfront pricing with no surprises, hidden fees, or markups.
A willingness to develop long-term partnerships that help you reach your goals.
Clear, proactive, and effective communication that doesn’t leave you guessing.
A proven track record of success in the nonprofit or charity sector.
At least 10 years of experience in the IT industry (more is better!)
A strong focus on customer support to ensure your needs are met.
At Revotech, we’re always happy to walk you through what makes us the perfect choice for nonprofits who need managed IT. Our services check all the right boxes, and we have the reviews to prove it.
Get Affordable IT Support for Nonprofits With Revotech
Technology should help your organization make a difference in the world, not stand in the way of your efforts, but that’s exactly what happens if you don’t have the right help. Managed IT services level the playing field for nonprofits by delivering cost-effective, scalable IT solutions that keep essential systems and tools updated, protected, and operational.
Don’t let IT problems increase the burden on frontline staff or leave you struggling to recover from data loss, cyberattacks, and downtimes on your own. Schedule an appointment with Revotech and let us build you the perfect IT support package for your needs.
Public vs. Private Cloud: The Best Cloud Migration Strategy for Key Vancouver Industries
Summary:
Public cloud environments are cheaper and faster to deploy, but offer less control over the environment itself. Private cloud is more secure and almost infinitely customizable, but costs more upfront and takes longer to set up.
In finance, healthcare, construction, retail, and other highly sensitive industries, cloud setups must be designed around workflows, risks, and compliance needs. Cookie-cutter solutions are almost never the right fit.
Hybrid cloud environments give you the best of both worlds: control over sensitive data and easy access to programs, tools, and data. It can also be more costly and complex to configure or maintain over time.
To transition into the cloud smoothly, spend the first few weeks examining your workflows and setting goals. Getting expert advice is the best way to prepare for a migration without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Cloud migration is much more than a tech trend. With the right strategy, it can help your teams and people access the tools, data, and systems they need from anywhere without putting sensitive data at risk.
Here in Vancouver, businesses have two main options for migrating into the cloud: public or private. Below, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each option and tell you how to develop a cloud strategy for success before making the switch.
Pros and Cons of Public vs. Private Cloud
Cost, security, and scalability are the three biggest tradeoffs between public and private cloud environments. Let’s take a look at what you get with each option:
Public Cloud Services
Providers like these rent out space on shared servers that typically have their own tools. Their relative lack of complexity can seem like a selling point for businesses that have never done cloud migration before—but they often fall short on customization and scalability.
Lower upfront costs. Like shared web hosting you aren’t paying a premium for hardware, maintenance, and solution development. That’s great if you don’t need it.
On-demand scalability. Public providers like AWS and Azure are huge—and that means adding more equipment is simple. They have equipment at the ready at all times, which means scaling is often as easy as clicking a button.
Faster, easier deployments Since the infrastructure itself is already built and in place, it’s easy to make changes and add services. Move things around, roll out a new environment, or deploy an add-on in seconds—no muss, no fuss.
Special benefits for startups and SMBs. Public cloud services do the heavy IT lifting for you so you don’t need to hire an in-house team, which can make it easier to adopt new technology. But here’s a secret—you can get the same or even better results from us.
Cons:
Shared infrastructure is inherently riskier. Your account is secure, but you can’t control the server environment itself or the IT team that manages it. This can quickly become a compliance and performance nightmare for some industries.
Data residency isn’t always straightforward. Need your data stored in Canada or the US to comply with PIPEDA or PHIPA? With a public cloud, you won’t always have a choice—or even know where the server is in the first place.
Vendor lock-in. Public cloud providers make it dead simple to get started. But they may also lock you into long contracts that make it impossible to leave.
If you go with this option, be sure to do your research and read all the fine print on the contract before you sign it. Be especially skeptical about any provider who dodges your questions, keeps changing the topic, or rushes you to make a decision.
Private Cloud Services
Private cloud environments are fully customized to the business and are typically deployed on dedicated hardware. They offer unique benefits you won’t get from public clouds and may even come with Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) if you want your own servers on-site.
Pros:
Complete control over customization. Businesses maintain full authority over their infrastructure and have the right to adjust it at any time. This makes it easier to respond to changing needs.
Enhanced security and compliance. With private clouds, the risk for intrusion attempts is inherently lower because the environment is isolated. It’s also easier to add guardrails to prevent leaks or compliance issues out of the gate.
Predictable pricing. The cost for public cloud services can fluctuate significantly year-to-year, but private clouds stay relatively consistent until you make changes.
Consistent performance. You’re the only client using the server, so another customer’s usage patterns can’t cause slowdowns or crashes.
Seamless integration with legacy systems. Private cloud environments can be integrated with almost any new or old technology. This can take a bit more talent, effort, skill, and time, but the outcome is usually worth the wait.
The need for a bigger upfront investment shouldn’t automatically be considered a red flag here. You get more value for your money when you develop a custom private cloud.
Every client we work with has their own unique needs, but the operational challenges they face often come from the industry they work in. Construction firms like Ledcor won’t have the same needs as a healthcare clinic like CarePoint or a fintech startup like Koho.
This is exactly why cookie-cutter solutions are the wrong approach. All clients deserve a thoughtfully-chosen, well-developed cloud solution that meets their needs—but if you’re in one of the following industries, general advice will never be enough.
Finance
Canada tightly regulates the finance industry on the federal and provincial level. Banks like RBC and VanCity, investment firms like Odlum Brown, and credit card companies like Mastercard need cloud environments that keep them compliant and in control.
The biggest takeaway for finance is that all migrations must be handled with care and precision. We recommend:
Going with a private cloud provider so the company can help build in the controls you need to meet strict standards, like PIPEDA and PCI-DSS.
Maintain your data sovereignty by only working with providers who will host your data here on home soil—and won’t export it without letting you know.
Developing secure, auditable systems that make it easy to see who accesses sensitive data like customer records, financial transactions, and analytics.
Build custom integrations to pull in data from legacy platforms, like COBOL-based banking systems, without putting data at risk.
The fact that finance is a “Your Money, Your Life” industry means that even a minor breach or leak can have real, immediate consequences on your business and your customers. Look for private cloud solutions that come with the option of cybersecurity support so that you can avoid vulnerabilities in your IT environment.
Healthcare
St. Paul’s Hospital, Spring Medical Centre, CityMed, Carewell Clinics—healthcare facilities like these need fast, reliable access to patient data to heal and save lives. Migrating into the cloud can help, but not if they put patient privacy at risk.
It only takes one inappropriate access to trigger a class action lawsuit that leaves lasting reputational damage. We recommend:
Keeping data on home soil at all times. Under Ontario’s PHIPA, personal health data must remain in Canada unless the patient has explicitly consented to its transfer.
Setting up role-based access controls. Doctors, nurses, administrators, and other care providers are only allowed to access files if they have a good reason. Having the right guardrails in place helps uphold this rule.
Baking unskippable audit trails in. You need to be able to see exactly who accessed a patient’s file, when they accessed it, and why—no exceptions.
Apply end-to-end encryption. All data must be fully encrypted both in transit and at rest. Ask about TLS 1.2+, HL7 over HTTPS, MLLP with VPN, and AES-256.
Revotech has the experience to build healthcare industry cloud solutions that help carers work more efficiently and effectively. But we can also help you develop a system that protects patient privacy instead of putting it at risk.
Construction & Architecture
Collaboration is the name of the game in construction, engineering, and architecture. Firms like Ledcor, Stantec, and HCMA often work across job sites and share massive design files, so cloud solutions need to be reliable, scalable, and flexible, too.
The good news is that SaaS tools like AutoCAD, Revit, or BIM 3600 already run in the cloud, which actually makes migrating into the cloud easier. We also recommend:
Leveraging public cloud platforms. Use them to track project management, share or work on designs, and collaborate from any location.
