Managed Services - Channel Insider
Empowering the next generation Channel

11 IT Functions Ripe for Channel Sales
By Ericka Chickowski on 2010-10-18



Outsourcing is growing. Median spending on outsourcing as a percentage of total IT spending rose by its highest rate in three years, according to a new study from Computer Economics that examined outsourcing trends among a range of IT organizations. As companies continue to look for ways to improve efficiency and cut staff, they'll likely continue look to increase the outsourcing they do. And that means there’s a big opportunity for channel players such as managed service providers and consultants to pick up the slack. Computer Economics identified the following 11 IT functions as the most likely to be targeted by companies for outsourcing. Here’s a look at where the opportunities are.
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Software as a Service/Hosted Applications


Around 58 percent of organizations outsource at least a small part of their application portfolio through a vendor using the SaaS model.

Application Development


About 51 percent of organizations outsource the development of new systems or enhancement of existing systems to service providers.

Website/e-Commerce Systems


Roughly 43 percent of organizations use a service provider to help them develop, host or maintain a corporate website or e-commerce system.

Application Maintenance


Organizations are increasingly passing over responsibilities such as making minor bug fixes, configuring applications and provisioning for applications to an outsourced service provider -- approximately 38 percent of organizations reportedly outsource maintenance functions.

Disaster Recovery


Around 31 percent of organizations depend on an outside entity to store data offsite, run recovery data centers and set up redundant systems and networks to prepare for disaster or other disruption.

Data Center Operations


Approximately 28 percent of organizations either outsource the operation of their existing data center to outside service providers or completely outsource the data center operation to service providers who own the equipment and facilities.

Network Operations


Outside service providers take care of all or part of 28 percent of organizations' voice and data network operations, network monitoring or installation, repair or maintenance of network equipment.

IT Security


Approximately 24 percent of organizations lean on outside independent security experts to offer services such as security assessments, penetration testing or managed security services.

Desktop Support


Whether through on-site technicians or remote support, 22 percent of organizations outsource one or more functions of desktop support, be it acquisition, installation, maintenance or daily support of endpoints.

Database Administration


The development, monitoring and tuning of databases at both the physical and logical level is outsourced by about 21 percent of organizations.

Help Desk


At least 21 percent of organizations outsource their first-level phone or electronic response to end-user incidents or inquiries.

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