Help Desk Versus IT Support: What’s the Difference?

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What is a Help Desk? 

A help desk is the first point of contact that customers have to answer any of their questions. Customers are often asking simple questions, that can be either be easily answered or their solution is readily available. The focus of the help desk is to be any kind of support possible to customers. This means customers are not only directed to the help desk for technical support but instead, all of their general questions can be answered as well. 

Specifically, within small or large businesses, help desks are there to help troubleshoot and support the technological problems that may arise. 

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What Does IT Support Do? 

IT support is a much more specific realm of customer assistance. The help of IT support is to address the more complex technology needs of a business or customers. IT support intends to address your business’ goals and how you hope to achieve them. The help of IT support means your business could start using user data to implement automation, or start having a strong IT focus on managing new software projects. 

When Does Each Apply: Proactive vs. Reactive? 

Interestingly, we can think about the help desk being a more reactive system, while IT support is much more proactive. Help desks would focus on addressing the concerns of business as they raise them, such as being technology support to help fix a ‘down’ system or helping install a program. On the other hand, IT support is focusing on adding to the business. There is a focus on improving the current strategies and tactics used by the business to increase efficiency and perhaps make the systems more user-friendly. 

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The Importance of a Help Desk and IT Support

The two services are not interchangeable, there is an importance to having each within your business. The value of having help desk support to solve technical problems can be extremely beneficial on a daily basis. While in contrast, IT support yearns to proactively understand the business’ next steps to promote growth and advancement. 

The Role of a Help Desk: 

  • Address Problems as They Arise

People need to bring their concerns or problems to the help desk to find solutions. If one person is experiencing a problem, this is a great way to have space for people to comfortably share their everyday technical problems. Having a help desk is an allocated forum to turn to when needing quick solutions.  

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  • Emphasis on Solving Problems in a Timely Fashion

Customers or people within the business turn to the help desk for immediate support. This is a quick way to ensure business concerns are being heard and ensuring they are addressed within a reasonable time frame. 

  • Can Help to Provide Answers 

As we now understand, help desks are a great way to get feedback and technical solutions. The benefits of the help desk are that they are dedicated to solving and managing the problems that occur.  

The Role of IT Support: 

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  • Focus on Creating Growth Within the Business

IT Support is a way to build your company’s technical resources. Implementing IT Support, their focus is to understand your business and what projects should be underway to help achieve your growth goals. The emphasis on managing projects means your IT support team is dedicated to making progress and headway within your company. 

  • Looks at the Business Goals and Steps Ahead

As the IT support looks at projects to manage ways to advance the company - they are dedicating themselves to your business. IT support is a refreshing way to have another set of eyes looking at your business. Their dedication to making advancement means they understand the ins and outs, your business goals, and understand the motivation behind every project they implement. 

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  • Essential to Advance the Company 

The new digital age means technology is a new path to success. Advancing your business’ technology, the way you work, and increasing efficiency are all essentials to creating the strongest running business you can. IT support is the path to establishing growth and ensuring your technical goals are being attained. 

Conclusion: How to Focus on Growth for Your Business

IT Support requires strong technical skills and dedication to your business. This can be achieved by outsourcing IT support. Outsourcing your information technology support means you have a team of experts coming on to your team with a different lens of your business needs and striving to achieve your wishes.

ISU Corp can be an asset to your business, contact us!