Making scalability a priority. Projects can change on a dime and often come without notice in construction. Plan for it in advance by building scalability in.
Enabling real-time collaboration. In construction, one of the biggest pain points is collaborating across job sites, offices, and subcontractors. Use the cloud to connect everyone without on-premises servers or expensive VPNs.
Taking automatic backups regularly. This will prevent data loss and keep version control intact if the connection drops or something goes awry on-site.
Integrating mobile tools and field apps. The easier it is for teams to upload photos, drawings, updates, and reports, the more likely they are to share and collaborate.
Revotech helps support teams coordinate across the province, country, or globe without unnecessary delays. Whether your company is building new homes or just working on road repairs, cloud services can help you work together more effectively.
Manufacturing, Retail & Distribution
Running a manufacturing plant, an online store like Clearly, a brick-and-mortar shop like Lush—or juggling all three? Retail and distribution can be hectic at the best of times, but cloud infrastructure helps you stay organized, pivot on a dime, and deliver a smooth customer experience.
Public, hybrid, and private cloud environments can all benefit companies in industries like these, but the size of your business and stage of growth you’re at do matter. We recommend:
Trying out public or hybrid cloudservices first. This is a great way to support seasonal traffic spikes without overpaying for resources you don’t use year-round.
Hosting all apps, CRM tools, and systems in the cloud. It’s easier to manage inventory, track sales, and keep everything in sync when it’s in the same environment.
Making customer data protection a priority. Built-in encryption, access controls, and PCI DSS infrastructure can help.
Your tech stack should be flexible enough to grow with you—not make you wait just to use features you can benefit from right now. Moving into the cloud makes this easier and helps you compete with bigger retailers so you don’t get left behind.
The Case for Hybrid Cloud Services
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about public and private cloud options—but what about hybrid environments? Where do they fit in? These solutions typically give you the control and security you can expect from private infrastructure, but are far more flexible and scalable.
Here’s how it works:
Critical or sensitive info like financial records, patient files, legal documents, and confidential communication is stored on a private cloud server.
Public-facing apps and data, like customer portals, booking and scheduling tools, and analytics platforms are stored on a public cloud instead.
This split mode can be a great compromise for businesses that need to protect sensitive data without sacrificing agility in the process. It’s also a smart way to manage costs, since putting public-facing apps and data on a private cloud is often wasteful.
So, why doesn’t everyone just go hybrid? Think of it like trying to manage two separate offices at once, each of which has its own tools, rules, and workflows. They both serve a purpose, but running two separate environments at once can be stressful and complicated.
Tips For a Smooth Transition
Cloud technology began transforming the way we work almost two decades ago and it’s unlikely to stop providing value anytime soon. But picking the first service you see rushing through the transition can backfire—and lead to costly mistakes.
Here’s how to set yourself up for a smooth, successful migration:
Assess your needs carefully. This is about more than just thinking it would be convenient to store data in the cloud. Think about your existing infrastructure, your workflows, and your compliance needs carefully before you start.
Choose the right cloud model. Public, private, or hybrid? Think about how the benefits of each one fit with your workflows, tolerance for risk, and long-term goals.
Work with a trusted MSP. Cloud migration isn’t just another brick in your tech stack—it’s a workflow transformation. Revotech can help you get it right.
Think about business continuity. Plan for the worst and hope for the best by building in redundancies, regularly testing the data storage and backup process, and layering on encryption.
Train your team and update your processes. Training is the number one barrier to technology adoption, so make sure all teams have what they need. They should understand how the cloud fits into their workflows and how to use it.
Monitor, manage, tweak, and scale. You can’t fix what you can’t see. Make use of data monitoring tools to track system performance, spot security threats, and respond to issues in real time. This will help you stay on top of changing business needs.
Revotech works with Vancouver businesses to manage every stage of cloud migration, from developing an initial roadmap to building a solid foundation for growth. No matter where you’re starting from, we can help you migrate into a cloud solution that fits.
Make Cloud Computing Simple With Revotech
Don’t fall for claims that cloud migration is only suitable for large enterprises or corporations with big budgets to spend. You can still benefit if you know what’s out there and how to make the most of it at your current level of growth.
Revotech helps businesses in Vancouver’s busiest and quietest industries migrate into the cloud at a level that works for them. We can design a strategy that helps you make the most of private or public cloud technology without taking unnecessary risks.
6 IT Help Desk Best Practices Your Business Should Follow
Summary:
Unresolved IT issues can cost you hundreds per minute. Creating categories and priority tags for support requests helps IT handle the most critical problems first.
Giving employees access to a living knowledge base can equip them to solve common problems on their own. This reduces ticket volume and boosts confidence.
Initial and ongoing training helps end users and IT staff use tools efficiently. Including soft skills and certifications to improve service quality across the board adds value to the experience for both the person taking the course and the business.
Help desk software with built-in automation, tracking, and collaboration tools streamlines workflows and improves resolution times. It’s important to choose a tool that matches the size of your team, your needs, and your budget.
Use feedback loops and SLAs to refine your support processes and set clear expectations. These practices create accountability and build trust across your organization.
Downtime costs the average business up to $9,000 per minute—and losses like these can add up fast if they aren’t handled in a timely manner. IT help desks give people a quick, easy way to report problems and get them resolved before day-to-day operations take a hit.
With the global IT services market now surpassing $1 trillion in spending each year, businesses clearly understand the need for skilled support. But just assigning someone to answer tickets, chats, emails, and calls is rarely enough.
To get the most value from your managed IT support services, follow the six essential IT help desk best practices below—curated by the team of experts at Revotech.
1. Categorize & Prioritize Requests
It doesn’t take long for help desk workflows to get chaotic without the right guardrails in place. Like a hospital emergency room, every issue must be triaged for severity and assigned to the right people or response times can slow to a crawl.
Adding tags for factors like request type, source, and urgency makes triage easier. It also ensures you have eyes on any high-risk, high-impact issues or IT projectsfirst.
Steps to Implementation:
Start by defining your ticket categories (e.g., hardware, software, network, access).
Add at least four clear priority or triage levels (e.g., low, moderate, high, critical).
Set up routing rules/inboxes so requests automatically go to the right place.
Monitor the categorization system closely and adjust it as your business grows.
This simple structure will shorten resolution times and ease bottlenecks that slow down resolution times so people can work more confidently without worrying about the next crisis.
Knowledge bases are dynamic sites that live online or on your company’s intranet. They’re designed to give people the ability to quickly find answers or create their own solutions without needing to call the help desk. This lowers the volume of tickets in the system at any given time and helps employees feel more empowered and in control.
Steps to Implementation:
Identify team members with deep knowledge about systems and tools.
Ask them to collaborate on clear, step-by-step guides and knowledge entries.
Include visuals like screenshots, short videos, FAQs, and flow charts.
Make it searchable via keywords, categories, or boolean logic.
Think of a knowledge base as your team’s collective brain. It’s a self-serve option people can turn to instead of sending in a ticket—or while they wait for a response.
Tip: Don’t have anyone on staff who has the time or experience to help you develop a knowledge base? Let’s talk about how we can help you recruit the right person for the job.
3. Make Training Available
People can’t use the systems and tools available to them effectively if they never receive any training on them. In fact, a lack of training is one of the biggest contributors to low user adoption rates and effectively becomes a technological paperweight.
Continuous training keeps help desk personnel and end users up-to-date, but it also gives them the skills they need to use tools and systems effectively. This lowers the number of tickets that stem from gaps in knowledge or simple misunderstandings.
Steps to Implementation:
Start at the beginning by creating onboarding materials for new hires.
Hold workshops or refreshers on tools, systems, trends, and procedures often.
Include soft skills on topics like communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
Offer certifications from third-party organizations, like Microsoft, where possible.
