Industry Specific Managed Service Needs for Municipalities

Managing IT and digital technology can be a big ask for municipalities. Local governments are having to rely more and more on digital processes and innovative technology for dealing with day-to-day administration, but the pace of change in the sector can be hard to keep pace with. IT systems require regular updates, and municipalities need to be up to speed with the latest technologies or they risk falling behind and becoming vulnerable to system failure or cyberattack. When a lost connection or a malware attack has the potential to bring a community to a standstill, it is vital that municipalities are on top of their IT.

Working with a managed IT service is one of the best ways that municipalities can access the technical expertise they need without having to stretch limited budgets to maintain an in-house IT department. Managed IT services offer the full range of IT solutions for a fraction of the cost of a traditional internal IT service. 

What is a managed IT service?

Managed IT services are the management of continually evolving IT technology, administering industry-specific critical systems, and leveraging best practices and shared resources to positively impact user experience with IT. 

Managed service providers (MSPs) essentially run your IT infrastructure remotely, providing the right systems to improve productivity, protecting your municipality with the right cybersecurity strategy, and looking for ways to accelerate your operational processes and help things run more smoothly. 

Managed IT services providers are able to be proactive when dealing with potential issues before they happen and tend to be far more cost-effective than in-house IT staff, providing the equivalent of a full IT department for a fraction of the price.

How can a managed IT service help your municipality?

Security and risk management

State and local governments are responsible for their citizens’ security, and in the digital world, this means protecting their data. Municipalities tend to hold a vast range of sensitive information, which makes cybersecurity absolutely vital. However, all too often, aging infrastructure, old-fashioned systems, and limited budgets mean that they are particularly vulnerable to bad actors and cybercriminals. Cybercrime has never been more subtle and sophisticated than it is today, and protecting against hacks, phishing attacks, and infiltrations requires expertise and up-to-the-minute tech. 

A managed IT service can strengthen systems, educate staff, and put processes in place to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. By developing advanced security policies, your managed service provider (MSP) can be proactive in preventing cyberattacks, and with advanced AI technology, firewalls, LAN and WAN protection, and more robust infrastructure, they will secure your defenses against bad actors. 

Cloud services

Cloud-based internet systems and solutions can have huge benefits for municipalities. Under constant pressure to stick to or even cut budgets while simultaneously improving delivery, cloud solutions provide much-needed economies of scale, flexibility, and agility. With citizens increasingly expecting a more client-focused service from their local government and people interacting digitally more than ever before, moving services online is a no-brainer. 

Cloud services also allow municipalities to work more flexibly, improve mobility, and cut costs on hardware and expensive data storage solutions. Cloud solutions are completely scalable, allowing you to pay only for what you need - a huge bonus for administrations looking to get the best value out of public money.

Your MSP can not only help municipalities manage the transition to cloud-based working but can often provide secure, resilient cloud hosting themselves. Pay-as-you-go cloud services are perfect for local government, allowing you to pay only for the computing and storage needs that you have at the time. 

Optimization

Digital infrastructure for state and local government is very often outdated and supported by under-resourced staff with limited experience or expertise. MSPs like VC3 are able to modernize and optimize your infrastructure, providing a range of solutions from data storage to collaboration software, VoIP phone systems to superfast wireless. Your MSP will also be able to help you plan and strategize your IT needs and implement best practices and disaster recovery protocols to ensure your municipality is always as efficient, effective, and secure as it can be. 

Whatever your municipality's needs, a managed IT services provider will always be on the lookout for new software and technology to accelerate your town or city.

At VC3, we are driven by our relentless pursuit of the success of others. If you feel that a managed IT service might be the right choice for your municipality, or you’d like to know more about how we can manage, protect and accelerate your business, get in touch.