LONDON, December 3 /PRNewswire/ -- A new White Paper, entitled The Evolution of IT Support Services up to 'Board-Level' by IT Outsourcing provider Fifosys http://www.fifosys.com explains how SMEs are exposing the business to unnecessary risk on a daily basis through either inadequate IT managed services (http://www.fifosys.com/) and IT Outsourcing (http://www.fifosys.com/boardlevelitsupport.php) contracts or a complacency amongst its own IT management. The White Paper by London IT Support (http://www.fifosys.com/) provider Fifosys provides a series of recommendations to SME or mid-market businesses who believe their IT is underperforming and want to do something about it.

The White Paper, by IT managed services provider Fifosys, argues that IT is now so well embedded in the processes of growing businesses that simply keeping IT systems up and running can no longer be viewed as an effective strategy. But to get the right service, it is essential organisations carry out two types of assessment:

- A solutions assessment - to consider the current state of IT systems and determine whether you have the right solution - A service assessment - to ascertain what levels of service are required

As an organisation grows, its IT requirements build in size and complexity. During this evolution, the technology required has multiplied but the management of the technology will differ widely, depending on organisational culture and attitude towards IT Outsourcing, argues the White Paper by London IT Support provider, Fifosys.

Commenting on the need for organisations to identify the single points of failure across the IT infrastructure, Mitesh Patel, Managing Director of IT managed services provider Fifosys, says, While businesses routinely assess the single points of failure in core operations, from manufacturing to distribution, they are patently failing to apply the same robust operations practices to IT. In part, the problem is one of culture: individuals within the IT team are neither encouraged nor, to be frank, have the skills to map business needs with IT risks and availability.

Patel of IT Outsourcing provider Fifosys, continues, Organisations of every size need a team with the ability to deliver real risk assessment and strategic IT decision-making. This whitepaper is aimed at helping board level management understand the importance of bridging the gap between business and IT, so as to align business decisions.

The White Paper from London IT Support Fifosys highlights the four key requirements for understanding IT value most commonly overlooked by SMEs, as well as the need to distinguish between the drive for service and the need for a solution in accordance with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework. It also explains how an organisation can identify the tipping point where the need for new and innovative technology to support business becomes so great that it will trigger a change in strategy, from outsourcing elements of the support function to employing, at greater expense, an in-house IT Director.

Patel continues, UK SMEs are unknowingly risking the business through a lack of transparency and understanding of technology. The majority of SMEs will admit that robust IT systems are central to sustained business success. Yet how many ask the right questions of their third party suppliers to enable a true understanding of the level of risk exposure?

Patel concludes, It is only by taking a step back, assessing and understanding the current levels of risk associated with existing IT deployments, that an organisation can truly determine its ongoing IT requirements and then put in place the technology, skills and resources to reduce operational risk and transform IT from a cost centre to business enabler.

The White Paper, The Evolution of IT Support Services up to 'Board-Level' is available to download free of charge from http://www.fifosys.com/boardlevelitsupport.php.

About Fifosys

Based in London, Fifosys is a vendor-independent, technology infrastructure development and outsourced managed services provider.

Fifosys specialises in providing the level and detail of support that large scale enterprises expect but delivered for the SME and mid-market business. Using an ITIL and Prince 2-based best practice approach to IT support, Fifosys has built a reputation as a trusted partner with its customers, providing both first-class IT support services and the highest levels of advice, guidance and reporting.

Established in 2001, Fifosys is a professional technology infrastructure specialist, delivering a broad portfolio of high quality technical and strategic managed services. Fifosys provides its own skilled staff to selectively outsource the IT services which most SMEs struggle to provide themselves. Fifosys acts as a single point of contact and accountability for all IT matters - from service desk support to problem resolution, procurement management to IT director-level reporting and advice as well as the management of all third party suppliers.

Working closely with its customers to understand unique business requirements, Fifosys' approach offers; reduced complexity risk, excellent account management and assistance, with state-of-the-art technology coupled with clear service level agreements, selective outsourcing and 24/7 IT support. Services include the end-to-end designing, developing, implementing and supporting of the technology infrastructure to ensure a trouble free and secure IT environment; improving services, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

This approach allows Fifosys to offer its customers the opportunity to turn IT into a strategic business asset for competitive advantage, allowing the customer to focus on its core business functions, whilst Fifosys concentrates on getting the IT to support and drive the business forward.

Fifosys is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Microsoft Small Business Specialist, Google Enterprise Partner, Dell Partner, part of the Citrix Partner Network, Zen Internet Platinum Partner, Juniper Service Specialist and a McAfee Security Alliance Certified Partner.

Over the last eight years Fifosys' team of qualified IT professionals has built a first-class reputation based on a combination of knowledge, understanding, service and openness. Its current 41 customers encompass a range of sectors from financial, media, professional services, and medical to property development/management. Customers include the London Medical Centre, The Contact Group, Jasper Capital and Raven Russia.

For more information please contact: Lauren Bell Fifosys Ltd Tel: +44(0)20-7644-2610 Tegan Boaler / Krista Cundy The itpr Partnership Tel: +44(0)1932-578-800

SOURCE: Fifosys

CONTACT: For more information please contact: Lauren Bell, Fifosys Ltd,Tel: +44(0)20-7644-2610. Tegan Boaler / Krista Cundy, The itpr Partnership,Tel: +44(0)1932-578-800.