An informed team delivers better service, but training is also inherently beneficial to individual employees and help desk technicians. Each course or workshop they attend helps them work more efficiently and makes them more valuable to the company, too.
4. Leverage Advanced Help Desk Software
Modern help desk software boosts efficiency, improves accountability, and streamlines workflows to make the more efficient and effective. This lets teams focus on resolving the issue or collaboration with the requester instead of constantly micromanaging tasks or processes behind the scenes.
You’ll find a few of the most common help desk platforms in the chart below. Each offers something a little different, from remote tools to AI-driven process automation.
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Steps to Implementation:
Choose software that integrates with your existing tools whenever possible.
Use automation and AI-driven features to triage tickets and send out updates.
Track KPIs like response times, resolution times, and ticket volumes at all times.
Activate internal note or comment features to document any changes/solutions.
Open Agent-to-Agent chat rooms or let them create groups for peer support.
Workflows, training, and support protocols aren’t static—they should change over time to meet the needs of the business or the people who use your help desk. Collect feedback from end users early and often, then use it to find areas for improvement.
Steps to Implementation:
Send out a quick post-ticket satisfaction survey after every exchange.
Review all feedback, both positive and negative, with help desk personnel regularly.
Watch closely for recurring themes like repeat issues or trends.
Implement feasible suggestions and track the results.
Communicate any changes back to users to close the loop.
A strong feedback process bridges the gap between IT and the rest of the organization. It also builds trust and reminds everyone that the person on the end of the ticket, screen, or telephone call is a real human being who has the same ultimate goal.
6. Create & Manage SLAs
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) set clear standards for service delivery and legally define factors like help desk availability and response ties. These benchmarks prevent both sides from making unrealistic demands and help mitigate any risks associated with outsourcing IT.
Steps to Implementation:
First, consult a lawyer about the language in your SLA.
Set targets based on issue type and priority (e.g., failure vs. bug).
Make sure SLAs are sent out and clearly explained to everyone they will affect.
Set up monitoring or help desk software to alert administrators about breaches.
Review and adjust the standards in your SLAs quarterly or yearly as required.
It’s easy to think of SLAs as just more fine print no one reads, but this is short-sighted. When everyone knows what to expect, all sides can work together harmoniously.
Have your own in-house IT team? At Revotech, we’re happy to collaborate with them on targets like these or co-manage your IT. Use our experts as a fall-back or to take the weight off them so they can focus on improving your infrastructure instead.
The Impact of Following IT Help Desk Best Practices
When your help desk follows these six best practices, people at every level feel the difference long-term. Employees get the help they need reliably and consistently, the constantly-growing backlog of tech problems starts to shrink, and your IT team finally has the bandwidth to start working on proactive or strategic IT solutions.
But there’s an even more important takeaway: these best practices help contribute to a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and improvement. They see how feedback leads to real, actionable change, so they stop avoiding it and start leaning into it instead.
See These Best Practices at a Glance:
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Take IT Help Desk Services Further With Revotech
We’ve all had that moment where we’re at work or trying out a new system when suddenly, chaos strikes. The software refuses to boot up, the server shuts itself down, or it won’t even turn on in the first place.
Problems like these shouldn’t strike fear in the hearts of customers, staff, managers, or administrators. Revotech’s managed IT and help desk services ensure they always have someone to reach out who knows how to fix the problem—or at least who to call.
Don’t leave your employees to scramble for answers on their own. Make Revotech your IT help desk partner and enjoy the peace of mind, efficiency, and productivity that comes with having a full team of experts by your side. Schedule a free discovery call right now.
Why Data-Driven Hiring Is the Future of Nonprofit Board Recruitment
Summary:
Having a strong board of directors helps nonprofits thrive, but recruiting people with skills who fit into the culture isn’t easy. Data-driven hiring saves time, reduces costs, and helps prevent mistakes.
Limited budgets and competition from the private sector make it harder for nonprofits to hire. Many also lack an in-house HR team, struggle with burnout, or have a hard time assessing mission alignment and cultural fit on gut feeling alone.
AI can help improve candidate sourcing, speed resume screening, and shorten the hiring cycle by automating early stage tasks. It flags top matches and lowers bias.
Predictive analytics flag patterns in past hiring and work trends that can suggest someone is at risk for early departure. This helps nonprofits make better hiring decisions and develop strategies to improve retention.
Data-driven hiring is most effective when it’s tailored to the needs and goals of each nonprofit. Find out where your nonprofit is spending the most money, which parts of the recruiting process are flawed, and what insights would help you recruit.
We all know how hard it can be to find people to serve on the board of a nonprofit. Mission-based organizations like yours put program delivery first, so you don’t always have a great deal of time, resources, or budget to spend on recruiting.
Leveraging AI for data-driven recruiting solves these challenges by streamlining administrative tasks in the early stages of the hiring process. It also improves the data you have access to so you can make more informed strategic decisions to find directors who support your mission.
From AI to predictive analytics and exploratory heuristics, this trend is quickly becoming the future of nonprofit recruiting directors and frontline employees. Find out why below in this guide from the recruiting experts at Revotech.
The Top 5 Hiring Challenges for Nonprofits
Directors have a significant amount of power at most nonprofits, which means organizations take big risks when they bring in new leaders. It only takes one bad hiring decision to put an unsuitable candidate in a position where they can damage your nonprofit’s reputation, slow down progress, lower morale, and stress out employees.
It’s clear that directors need to be thoughtfully selected and vetted. But for most nonprofits, recruitment is a persistent pain point because of challenges like these:
Limited Budgets. In Canada, nonprofits need to report how funds are used each year. What little budget exists is often small and closely guarded by existing directors. Tight budgets mean less money for recruiting efforts and outreach.
Strong competition from the private sector. Large corporations can outcompete nonprofits for talent from the general pool—or even poach people from the board after the fact. They’re more agile, have more pull, and can offer lucrative salaries.
Difficulty measuring culture and mission alignment. Candidates may look good on paper and even perform well during interviews, but without real, quantifiable data, there’s no way to measure how well they fit into the culture or align with the mission.
Lack of access to recruiters. Nonprofits that don’t have an internal HR team may leave hiring to program managers or other board members. This raises the risk for rushed decisions, inadequate vetting, and bias to lead to bad hires.
High turnover and burnout. Compassion fatigue is common in nonprofit work, but leaders who don’t fit the culture or believe in the mission make it worse. The stress on tight-knit teams can trigger a continuous cycle of burnout and attrition.
Nonprofits also have the added pressure of needing to prove to the public that they’re spending their money responsibly. Spending thousands to hire someone for a position that typically goes unpaid can attract negative press once the numbers come out.
How AI Automations Can Save Time, Money, & Energy
Manual recruiting is a time-consuming, exhaustive process. It takes hours to comb the internet for leads, read through hundreds of resumes, and check each potential director’s background for specific qualifications. All that data then needs to be extracted or tracked.
This used to be the status quo, but AI is making it possible to automate early-stage recruiting tasks like these. Although human judgment is still vital for strategic decision making, AI is faster at compiling data and identifying patterns. That means it can deliver benefits like:
Better candidate sourcing. AI-powered tools can automatically scan the web, social media sites like LinkedIn, and job boards to identify candidates who closely align with your organization’s mission and values. This makes outreach easier.
Faster early-stage screening. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have the power to scan, analyze, and track resumes, cover letters, and other data in seconds. The AI can then extract the most important info and present it in a more user-friendly format.
Faster hiring cycles: Fast-tracking the top candidates and filtering out poor matches early shortens the hiring cycle. Boards can focus on strategic discussions, delivering the program, and fundraising instead of getting bogged down in resume reviews.
Better candidate matching: AI will flag candidates who meet pre-set criteria, like keywords, skills, or past experiences that align with strategic needs. This makes it easier to spot hidden gems without wasting time on people who aren’t a good fit.
