Why Non-Profits Need Managed IT

Non-profit organizations pour their hearts, time, and energy into the missions they support. From animal rescue groups to domestic violence shelters, non-profits strive to help underserved communities, vulnerable populations, and important social initiatives. Without these organizations working every day to uplift others, the world would be a darker place.

Providing much-needed support to people in need takes immense effort from your non-profit. While individuals power these groups forward in empowering communities and causes, technology is the underlying force that drives every aspect of your collective efforts. Unfortunately, IT problems can make it feel impossible to operate at full speed.

Technology may be an obstacle for your team, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) like Bit-Wizards can turn those obstacles into opportunities for growth and advancement. Learn how IT support for non-profits can help you address and overcome some of your industry’s most prevalent challenges.

1. Strict budget constraints

Every dollar your non-profit receives is carefully allocated to various parts of your cause, so it’s hard to accommodate surprise expenses. IT purchases often rank lower on your list of priorities, especially when funds are already tight. Brian Schlechter, Director of IT at Bit-Wizards, says that many organizations don’t consider IT expenses as necessary because they focus on major threats instead of inefficiencies.

“People often skate by with limited IT spending and therefore think they’re okay simply because they’ve never been hacked, but the problems are much smaller and more prevalent than that,” he shares. “The actual issue is that, while you think your operations aren’t affected by a lack of tech spending, they’re slower and less productive.”

How does Bit-Wizards make IT costs more predictable?

While it’s impossible to predict everything coming your way, you can prepare your non-profit for future IT expenses. Managed IT Services (MITS) from Bit-Wizards enables you to anticipate most technology costs, with comprehensive IT support provided at a set price each month. Schlechter believes one of the biggest advantages is our team’s ability to help you identify and plan for upgrades and subscriptions.

“Although surprise expenses can’t always be avoided, a lot of your everyday technology costs can be more controlled with managed IT,” he says. “Even with inevitable upgrades, we offer cost-saving assistance measures like IT budgeting and forecasting to help you allocate money for necessary purchases and prevent more expensive issues from arising.”

2. Inadequate IT resources

Your team excels in helping the people or causes your non-profit supports, but you may not have the technical skills needed to work through IT issues. With only so much time in each day, any outdated hardware and software or tech troubles take away from your primary goals and tasks. Schlechter says even minor problems and inefficiencies can lead you to lose precious time that could be spent more productively.

“Non-profit employees and volunteers are excellent at doing good things and focusing on their mission, but they often need help with the technical aspects of their work,” he explains. “When they’re constantly battling whatever equipment and solutions are in place to get their jobs done, the time, energy, and effort they need to spend to make everything work costs more than they realize.”

How can Bit-Wizards help with equipment and support?

When you become a MITS client, our Wizards conduct a comprehensive infrastructure optimization to identify areas for immediate and future improvement. With the right tools and programs implemented, your team will deal with fewer roadblocks that used to keep you from accomplishing what you need to do. Combined with training opportunities and help desk support, Schlechter says IT frustrations will become a thing of the past.

“We can work with you to create a plan to optimize or replace old devices and systems, all while maximizing your budget and minimizing disruptions to your workflow,” he states. “Your IT will run faster and smoother, and your team can learn how to make the most of your collaboration tools so that you can turn that lost productivity into top-notch efficiency.”

3. Scalability obstacles

Circumstances change within your organization and the causes you support, so it’s vital to have the ability to turn on a dime and adjust your work as needed. While getting new volunteers up to speed on your mission can be simple, expanding or adding to your IT resources can be a complicated process. Schlechter emphasizes that the importance of scalability goes beyond personnel changes within non-profits.

“It isn’t just about the accounts and employees within your organization—it’s the external resources that you offer as part of your non-profit’s mission,” he says. “If you have people coming to your shelter who need Wi-Fi access to apply for jobs and other assistance, you now need to securely adjust your bandwidth and overall networking capabilities from supporting 10 people to over 100, and that’s not an easy task if you’re unsure how to manage your IT resources.”

How can Bit-Wizards promote scalable resources?

Our services leverage cloud infrastructure, so adjusting your IT resources to meet your needs is a more streamlined process. With enterprise-grade solutions and remote capabilities, you can access user-friendly programs that can be adjusted anywhere and anytime. Schlechter underlines that our Wizards also work proactively with each other and our vendors to ensure your resources continually meet your ever-changing needs.

“With our proactive monitoring and trend analysis, we keep an eye out for consistent spikes and recommend increasing your bandwidth and other network capabilities before you hit that wall,” he says. “If it’s a resource that works in tandem with your IT infrastructure that we can’t adjust in-house, we have a long list of trusted vendors we can bring in who can connect you to what you need.”

4. Cybersecurity concerns

Shielding your information from hackers and cyber threats is an ever-present issue, especially if you store sensitive files or have specific compliance standards. With phishing attacks and other threats on the rise, suffering an IT security failure would significantly damage your operations and reputation. Schlechter mentions that organizations often mistakenly attribute a lack of attacks to adequate cybersecurity measures.

“Just because you’ve run for a couple of decades without a minor incident doesn’t mean you’re invincible against one in the future,” he says. “Any information you collect from employees, donors, or beneficiaries needs to be stored properly, and your team needs to be prepared for the event that your data is compromised.”

How does Bit-Wizards keep information secure?

With Bit-Wizards, you get a proactive, multilayered approach to security that keeps your information secure without compromising on efficiency. Our robust security measures shield your non-profit’s data by implementing enterprise-grade solutions that adhere to industry best practices. Schlechter adds that our team can also help you meet compliance standards if you know which frameworks apply to you.

“If you need to follow HIPAA regulations or other requirements, we can implement the technical solutions to ensure your data meets those standards,” he says. “Whether it’s multifactor authentication, backups, cyber insurance, or something else, we have the resources to integrate the right solutions in your infrastructure and teach you how to use them.”

Empower your non-profit with magical managed IT

People and organizations are at their best when they’re supported by others who understand their needs and goals. Becoming a MITS client elevates your operations with steadfast support from Wizards who understand your organization and treat your team’s mission like their own. Our team has supported Fresh Start for Children and Families and other non-profits for years, and we’re ready to give you the same experience.

Ready for stress-free IT that expands your ability to help others? Get in touch.