Qualcom Launches Virtual IT Manager Service To Target 17,000 Irish SME's

Published 17th October 2006

• New, cost-effective outsourced IT management service targets potential EUR105M
• PPAG becomes one of the first Virtual IT Manager customers

Qualcom Systems Ltd, Ireland’s leading independent IT and data management company, today, announced the launch of a tailored IT support service, Virtual IT Manager. Aimed at Ireland’s 17,000 SME’s, Virtual IT Manager is a cost effective, technically proficient alternative to an in-house IT professional. Qualcom estimates the potential market value for outsourced IT management services in the SME sector to be worth around EUR105M.

Virtual IT Manager provides the services of outsourced off-site IT managers 24x7. This includes round-the-clock monitoring, regular maintenance and on-hand expertise when it’s needed. The service is specifically tailored to each customer and it includes regular, scheduled engineer visits to customers’ sites.

Qualcom launched the service in response to research which found that many SME’s are not in a position to employ fulltime IT staff, with the result that IT and network issues are often assigned to unqualified employees. Qualcom’s research found that this caused many difficulties including system downtime, lost revenues, unproductive employees and loss of focus.

The service is ideal in environments where there are networks, servers and multiple users. It flags potential problems before they arise and it helps to maintain consistent levels of computer equipment performance.

There has been a strong initial take up for the service, especially from companies in the ten to thirty five employees bracket, across many areas of business and professional services. One of the customers, Phillip McLaughlan, managing director of PPAG said, “Virtual IT Manager removes the headache of ensuring  that our IT systems are current, compliant, secure and supporting our overall business goals. It is a real business enabling service to a company like ourselves, for whom a full time IT Manager is an unnecessary expense. Since opting for it, we have had no IT downtime.”

Ken Breen, managing director of Qualcom said, “SMEs have given a very strong welcome to Virtual IT Manager because it reassures them that they can focus on their core business, secure in the knowledge that they have the back-up of an IT service which will keep their IT systems in prime health.”