A lower risk for bias: Humans have unconscious biases that can taint the recruiting process, even when people have the best intentions. Automation helps standardize evaluations so everyone gets a fair shot.
AI and automation effectively level the playing field for nonprofits so they can compete with the private sector for talent and bring people on faster. By the time existing directors or HR teams get involved, the pool of potential candidates is already well-curated.
The Right Data Ensures Mission Alignment & Cultural Fit
Nonprofits typically look for directors who have skills they lack and the ability to contribute to good governance. This is sensible, strategic thinking, but candidates also need to share the same values, believe in the mission, and fit into the overall culture.
Here’s an example of why this is so important.
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Neither the candidate nor the nonprofit did anything wrong here—their values just didn’t align because they came from different worlds. Data-driven tools can help knock out potentially bad matches like these earlier in the process.
Common applications include:
Structured assessments. Personality quizzes and behavioral screening tools help nonprofits understand what motivates candidates and how they make decisions. This can help surface red flags, like aggression or poor conflict resolution skills.
AI chatbots. Having 24/7 access to a trained AI can improve the candidate experience, but each interaction can be a valuable source of data. Knockout questions help eliminate people who don’t meet basic criteria.
Board composition software. Analytics software makes it easier for boards to highlight gaps in skills or misaligned perspectives. It can also recommend candidate profiles that will help nonprofits build stronger, more balanced leadership teams.
Integrating tools like these is one of the best ways to surface the kind of leaders who are truly equipped to drive your nonprofit’s mission forward.
How Predictive Analytics Help Reduce Turnover
High turnover is a serious problem for nonprofits. Compassion fatigue, boredom, personality clashes, and competition from the private sector do contribute, but the risk is higher if they inadvertently bring on someone with a history of early departures or other red flags.
Predictive analytics can help mitigate this problem and improve employee retention by analyzing and identifying patterns that suggest if someone is likely to leave. This can help nonprofits in a few key areas:
Spotting early warning signs. Short tenures at other nonprofits, unexplained resume gaps, and negative press may signal that directors aren’t likely to stay on long-term. Predictive analytics will flag these patterns before they’re hired.
Resolving or addressing flight risks. Attendance issues, low productivity, and low Employee Satisfaction Index (ESI) scores are all signs that someone is on the way out. Predictive analytics give nonprofits a chance to intervene.
Making more informed decisions. Hiring decisions should always be backed by data and hard evidence, especially when bringing on directors. Predictive analytics helps surface more information so every decision is more informed.
Improving long-term retention rates. Understanding the traits linked to long-term success in leadership ensures nonprofits are hiring people who are committed to the cause. This leads to a more cohesive board and stable governance.
Predictive analytics can also help save money on recruiting by lowering attrition across all employees, too. A more stable workforce means less money wasted on training and onboarding people who don’t intend to stay on anyway.
How to Make Data-Driven Hiring Affordable & Effective
Data-driven hiring is powerful, but nonprofits need to roll it out with care and understand how to make effective use of the data these tools surface. Numbers and metrics won’t help if you don’t understand what they mean or how they connect to the hiring cycle.
Revotech’s managed services help nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations leverage data-driven tools affordably and responsibly. You get expert guidance, ongoing support, and a smoother rollout without needing to become a data analytics expert.
Every partnership starts with a discovery process. We ask probing questions like these to help identify where you can get the most value from data-driven hiring:
Where is your nonprofit spending (or wasting) the most time on recruiting?
Which parts of your recruiting process are based on gut feeling or guesswork?
How much can your nonprofit comfortably spend on recruiting efforts?
Are you currently spending more on recruiting than you can afford?
What data or insights would help your teams make stronger, faster decisions?
Once we understand your needs, we can tailor the hiring process to your nonprofit’s goals and get the right information into your hands. We can also bundle in other services as-needed, like managed IT or Hardware-as-a-Service.
Most organizations who work with us find they’re spending less on recruitment after they adopt the right tools—and that’s a win worth investing in.
Fill Your Nonprofit Board Faster With Revotech
AI, automation, and other data-driven tools are making it possible for nonprofits to compete with the private sector, attract top talent, and hire leaders who can drive real results now and long into the future. It’s a smarter, more effective, and more affordable way to recruit.
At Revotech, we’re proud to help nonprofits work for the greater good by rolling out data-driven tools that make it easier to find skilled leaders who are a strong cultural fit. To find the talent you need and avoid wasting resources on candidates who don’t fit your organization, send us a message.
5 Ways to Reduce Risk When IT Outsourcing
IT outsourcing delivers clear benefits to businesses at every level. It’s cost-effective, scalable, and makes it possible for companies to access enterprise-level support services without developing in-house teams.
But giving a third party control over your most sensitive systems and information can be risky. Outsourcing the job to the wrong provider can expose your business to downtime, project delays, or even reputational damage instead of just eliminating gaps in coverage.
At Revotech, we help clients across BC’s Lower Mainland reduce IT outsourcing risks like these through our secure managed services. Read on for five suggestions from our experts on how you can find the support you need without compromising your security.
1. Confirm You’re Always in Control
What risks does this address? Feeling “locked out” of decisions or trapped in inflexible contracts.
The goal of managed IT is to shift responsibility for IT-related tasks to a team or provider who has the time, resources, and skills to handle the job on your behalf. You shouldn’t have to constantly supervise, micromanage, or check in, but that doesn’t mean you should lose all authority in the process.
Some providers build vague contracts or rigid terms that make it easy to lock you out—or lock you in—even when they’re no longer delivering value. Look for partners who keep you in the loop at your comfort level, whether you want a fully hands-off experience or co-managed IT.
Revotech’s Approach:
SLAs always clearly define responsibilities, performance standards, and timelines.
Contracts are written in plain English without any manipulative language or clauses.
Clients retain full ownership of any data and the right to make key IT decisions.
Dedicated account managers are easy to contact and always up for a chat.
Our managed IT is also fully customizable and scalable in either direction. If something isn’t working for you or it’s time for a change, just let us know—we don’t keep you locked into lengthy contracts because we want to make sure we’re always providing you with the value you need.
2. Vet Security Expertise Carefully
What risks does this address? Data breaches, poor compliance, or weak endpoint protection.
Outsourcing your IT introduces new security variables, but finding someone you can trust isn’t easy—especially if you aren’t familiar with IT. The explosion of short-form online cybersecurity courses makes it harder to tell which professionals are legitimate and which are just out to make a quick buck.
Look for providers who hold certifications from reputable organizations, are happy to demonstrate their track record, and can provide 24/7 monitoring as well as a rapid response to potential incidents.
Revotech’s Approach:
Built-in compliance for Canada’s data privacy laws (e.g., PIPEDA).
24/7 monitoring to detect and respond to threats in real time.
An average incident response time of under 10 minutes.
12 years of experience helping 70+ companies with their cybersecurity needs.
A comprehensive, fully managed toolkit of services from leading security vendors.
We’re also proud to offer strategic guidance to help you align your cybersecurity with your goals for the future as your needs change. See how we can help you develop an IT strategy for your business.
3. Look for Clear, Consistent Communication
What risks does this address? Delays, misunderstandings, or feeling left in the dark.
Your SLA defines the scope of your services, response times, escalation paths, and in theory, a few basic guardrails for communication—but some providers let communication fall by the wayside after the initial honeymoon is over. That can leave you chasing down updates or facing IT challenges on your own.
Look for providers who show a clear commitment to staying in contact with you on multiple channels at every step. You should be able to reach them by phone, text, email, or message without waiting days to hear back.
Backup contact options if your account manager isn’t available at any given time.
Regular check-ins, status updates, and service reports to keep everyone aligned.
Advanced monitoring tools that provide updates in real-time with the click of a button.
Client feedback loops that help reinforce our support workflows so you aren’t overlooked.
