At AJT Managed IT Services, we’re proud to work with and support local charities and community organisations, including Team Domenica, Chestnut Tree House and Ditchling Cricket Club.

We offer discounted rates on IT support and Microsoft Office 365 to charities. And, if you’re a charity in the Brighton or Sussex area looking for a new IT partner, we’d love to work with you. Read our blog post to find out more about what you should consider if you’re looking for an IT support partner, and how we might be able to help.

There are many essential ingredients required to make a charity thrive – some at the forefront, like community fundraising and service delivery, and others hidden in the background, like effective operations and processes. Here are some reasons why we think proper IT support for charities is one of these essential hidden ingredients.

The more streamlined a charity’s operations and administration, the more time and money that can be spent on delivering services. Efficient IT systems – including fast networks, up-to-date software and hardware, and reliable cloud access – reduces wasted time and frustration, freeing up resources to focus on what matters most: making a difference to those who need help.

Cyber security and data protection are essential for any sector organisation that handles personal data. In a charity’s case, this information could be particularly sensitive, for example donor data, sensitive user information, or financial records related to fundraising and service costs. Every charity needs secure IT systems in place to protect themselves and their customers from cyber-attacks and human error.

The less money spent on IT support, the more that can be spent on delivering essential services. Of course, we’re not advocating that spending on IT be cut back to the point where it creates risks and inefficiencies. But IT support should be focused on the areas that matter. A good IT partner will help any charity spot where money is being wasted, for example on duplicate licences or over-spec’d hardware.

Just like other businesses, every charity’s IT support needs will vary depending on their specific setup. However, there are some common essential services that will help most:

One of the most important parts of effective IT support is access to people who can help you. You need to know someone is going to be there to fix an issue when you need them. Being able to seek support and get issues resolved remotely is often the quickest way to get back up and running.

That said, there’s nothing that can replace the power of meeting people face-to-face. Often the most effective outsourced IT support offers a bit of both: remote support for quick fixes, and regular onsite maintenance for proactive monitoring.

Choosing a partner that offers in-person visits as well as remote access means your team will get to know the faces behind your IT support. IT ensures your IT team know your charity well enough to make IT recommendations you can trust.

The charity sector is one of the most heavily regulated in the UK. Although the Charity Commission doesn’t have specific regulations about cybersecurity, charities must safeguard data and mitigate the risks of cyber incidents.

Choose an IT partner that can offer not only technology to protect and monitor the security of your data and systems but can also help train your staff on cyberthreats and what to do if an incident occurs. This will help ensure your sensitive data stays safe, you’re alerted as quickly as possible to any issues, and your staff know how to spot the warning signs of phishing or social engineering.

All IT support solutions should be cost effective, but for charities, this becomes even more important. Making the most of cloud-based technologies rather than setups that require masses of physical hardware and storage will help keep costs down for charities. This is in addition to the charity discounts that some IT providers (including us) can offer.

Discounted IT support for charities

Many IT firms offer discounted rates to help charities get more bang for their buck. Be sure to ask any potential IT partner if they’re able to offer any.

Reputation & reliability

Be confident you’re working with a partner that will deliver what they promise. Check out their reviews, testimonials and any case studies to help you get a feel for their work.

Experience and ethos

While you’re doing that research, ask if there are any existing charities the MSP works with, or any other local organisations they support. A community-focused partner is more likely to understand the nuances of how best to help your charity.

Scalability

Things don’t often stand still for charities, with networks of volunteers regularly changing, or operations scaling up and down as funding or priorities adjust. Look for a partner that can provide flexible support contracts of licences that can be scaled up or down as your needs change.