Over the past decade, many businesses have made seamless transitions from legacy tools to cloud-based platforms in two critical areas: customer relationship management (CRM) and voice communications.
Platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics replaced clunky, on-prem CRM systems, while UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) tools like Microsoft Teams Phone, Zoom, and RingCentral quickly overtook traditional PBX systems.
Now, another core function is on the move: IT services.
The same logic that pushed organizations to adopt SaaS and UCaaS—cost savings, scalability, mobility, and better support—is now driving a shift toward Managed IT Services. If CRM and voice were the first dominoes, full-service IT is the next one to fall.
Legacy PBX and CRM systems came with significant hardware costs, license fees, and maintenance needs. Cloud platforms eliminated the need for bulky infrastructure and allowed businesses to move to an operating expense (OpEx) model with predictable monthly costs.
Modern sales and service teams needed tools that worked from anywhere. Cloud CRM and VoIP platforms enabled secure, real-time access across devices and locations, which became essential during the shift to hybrid and remote work models.
Cloud vendors now offer enterprise-grade security, frequent updates, and high availability—far exceeding what most small internal IT teams could maintain for on-prem systems.
Cloud platforms are updated frequently, often weekly, giving users access to new features, integrations, and compliance support without the need for disruptive upgrades.
If cloud CRM and UCaaS made businesses faster and more resilient, Managed IT Services are doing the same—but across the entire technology environment. Here’s why the shift is accelerating:
Modern IT includes cybersecurity, compliance, backup and disaster recovery, remote support, network monitoring, device management, and cloud orchestration. Very few internal teams can manage this breadth effectively.
The “one IT person” model breaks under the weight of today’s security and performance demands. Even with good generalists, organizations often lack the depth of expertise in areas like incident response, compliance frameworks, or cloud optimization.
Ransomware, phishing, and compliance violations now carry six-figure risks. Managed IT providers offer 24/7 monitoring, layered defenses, and proactive patching that go far beyond break/fix support.
Just as sales and service teams benefit from optimized workflows in their cloud CRMs, businesses now want strategic IT planning: lifecycle management, budget forecasting, vendor consolidation, and scalable architecture. Managed IT providers offer that roadmap, not just reactive helpdesk support.
|
Function |
Then |
Now |
|
CRM |
On-prem software, siloed data |
Cloud-based, integrated, real-time |
|
Voice |
PBX hardware, limited mobility |
VoIP/UCaaS with mobile access |
|
IT Services |
Internal team, reactive, limited scope |
Managed services, proactive, strategic IT partner |
A mid-size financial firm that transitioned to managed IT saw:
Business-critical systems—first CRM, then communications—have already made the jump to the cloud for good reason. IT services are simply catching up to the rest of the business.
Outsourced IT is no longer just a cost-cutting measure—it’s a strategic enabler. Businesses that embrace Managed IT Services gain access to enterprise-level support, security, and innovation without the overhead of building an internal department.
Let’s explore what a fully managed environment could look like for your organization.