Be wary about providers who don’t list phone numbers, won’t disclose where they operate from, or lack a local presence in your area. They may be illegitimate or disappear when you need them most.
4. Never Settle for Reactive-Only IT
What risks does this address? Declining service quality or problems only being caught after something breaks.
It might sound overly simplistic to say that managed IT needs to be, well, managed—but that’s a bigger issue than you might think in the industry. If your provider only steps in when you complain, you’re getting reactive piecemeal support instead of a truly managed service.
Without continuous monitoring, it’s easy for performance issues, security risks, or slowdowns to slip under the radar until they start affecting your team. Look for providers who actively monitor your IT infrastructure at all times—and use the data they collect to proactively prevent failures.
Revotech’s Approach:
Real-time system monitoring for uptime, performance, and security alerts.
Automated backups to ensure you have fail-overs to roll back to in a crisis.
Defined KPIs and performance targets tracked across your entire IT stack.
Regular service audits and reports to track trends, performance, and risks.
We strongly believe that both proactive and reactive measures are essential parts of a holistic, fully-managed IT service. You can’t really have one without the other and still maintain a quality service.
5. Avoid Hidden Costs with Predictable Pricing
What risks does this address? “Cheap” providers that tack on fees for every adjustment or request.
Some managed IT providers will lure you in with a falsely low base rate, but nickel and dime you for everything from a phone call to a simple hardware swap afterwards. Others will give you a deflated rate for the first year and then surprise you by tripling the price when your contracts renew.
Look for providers who are honest, transparent, and upfront about their pricing. Every quote or contract should clearly outline what’s included, what’s optional, and how or when you can make changes before you sign (not after you get the bill).
Revotech’s Approach:
Bundled service packages (e.g., Hardware as a Service (HaaS), support, upgrades).
Pay for what you want and need, not what you aren’t interested in.
No fees for scaling up, swapping hardware, or modifying support plans.
Transparent contracts that define exactly what you’re paying for.
Cost visibility makes it easier to budget for IT without any nasty surprises—and that’s the kind of consistency all businesses need. More importantly, it’s also just the right thing to do.
Revotech Helps You Outsource Your IT With Confidence
Outsourcing your IT doesn’t have to mean giving up control, exposing yourself to security risks, or ending up with a surprise bill for services you never ordered. Do your due diligence and get to know each provider beyond just a simple telephone call before you sign any contracts, and don’t be afraid to ask them to show proof of their experience. A good provider will be happy to deliver in any way they can.
Ready to see what makes us better than the competition? Schedule a meeting so we can show you how we deliver top-shelf, fully-managed IT services built around your needs—not our own agenda.
How Vancouver Businesses Can Leverage Managed Services for Long-Term Growth
Summary:
Vancouver businesses can stay competitive and grow faster by partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) instead of creating costly in-house teams. This lowers overhead and makes it easier to focus on long-term growth.
Managed IT services make it easier to scale your business and keep costs predictable month-to-month. You get access to all the same great benefits without having to hire or manage additional staff.
24/7 remote and on-site support, strong cybersecurity, and support for hybrid workstyles make it easier for teams to work efficiently without taking risks. It also frees you up to focus on growth.
Having local technicians nearby who understand your industry and your systems ensures faster response times. Scalable support on your own terms helps you build future-proof IT strategies that fit you now and long into the future.
Vancouver is one of the most competitive business markets in Canada. Real estate in areas like Gastown, Mount Pleasant, and Yaletown is as notoriously expensive as it is hard to come by, and operating costs are rising right across the board even faster.
For SMBs and growth-minded companies who want to expand without burning through budgets early, in-house IT teams aren’t always sustainable. Managed IT services let you access the same level of support without building a new department or taking on a ton of new overhead.
Revotech helps Vancouver’s top companies stay in the game and focus on the future with scalable solutions for long-term growth. We’ll tell you how you can leverage this opportunity for your business below—and why you should.
What Is a Managed Service?
Think of “managed” services as a type of outsourcing. A Managed Service Provider (MSP) steps in to help you develop and/or execute an IT strategy that helps your business stay competitive and get ready for any future growth.
Just as with an in-house IT team, you’re always in the driver’s seat. But you get all the same great benefits without needing to hire, train, or manage any staff.
How do Managed Services Work?
Managed services are typically delivered on a subscription model. When you partner with Revotech, you get a flexible, customized plan that lets your IT services scale with you as your business grows so you aren’t wasting money along the way.
But the real secret to getting the most from managed services? Choose a provider with a real presence right here in Vancouver. At Revotech, our technicians know the area and can often respond from a distance or on-site—so you get a much deeper level of hands-on support.
Why Managed IT is the Solution for Sustainable Growth
To put it bluntly, you can’t sustainably grow if you’re constantly putting out fires and struggling to keep your systems operational. Real growth takes planning and consistency, but it also takes a significant amount of time to bring your vision to reality.
Managed IT gives you more time to focus on your business without the added responsibility of an expensive, resource-intensive in-house department. It’s comparatively better for growing businesses in a long list of ways:
Skip the server rooms and in-house support desks. Lower the amount of real estate you need to operate with cloud-first infrastructure and outsourced monitoring.
Keep monthly costs predictable. Your plan stays the same and won’t change without notice—unless it’s go-time for more growth.
Scale for growth without pain. When it is time to add new locations, teams, or remote workers, your service will follow—no need to to hire new employees.
Be ready for anything. Pre-configured devices, secured endpoints, and remote onboarding support makes it easier for staff to hit the ground running at every stage.
Stay proactive without pausing. From updates to automated backups, we handle everything for you without the need for supervision (but we’re always up for a chat).
High-level advantages like these bring you freedom, lower your total overhead, and keep all your best people free to focus on what they do best: growing your business. But what does the experience of working with a company like Revotech day-to-day actually look like?
Get 24/7 Support, On-Site or Remote
There’s a common misconception that managed IT somehow means slower response times, but this simply isn’t true when you partner with a local provider. At Revotech, we offer 24/7 support on-site or by telephone, email, and ticketing system.
Because we develop a relationship with you over time, it’s easy for us to get to know your systems and your most common pain points.
24/7 remote help desk access from technicians who really get to know your systems.
Call-out services when something goes wrong (yes, even if it’s just the printer again).
On-site technicians on a permanent, part-time, casual, or as-needed basis.
Proactive monitoring so resolutions roll out even before interruptions happen.
If what you want is a managed service that feels indistinguishable from having an in-house team, that’s an option. If you’d rather piecemeal a package together, Revotech can do that, too. Co-managed IT is perfect for filling gaps in coverage when you aren’t ready to hire.
Get Enterprise-Level Cybersecurity Now—Not Later
Cybersecurity is essential for long-term growth because a single data breach or intrusion can permanently damage your reputation and expose you to lawsuits. In fact, Canadian businesses paid out a whopping $1.2 billion to recover from attacks in 2023 alone.
Managed IT services give you access to enterprise-level security solutions tailored to special industry needs. Plus, local firms are more likely to understand unique compliance and security protocols in the first place.
We’re talking about specifics like these:
Administrators at Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul’s handle sensitive patient data every day—that’s why PIPEDA and other privacy laws exist. Managed IT can help you ensure systems, platforms, and people stay compliant at all times.
Teams at companies like Unbounce, Hootsuite, and Slack often work in the office, from home, and from other locations. Managed IT can provide Endpoint protection (EPP) on every laptop, login, and phone.
Banks and smaller financial firms like Odlum Brown manage high-value portfolios and often move millions of dollars around each day. Managed IT keeps systems stable during market hours and provides 24/7 monitoring for unauthorized access.
Law firms like Clark Wilson and Harper Gray need client information to stay confidential, but a failed hard drive or downtime can also jeopardize a case. Managed IT makes data more secure with regular backups and faster recovery times.
With Managed IT, your data stays protected, your clients know they can trust you, and your business stays one step ahead in risk management.
