In business, the ultimate goal is to get things accomplished successfully in the shortest amount of time. One of the best methods of doing just that is RMM, which stands for remote monitoring and Management. RMM is a software-based management agent that assists with reporting system health, asset tracking, remote support, and much more. The RMM agent helps enterprise IT departments grasp a high-level view of their systems and work more efficiently in troubleshooting issues. We have all the info you need below to help you determine if RMM is suitable for your New Jersey SME.
What Is the Primary Function of Remote Management and Monitoring?
Used by IT professionals across the globe, RMM offers a wide variety of functions. That being said, most use it for one of three main reasons:
1- Monitoring Systems and Networks and Providing Alerts in Real-Time
Business systems and networks are under a constant barrage from forces both inside and outside their organization. RMM solutions are used to monitor their health and performance. More importantly, RMM alerts an organization’s IT department to potential issues and risks. That empowers them to deal with those risks quickly, preventing them from becoming severe problems that can disrupt data flow, reduce productivity, and make a dent in profits.
2- Automating Routine IT Management Tasks
The average organization has a vast number of everyday IT tasks that technicians must perform on a regular, ongoing basis. With RMM in place, most of those tasks can be performed automatically, significantly reducing the time and energy spent by IT staff. They include:
- Installing patches and patch management
- Running scripts
- Responding to tickets in a predetermined fashion (policies, actions, etc.)
- Upgrading applications
- Managing antivirus programs
- Backing-up files
- Providing safe remote access
3- Hands-Off Maintenance and Problem Solving
One of the essential functions of RMM is enabling IT technicians to maintain and fix systems and networks remotely (and in real-time) without any productivity-reducing interruptions for end-users. RMM allows them, for example, to connect remotely to machines and devices, deploy new software, troubleshoot problems, and manage updates. IT techs can schedule system updates, patches, etc., without interruptions to any end-users currently on the system or network, a vital benefit that prevents costly downtime.
What are the Major Benefits of RMM?
As an IT provider, efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability are vital. RMM software can improve all three aspects and, in some cases, transform your operations entirely. Below are several of the most valuable benefits of RMM for IT providers
-Providing a Central Control Panel
RMM dashboards are regularly used as a central control panel, reducing the time and energy most techs waste every day toggling back and forth between several screens. They can do this thanks to RMM’s easy integration with software like PSA, endpoint security, and backups, making the task of running a business’s IT more accessible, faster, and less of a hassle.
-Proactive Support
Many IT techs see hours of their day wasted by the constant need to handle minor problems, glitches, and obstacles. This creates a disruptive cycle that, for most, is a big time-vacuum, sucking up hours that could be spent getting ahead of potential issues. With RMM in place, these constant disruptions are eliminated and decreasing the profit-sucking downtime that goes with them. In short, rather than reactive break & fix support.
-A Central Location for Support and Visibility
With RMM, there’s no limit to the number of systems and networks that an IT department can manage, thanks to the fact that it provides a central location for control and complete visibility. Supporting, securing, and managing can quickly be done even by a small or mid-sized business, and, even better, IT staffers can do it from practically any location.
-Improved Scalability
One of the most significant benefits of RMM is that, by streamlining and automating workflow, IT techs are free to support more users and a higher number of endpoints. That’s because the manual tasks that typically slow them down to a crawl are mostly eliminated when RMM is in place.
What To Look for in RMM Software
As with any other software investment, evaluating RMM software before making a purchase decision is highly recommended. Yes, most offer similar core features and benefits. However, when it comes to reliability and performance, some RMM platforms are decidedly better than others.
Experts recommend taking advantage of free RMM software trials for this very reason. That way, it’s possible to see if the RMM platform you’re considering matches well with your specific wants and needs. Below are a few core benefits to look for:
-Remote Access
Integration with 3rd-party software is typical for RMM. Look for remote access that’s fast and reliable.
-Reporting
Easy generation of reports is crucial to monitor systems and networks well. Patch compliance, for example, as well as performance overviews and inventory reports.
-Patch Management
The key here is the ability to automate patching so that user disruption is kept to a minimum.
-Integrations
The ability to integrate with documentation software, PSA solutions, and more is a crucial selling point.
-Monitoring and Alerting
One of the main benefits of RMM software is allowing IT techs to monitor a wide variety of devices and software applications and alert them to potential problems in real-time. That includes things like:
- Routers
- Firewalls
- Switches
- Printers
-Ease of Ongoing Administration Tasks
Factoring in the expertise necessary to manage your RMM is essential, as well as the time and expertise it takes to do so. In other words, look past the initial licensing fees and costs and to the cost of maintaining and managing your RMM down the road.
-Reliability and Stability
RMM software that is reliable and stable offers obvious benefits, particularly the reduction of downtime.
-Ease of Set-Up
You want an intuitive RMM that can be implemented with the least amount of training and fees to keep costs and ramp-up time to a minimum.
-Customer Support
Last but certainly not least, robust customer support for your RMM software is vital. Fast access to responsive experts is a definite plus.
In New Jersey, the typical SME can significantly benefit from an intuitive, robust, and well-designed Remote Management and Monitoring (RMM) platform.