| When it comes to managed IT services, the biggest | | | | to manage and store this digital data creating an |
| myths and misconceptions are from companies who | | | | alternative to mainframes of yester year. Despite |
| understand a very limited level of IT, without being | | | | this, many companies have and still do rely on the |
| fully conversant in programming. Many businesses | | | | old-fashioned mainframe – although according to |
| have a vague idea of what their IT technician does | | | | the managed IT services experts, this is becoming |
| when the server crashes, or when an employees | | | | less evident as time progresses. |
| system is corrupted with an email virus from unsafe | | | | - IT Myth 3: All big shops run multiple platforms |
| attachments. They know it has to do with | | | | The reality: This 'myth' is closer to fact than fiction |
| computers, and in some instances, may be able to | | | | actually, and has a strong basis of truth. Managed IT |
| grasp some of the basic concepts, but other than | | | | services experts state that there is a lot of truth in |
| that, there are many grey areas. | | | | the statement that enterprises seek heterogeneity |
| Some of the biggest myths regarding managed IT | | | | rather than single-vendor solutions – smaller |
| services include the following: | | | | companies might stay homogenous, however larger |
| - IT Myth 1: Server upgrades matter | | | | companies face things like mergers and acquisitions |
| The reality: Don't pay extra for upgrades, you will | | | | that often make them more heterogeneous. |
| never need this. Unless the server has crashed, or is | | | | Previously, the ratio of homogeneous to |
| in the process of crashing or causing any issues, | | | | heterogeneous environments was about 80-20, but |
| upgrading will only end up using precious company | | | | this ratio has now reversed itself, in an interesting |
| resources, and is not entirely necessary at all. The | | | | turn of events that sees larger corporations turn to a |
| server stores all key information within a network | | | | number of different vendors rather than sticking to |
| and a reliable and efficient server is hugely valuable | | | | one single platform for their IT needs. |
| for many reasons – mostly as this means that | | | | - IT Myth 4: Most IT projects fail |
| network issues within the office are fewer, and | | | | The reality: This is quite a subjective myth, and is not |
| computers within the network face less down time, | | | | always based on accurate fact. While some projects |
| ensuring better productivity on all fronts. | | | | may fail, obviously others don't. It depends on the |
| - IT Myth 2: 80% percent of corporate data resides | | | | level of service offered by your IT company and the |
| on mainframes | | | | nature of the project, plus the external |
| The reality: In actual fact, this figure is close to 50% | | | | circumstances that will affect the project success. |
| or even less. Since they were first developed in the | | | | With high service standards and a good track record, |
| 1950s with the birth of IBM, mainframes have | | | | IT projects have a good chance of succeeding. |
| become the gatekeeper for all important corporate | | | | - IT Myth 5: IT doesn't scale |
| information. It was only in the 1970s and 1980s that | | | | The reality: Pretty much any technology is scalable, |
| this began to chance, with the advent of mini | | | | as long as you combine the right ingredients and |
| computers and then micro computers, with | | | | implement them effectively. Consult a trusted |
| unstructured corporate data like e-mail, web pages, | | | | managed IT services company, and learn how IT is |
| Microsoft Word documents, and various technologies | | | | scalable in your industry. |