Get Support for Hybrid Workstyles
In Vancouver, hybrid work isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. Because of the high cost of housing in the downtown core, more and more people are commuting in from places like Langley, Squamish, or even the Gulf Islands.
Managed IT helps you support work from home or any other place in the world without compromising on performance or security. Revotech can help you with virtually every aspect of hybrid communication or infrastructure, including:
Intranets, networks, server rooms, and other complex infrastructure.
Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, and other meeting spaces.
Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Teamwork, and Sharepoint configuration.
Migrating existing systems into the cloud for easier remote collaboration.
VoIP systems that create a seamless communication experience from anywhere.
Secure VPN access so remote employees can work without putting data at risk.
Cloud file sharing and backup, so everyone’s working with the same tools.
Teams that have the right tools and systems at hand and know where to go when they need help are more likely to stay connected and productive.
Future-Proof Your IT Strategy with Revotech
IT infrastructure support doesn’t have to be a hurdle that stands in the way of your company’s long-term growth. With Revotech’s managed IT services, you get reliable help you can trust from technicians who understand what it’s like to do business here in Vancouver.
What “future-proofs” your IT strategy isn’t paying more for support or hiring more staff. When you partner with Revotech, it’s knowing you have access to:
24/7 monitoring and cybersecurity protection
A team with 30+ years of IT strategy experience
Services that scale based on your business needs.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward a better future, let’s talk! Book a meeting and let us show you how to power your next stage of growth with managed IT.
The Complete Checklist to Choosing a Managed IT Provider
xIT services are crucial for improving the performance and potential of small and mid-sized businesses. They are key in boosting productivity, cutting costs, and giving insights into the market. This is why we’ve put together a checklist for managed IT services.
“The right IT partner should become part of your team, always focusing on your business goals and planning for future needs,” notes John Yensen, CEO of Revotech Networks
Choosing the best managed services provider (MSP) is challenging, especially with over 40,000 options out there. It can be tough to find the right one among so many, and making the wrong choice can be risky.
Not all of these 40,000+ MSPs will fit your business well. Some may not offer the services you need, or they might not be suited for the specific challenges small or mid-sized businesses face in your industry.
Choosing the right MSP is vital. The right one can help your business succeed, but the wrong choice could have serious negative effects.
How to Choose a Managed IT Provider: Know Your Requirements
Starting your search for an MSP means you really need to understand what your business needs. First, take a good look at your current IT setup.
Check what’s working well and what’s not, figure out the problems you’re facing, and decide what needs to get better. This helps you know what to look for in an MSP.
This will help you focus on providers who are strong in the areas you need help with. Also, think about where your business is heading and how an MSP can help it grow and handle more work.
This deep dive isn’t just about tech needs. It’s also about finding an MSP that fits well with your company’s culture and long-term plans.
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Managed Services: Qualifying Questions to Ask
When you’re checking out a managed services provider, it’s crucial to ask specific questions to see if they’re skilled, reliable, and a good fit for your business needs.
Here are some important questions to ask and what to look for in their answers:
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Managed Services: Questions to Ask and Things to Watch For
When looking at managed IT services, it’s important to look closely at what an MSP really offers, not just what they say in their initial pitch.
Pay attention to their commitment to service level agreements (SLAs). These SLAs are key for ensuring trust and reliability. The response times mentioned in these agreements show how fast the MSP will deal with problems, which is crucial.
Picking an MSP is a decision for the long haul. You need to check if the IT company’s goals match yours. Reviewing their case studies can give you an idea of how they’ve handled situations like yours before.
Ask about their data backup plan and how it fits into overall data security. It’s smart to know how these backups are handled, if they’re kept on-site or in the cloud, and how often they’re updated and checked.
Look for a flexible contract too. Your business changes, so your MSP should be able to adjust things like hardware, software, or service hours as needed.
Finally, ask about their work with other clients, especially those in your field. This will show you if they’re ready to deal with your industry’s specific data security and compliance needs.
Managed IT Services Questionnaire to Use
Schedule a meeting to talk about your business’s needs and see if we’re a good match for you.
Picking Revotech Networks as your managed IT services provider means you’re choosing a partner recognized for round-the-clock helpdesk support, adaptable service plans with no long-term commitments, and a dedication to improving your business’s efficiency and security.
In-House vs. Managed IT Services: What’s Better for Your Business?
Summary:
Having an IT strategy is essential for ensuring that your business’s technology supports its long-term goals, including infrastructure, security, compliance, and scalability.
In-house IT can provide direct control but is costly, resource-intensive, and may lack the expertise required to address evolving cybersecurity threats and industry regulations.
Managed IT services offer specialized expertise, cost efficiency, and scalability, making them a better fit for many businesses as technology costs and compliance demands increase.
Co-managed IT provides a flexible option for companies with internal IT teams, allowing them to offload routine tasks while gaining access to expert support and advanced security.
The costs of insufficient IT support can be severe, including downtime, security breaches, and compliance failures. This makes proactive IT support a critical investment.
In-House vs. Managed IT Services: What’s Better for Your Business?
A strong IT strategy keeps your business competitive, secure, and prepared for future growth. But when it comes to executing that strategy, should you build and manage it in-house, or work with a managed services provider (MSP)?
The answer isn’t always cut and dried. In fact, it depends on the unique needs of your business, the sector you work in, and—increasingly—the way IT trends are changing across many different industries.
This guide from our team at Revotech explores the key differences between developing an IT strategy internally and partnering with an MSP. We’ll break down the costs, efficiency, security, and long-term benefits of each approach so you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your company’s future.
What Is an IT Strategy?
An IT strategy is essentially a blueprint for how your business will use technology to achieve its goals. It includes:
Without a well-structured IT strategy, your business can face inefficiencies, security risks, and costly downtime. But how should you develop and maintain that strategy? Let’s compare the two primary approaches.
Different Approaches to IT Strategy: Managed vs. In-House
In-House IT: An Established Strategy—But Increasingly Obsolete?
Say you choose to have all your IT needs met by your own in-house team. That means everyone who upgrades, maintains, and troubleshoots their business technology is an employee of your company. It’s the oldest approach to IT—but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best in every case.
Companies that embrace this approach often do so because of a sense that they “own” their talent and technology, instead of having to “rent” it from a third party. But this notion is misleading. IT solutions aren’t tangible things you can buy; they’re responsibilities you have to fulfill. And trying to do that without expert assistance can be well beyond the capabilities of many businesses.
As you can imagine, keeping people on salary to deal with outages or cyber security threats can get expensive fast. With this approach, you’re also responsible for purchasing and upgrading the technology your business needs. If something breaks or becomes obsolete, your company is on the hook for it.
That need to pay for everything yourself affects almost every metric for how your IT environment performs—from scale and speed to security. Your technology projects become limited by the number of staff you can afford to hire and the equipment you can afford to purchase outright. You might not be able to attract or retain talent with all the expertise required to meet the needs of your business. And in cases where the cybersecurity of your company is on the line, that can be extremely risky—your ability to respond to threats essentially depends on the power of your pocketbook.
Managed IT: Better & More Affordable than It Used to Be
Working with an MSP used to be considered a major investment—not just of capital, but also of trust. That’s because you’re handing care of your network over to people from outside your organization. It’s like hiring a live-in housekeeper or gardener for your home.
But things have changed drastically in recent years. Not only have many MSPs become more affordable to work with as they scale up to meet an increase in demand for their services, but the IT costs for many businesses are rising due to new technologies that also bring new cyber threats and regulations.
That means working with an MSP isn’t just more affordable than it was a decade or two ago—in many cases, it’s actually far less expensive than paying for your own in-house IT staff and equipment. And since MSPs are experts who focus specifically on IT solutions, you’re getting seasoned experts at a fraction of the price it would cost you to hire the same kind of talent.
