The office as the standard place for work has gotten a big shakeup this year due to the pandemic. The number of remote workdays on average has doubled during the pandemic, and many companies are planning to keep a remote workforce permanently in place.
Another business change that’s been happening over the last five years has been the increase in freelancers. In 2019, freelancers made up 35% of the US workforce and that number is expected to continue growing.
One thing that both groups have in common is the fact that they work from home, outside the normal trappings of an office environment. This also means they may have less access to IT support.
Without managed IT services and help desk support, at-home workers can end up struggling with computer problems longer than if they were in a traditional office. For freelancers, it can also mean a significant hit to their income.
For example, the median rate for freelancers in the U.S. is $28 per hour. If you end up struggling with technology problems or are slowed by a non-optimized computer, it impacts how much money you can make.
The equivalent of just 1 hour per day in slowdowns or work-stopping issues, can mean a freelancer is losing $140 per week (about $560 per month) in income.
For businesses with remote workers, they can be losing a similar amount in productivity if they haven’t given their remote teams the IT support they need.
Why At-Home Workers Need Computer Support
It’s becoming increasingly unimportant where a person is working, because through cloud technologies and an internet connection, they can do much of the same tasks wherever they are, depending upon their job.
But many Treasure Valley area companies still think of computer support differently between “office” and “home.” The truth is that computers need the same type of ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and expert support to stay productive no matter where they are.
Here are several reasons why it’s important that both work-from-home employees and freelancers have managed IT services.
Improved Productivity
Office workers in the U.S. waste an average of 22 minutes each day struggling with technology issues. It can be even more if they’re on their own and working from home with no support.
When you sign up for managed IT support, you have nearly instant remote access to the help you need, whether you’re having an email problem or can’t connect to a company video call.
Connect2Geek can handle a majority of common computer problems through remote login. We can get you help fast, so you can get back to a productive day.
Updates & Patches Handled for You
Operating system and software update requests seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times. You may be in the middle of a big client project or just don’t want to deal with a reboot that will cause you to have to close out all your open programs.
But, when updates are put off, it can mean major security problems because those updates often contain critical security patches.
When you use managed IT services all those updates and patches are handled for you. It’s like magic! They’re done behind the scenes, so your work isn’t interrupted, and your system is tested post update to ensure everything went smoothly.
Improved Computer Speed and Performance
Computers will naturally slow down over time, especially if they’re not getting regular maintenance. If you’re a freelancer with a poorly maintained computer, you may not even realize how much money you’re losing because you’re being limited by your PC performance.
Having your computer professionally managed means that it stays optimized for peak performance. We know exactly what types of things slow devices down and how to keep your system as fast as possible.
This means you get more done each day because you’re not waiting on a computer to load a program or having to reboot constantly due to freezing issues.
Better Device Security
Did you know that you can get managed antivirus/anti-malware with a managed IT services package? This means that you won’t have to worry about a major data breach happening or a ransomware attack that could make your computer completely unusable.
20% of organizations have experienced a cybersecurity incident during the pandemic because of a remote worker.
Your device is monitored 24/7 for any potential security threats, which are addressed immediately, keeping your data safe and saving you from a costly incident.
Managed IT Is Affordable!
Freelancers often think that managed IT won’t be affordable to them. But Connect2Geek has plans that fit everyone’s budget. We offer three affordable Managed Services plans starting at just $25/month per PC (+$79 1-time setup fee).
If we save you even 1-2 hours a month in productivity losses (and it’s going to be more than that!), then the service is already paid for.
Choose Your Perfect Remote/Freelancer Managed IT Plan Today
Stop struggling and find out how much better work life can be when you have an IT pro by your side. Connect2Geek is here to help your Treasure Valley business!
Schedule your free consultation to learn more today! Call 208-468-4323 or reach out online.