The kind of support you have access to is scalable with an MSP as well—once you’ve partnered with them, they work to understand your needs and allocate resources accordingly, even when those needs change. That makes your IT scalable and responsive, which puts you in a better position to respond to threats adequately and successfully grow your business. MSPs like Revotech even provide Hardware-as-a-Service, which provides you with cutting-edge equipment on a subscription basis instead of forcing you to purchase new technology out of pocket whenever you need to upgrade. The money you save from this alone can help working with an MSP pay for itself.
Co-Managed IT: Expert Support to Complement In-House Teams
Co-managed IT is an approach that helps businesses acquire expert support to fill gaps in their existing IT infrastructure or hand off specific responsibilities while retaining in-house employees. Working with an MSP in this way provides flexible and scalable support for the experts you already have, allowing you to keep leveraging the skills and experience they’ve developed while working for your business.
This is a more collaborative IT strategy that essentially makes the MSP an extension of your team instead of a replacement for it. But you’ll still experience the advantages of working with a company that can provide expertise and hardware to meet your specific needs.
Comparison Chart: In-House IT vs. Managed Services
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The Costs of Insufficient IT Support
It’s also worth noting that the upfront costs of working with an MSP versus hiring in-house aren’t the only ones you need to consider. You’ll also need to weigh the costs your business could face if your IT support isn’t sufficient to meet your needs and something goes wrong.
An IT problem can be much more than a temporary inconvenience; it often has the power to become a business-crippling crisis. Here are some sobering figures to consider:
How Common Are Cybersecurity Incidents for Canadian Businesses?
The most recent data from Stats Canada suggests that the percentage of organizations that face cyber threats every year is slightly under 20%. That means there’s a roughly 1 in 5 chance that your company could face an IT emergency this year (and the risk goes up the larger your business is).
To put that in perspective: those odds are worse than your odds at playing Russian Roulette. And if you’re not prepared, the stakes can be just as existential for your business.
Key IT Support Provided by MSPs
Partnering with an MSP often gives you access to services that would be cost-prohibitive or less efficient with an in-house IT strategy. These include:
24/7 Security Monitoring: Identify and respond to threats in real time instead of waiting for an in-house team to get back to the office if emergencies occur during their off-work hours.
Advanced Threat Protection: Including firewall management, endpoint security, and intrusion detection.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to PIPEDA, HIPAA (where applicable), GDPR, PCI DSS, and other relevant Canadian and international regulations. Compliance is time-consuming and can often create bottlenecks for internal teams.
This kind of support doesn’t just make breaches or outages less likely—it can also significantly reduce the potential costs associated with them, especially if you handle sensitive client data or work in an industry with specific regulatory requirements.
Making the Right Choice: When to Choose In-House vs. MSP
At the end of the day, every company has to choose the IT strategy that meets their needs and matches their resources appropriately. There are some reasons why companies might still choose to hire in-house IT teams, but the arguments for working with MSPs are becoming more compelling by the year. In the meantime, here are some guiding principles to consider when making your decision:
Keeping Your IT Strategy In-House Might Work If:
Your business already has a highly specialized IT team with deep industry expertise.
You have the budget to hire, train, and retain a full IT department.
Your IT needs are relatively simple and don’t require 24/7 monitoring.
Working with an MSP Gives You an Advantage If:
You need expert-level IT strategy and execution without the overhead of full-time staff.
Your business is growing, and you need scalable IT solutions.
You require strong security measures, compliance oversight, and proactive monitoring.
Your internal team is overwhelmed with daily IT tasks and unable to focus on strategy.
However, as the technology needs of most businesses evolve, hiring in-house IT is proving to be less feasible. MSPs are able to fill gaps that dedicated employees can’t address—at a much more affordable price point for many organizations.
Partner with Revotech for Expert IT Strategy
At Revotech, we help businesses develop IT strategies that drive efficiency, security, and long-term growth. Whether you need fully managed IT services or co-managed support, our team of experts is here to make sure your technology aligns with your business goals.
What’s the difference between an MSP and traditional IT outsourcing?
Traditional IT outsourcing often focuses on specific tasks or projects, while MSPs like Revotech provide ongoing support, monitoring, and strategy—acting as a long-term partner rather than a one-time service provider.
Can an MSP help businesses transition from in-house IT to fully managed services?
Yes—at Revotech, we can assess your existing IT infrastructure, create a roadmap for migration, and gradually shift your business to managed or co-managed services while minimizing disruptions to daily operations.
What factors should I consider when deciding between in-house IT and an MSP?
Beyond cost, you should consider your business’s need for specialized expertise, scalability, security requirements, and compliance obligations. Companies in highly regulated industries or those facing rapid growth often benefit the most from managed services.
Comparing Managed IT Services and Professional Services
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses face the daunting challenge of choosing the right IT service model.
“In an era of technological transformation, making an informed choice between managed IT services and professional services is not just an option; it’s a business imperative,” –John Yensen, CEO of Revotech Networks
In this blog, we’ll dissect these two service models, providing clarity and guidance to make an informed decision for your business.
What are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services offer a comprehensive approach to IT management. This model encompasses ongoing support, proactive monitoring, and maintenance of your IT infrastructure.
It’s akin to having an in-house IT team but provided by an external organization, ensuring that your systems are always up and running efficiently.
The Essence of Professional Services in IT
In contrast, professional services in the IT realm are project-specific. They focus on delivering specialized expertise for particular tasks or projects, such as system implementations, upgrades, or migrations.
This model is akin to hiring a consultant with deep knowledge in a specific area to address a particular challenge or goal.
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The 8 Main Differences Between Managed Services vs. Professional Services
Let’s dive right into the major differences between managed IT services vs. professional services:
1. Continuous Support vs. Project-Based Engagement
A key difference lies in the engagement nature. Managed services provide continuous, ongoing support, making them ideal for businesses seeking long-term stability and predictability in their IT operations.
On the other hand, professional services are more suitable for short-term, specialized projects, offering flexibility and expertise on a need basis.
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2. Expertise and Specialization: Depth vs. Breadth
Managed services typically offer a broad range of IT support, covering everything from network management to cybersecurity.
To compare, professional services often provide a deeper level of expertise in a specific area. For instance, a professional service provider might offer advanced cybersecurity analysis, a niche that requires specialized skills.
3. Understanding the Cost Implications
The pricing models also vary significantly. Managed services usually operate on a subscription-based model, offering predictability in costs.
Did you know that 60% of businesses prefer this model for its budget-friendly nature? Professional services, however, often use a project-based pricing model, which can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project.
4. Responsibility and Accountability: Clarity in Service Delivery
Managed services assume responsibility for the overall health of your IT systems, providing a comprehensive solution.
In contrast, professional services focus on delivering specific outcomes for defined projects, with accountability tied to project success.
Managed Services vs. Professional Services Breakdown
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5. Tailoring to Business Size and Needs
Your choice between these services also depends on your business size and needs.
Managed services are generally more suited to small and medium-sized businesses that require a range of IT support but lack the resources for an in-house team. Larger businesses or those with specific project needs might find professional services more beneficial.
6. Scalability and Flexibility: Adapting to Business Growth
The scalability and flexibility offered by managed services and professional services are critical factors for businesses anticipating growth or change.
Managed IT services provide a scalable framework, easily accommodating business expansion or contraction without significant overhaul.
This adaptability is particularly beneficial for businesses experiencing rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations. Conversely, professional services offer flexibility in tackling unique, one-time challenges or projects that arise during business transformations.
7. Integration and Compatibility: Harmonizing with Existing Systems
Integration and compatibility with existing business systems are paramount when considering managed services vs.professional services. Managed services excel in seamlessly integrating with your current IT infrastructure, ensuring that all components work harmoniously.
This integration extends to maintaining software updates, security protocols and ensuring system compatibility, thus offering a holistic approach to IT management.
On the other hand, professional services often focus on specific projects that may require introducing new technologies or processes.
8. Risk Management and Compliance: Ensuring Security and Adherence
Risk management and compliance are increasingly vital in today’s IT landscape, especially with the growing emphasis on data protection and privacy regulations.
Managed services typically include comprehensive risk management strategies, encompassing regular security assessments, data protection measures, and compliance with industry-specific regulations. This proactive approach to risk management is essential for businesses that handle sensitive data or operate in highly regulated industries.
Professional services, while also adherent to compliance and security standards, often tackle these issues within the scope of a specific project.
Decide Between Managed IT Services vs. Professional Services With Revotech as Your IT Partner
As you weigh the options between managed IT services and professional services, consider your business goals, IT requirements, and resources.
Remember, the right choice can significantly impact your business’s efficiency and growth. At Revotech, we understand these challenges.
The Top 8 Benefits of Getting Remote IT Support
Summary:
Remote IT is more cost-effective for businesses than expensive call-outs or hiring in-house teams. It also ensures you get fast, consistent access to expert help.
A well-maintained tech stack helps teams stay productive. Fewer disruptions mean more time spent on high-value work.
With Remote IT, you also get enhanced cybersecurity in the same flexible service package. You can scale up or down as needed without paying high fees.
Proactive monitoring and maintenance keep systems online and operational. HaaS lets you access new hardware and upgrades without high upfront costs.
Remote IT can also reduce the environmental impact of IT support. Fewer service trips and longer-lasting hardware mean less waste and lower emissions.
The benefits of remote IT support are potentially massive: $400 per minute in savings by avoiding downtime and preventing potentially business-ending cybersecurity breaches.
Just ask our CEO, John Yensen—he understands just how critical it is to have access to reliable support that fits your business goals. “Remote IT support is more than just a cost-saving measure,” he explains. “It’s about providing timely, efficient, and scalable solutions that keep businesses running smoothly.”
While cost is at the top of the list, it’s far from the only reason to go with Remote IT. We’ll lay out the eight most essential benefits and tell you what you stand to gain from investing in managed services in this guide.
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1. Cost Efficiency
Remote IT support is one of the most cost-effective ways to manage your company’s technology. It removes the burden of constantly paying for in-person visits or hiring your own in-house team. You still get the right support—just for a fraction of the cost.
Go with managed IT if you want to:
Spend less money on expensive call-out services
Lower your risk for monetary losses related to tech failures or outages
Cover fewer surprise expenses from last-minute emergency repairs
Stabilize your IT budget or spending with predictable monthly pricing
You can expect to pay an in-house IT specialist around $72,000 here in Canada—that’s a high price to pay for only one employee. With Remote IT, you get access to an entire team of experts and the same great services for much less. That’s what makes it such a smart investment.
2. Immediate Access to Expertise
SMBs are more at risk for experiencing extensive downtime after incidents like cyberattacks and system outages because they have fewer in-house resources to work with. With Remote IT, you get 24/7 real-time monitoring and support—so skilled technicians spot the problem sooner and resolve it faster.
Faster response times make it easier to:
Diagnose the root of the problem and roll out fixes
Stop minor issues, like glitches, from turning into an IT disaster
Limit side effects, like missed sales, project delays, and compliance violations
Speedy assistance is the key to keeping your business running and reducing stress on staff when something goes wrong with your tech. That’s the kind of peace of mind that makes a difference in a crisis.
A strong tech stack should always help employees work more efficiently and help them enjoy what they do. If they don’t know where to go when they need help or need to wait days for an expert to show up, projects and workflows will grind to a halt—and they’ll fall behind.
Remote IT helps keep everything on track by:
Reducing the amount of time people lose to tech issues
Preventing frustrating disruptions that push projects past deadlines
Helping employees stay focused on high-value tasks that matter
Streamlining troubleshooting so in-house staff don’t have to drop what they’re doing and step in
Saving five minutes per day might not sound like much, but it adds up to around three full days of working hours every single year. With Remote IT, our experts constantly monitor your systems for problems and respond to support requests fast—so issues get resolved faster and everyone stays on schedule.
4. Enhanced Security
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and that’s bad news for most SMBs—because they’re often a prime target. Remote IT gives you access to enterprise-level security tools and experts who understand how to keep your systems and data safe from hacks and bad actors.
Your service package should always include:
24/7 real-time monitoring for threats and intrusion attempts
Proactive, reactive, and automated security measures
Timely firewall, antivirus, software, and firmware updates
Expert guidance on cybersecurity best practices and IT strategy
Revotech uses advanced security protocols to protect your data at all times, and that’s more important than ever because cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated. Working with us shows clients and partners that you aren’t willing to take risks with their private information.
5. Flexibility and Scalability
The business world is unpredictable—and that means tech support services need to be flexible enough to keep up. Remote IT makes it possible to scale support up or down painlessly as your needs change or augment your existing IT resources without bringing on new staff.
That means you can:
Change your support package without paying a high fee
Add or remove users, devices, or support categories as needed
Avoid the time sink of hiring or training a new IT team for every office or location
Get support wherever you are, even if that changes or teams work remotely
This is the kind of flexibility most businesses tell us they need, but some IT providers will lock you into a lengthy contract instead. At Revotech, scalability is at the very core of what we do, so you can trust that we’ll always build it into the core of every plan.
6. Access to the Latest Technology
IT providers use the latest tools and technologies that let them solve problems quickly and efficiently. With Remote IT, businesses benefit from the same innovations without having to directly invest in them—so they’re paying less but getting way more in return.
We’re talking about cutting-edge tools like:
AI chatbots that let people get fast help with the basics
“Smart” or AI-driven diagnostics that automatically flag issues
Endpoint protection for both personal and workplace devices
2FA, MFA, VPNs, and other security features that keep systems and logins safe
You can also lease equipment like new computers, displays, and interactive whiteboards on a subscription basis through Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS). Anything you rent comes with full lifecycle support and automatic upgrades so you never need to stress about maintenance or timely upgrades again.
These are the same systems and features large corporations use to protect their data and keep their tech stack operational at all times. Remote IT just makes it easier to stay one step ahead of the competition without sacrificing half of your budget in the process.
7. Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring
IT support can help you fix problems retroactively and recover from a tech disaster faster, but if your provider only offers reactive support, you’re getting a raw deal. Proactive maintenance and monitoring is the key to keeping your entire tech stack operating smoothly.
Key features to look for include:
24/7 system and network-wide monitoring with no breaks
IT oversight for all regular updates, patch rollouts, and maintenance tasks
Strategic recommendations to help improve the way you use technology
Remember: investing in the right tech is just the first step. Proactive maintenance is what helps you get a longer lifespan and more use out of the systems you rely on every day.
8. Reduced Environmental Impact
Remote IT support helps bring down the environmental impact of both using technology and taking care of it. At face value, the biggest benefit lies in the fact that when IT specialists can help you from anywhere, they spend less time on the road—which means fewer emissions.
But there are other eco-friendly benefits, too:
Well-maintained hardware is less likely to end up in the landfill
Digital workflows limit the need for paper or printed materials
Systems run more efficiently and use less energy with the right care
Remote IT shows your clients and coworkers you care about the planet as well as data safety, system reliability, and so much more. It’s a simple, effective way to make day-to-day operations more sustainable without taking risks with your infrastructure in the process.
Table: Key Benefits of Remote IT Support
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Revotech Networks: Pioneering IT Support Services
Reliable IT support is the key to avoiding downtime and disruptions in the workplace, but hiring people in-house isn’t the only option anymore. With remote IT from Revotech, businesses can get the same expert services from a distance for an affordable and predictable monthly rate.
Get 24/7 help desk support, HaaS, managed IT, VOIP, data recovery, and more in a flexible package that scales with your business without signing any long-term contracts. Schedule an appointment today!
