The Break-Fix Model Is Broken
The traditional approach to IT management is reactive. Something breaks. Someone reports it. A technician responds. Hours of downtime pass. The problem is fixed — until the next one.
This model worked when IT was a support function. It does not work when IT is your business operations. When ransomware encrypts your systems at 2 AM. When an unpatched vulnerability is exploited on a Friday afternoon. When a server fails and nobody notices until Monday morning.
Proactive managed services replace this cycle with continuous monitoring, automated maintenance, and preventive action. Problems are detected and resolved before your people even notice.
24/7 Monitoring
Every endpoint, server, and network device in your environment is monitored continuously by OAS through the N-able N-central platform.
What We Monitor
Endpoints
desktops, laptops, and mobile devices across your organisation
Servers
physical and virtual servers running Windows, Linux, and macOS
Network devices
switches, routers, firewalls, access points, and other infrastructure
Applications
critical business application health and availability
Cloud resources
Azure and Microsoft 365 service health
How We Respond
Automated alerting with configurable thresholds identifies issues before they become outages:
Hardware degradation
disc failures, memory errors, and temperature warnings caught early
Capacity warnings
disc space, CPU, and memory alerts before resources exhaust
Service failures
critical services monitored and automatically restarted
Security events
integration with SentinelOne for coordinated security response
OAS does not wait for your staff to report problems. We see them first. We resolve them proactively.
Automated Patch Management
Unpatched systems are the number one attack vector for cybercriminals. Every unpatched application is an open door.
Operating System Patching
N-central deploys OS patches to devices on or off your network via cloud-based remote patching:
Windows
every Microsoft update class and severity, including out-of-band security patches
macOS
native patching support
Linux
patching support for major distributions
Patches deploy on your schedule, tested and verified before reaching production systems.
Third-Party Application Patching
Attackers increasingly target third-party applications that organisations neglect to update. OAS automates patching for over 100 business applications:
- Browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge
- Productivity — Adobe Reader, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack
- Runtime — Java, .NET Framework
- Utilities — 7-Zip, VLC, and dozens more
Every patch is tested and verified before deployment. Rule-based approval workflows ensure patches deploy automatically across your entire environment.
Help Desk and Remote Support
When your people need help, OAS responds:
Remote troubleshooting
secure remote access to resolve issues without dispatching technicians
Tiered support
Level 1 and Level 2 issues resolved by OAS; Level 3 escalated to specialist engineers
Faster resolution
most issues resolved remotely within SLA targets
Lower cost
remote resolution eliminates travel time and on-site visit costs
Intelligent Automation
OAS uses N-central's automation engine to eliminate repetitive manual tasks across your environment:
700+ pre-built automation recipes
proven across millions of managed devices worldwide
Visual workflow builder
drag-and-drop automation with conditional logic and error handling
Scheduled maintenance
routine tasks executed automatically during maintenance windows
Software deployment
applications deployed and configured across all endpoints from a central console
Configuration management
standardised configurations enforced automatically
Your IT team is freed from routine maintenance to focus on strategic work that grows your business.
Network Monitoring and Diagnostics
Network Discovery
Multi-protocol device discovery identifies every device on your network — managed, unmanaged, and shadow IT:
ICMP, SNMP, WMI, CDP, LLDP, STP
multiple protocols for comprehensive discovery
Visual topology maps
see how devices connect and communicate
Unmanaged device detection
identify rogue devices before attackers find them
NetPath Diagnostics
When network issues arise, NetPath maps the complete path from endpoint to destination across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Network issues are diagnosed in minutes with a clear visual map showing exactly where the bottleneck occurs.
Virtual CIO Consulting
Many South African mid-market businesses make IT decisions reactively — replacing hardware when it fails, adding capacity when it runs out, implementing security after an incident.
OAS provides virtual CIO (vCIO) consulting as part of our managed services engagement:
Quarterly business reviews
regular assessment of IT health, performance, and alignment with business goals
Technology roadmaps
strategic planning for infrastructure, security, and cloud adoption
Budget planning
IT investment guidance aligned with business priorities and growth plans
Vendor management
OAS coordinates with your technology vendors on your behalf
Risk assessment
identify and prioritise IT risks before they become incidents
Strategic IT guidance without the cost of a full-time executive.
The Three Pillar Backbone
OAS managed IT services is not just monitoring. It is the operational backbone of the entire Three Pillar Managed Security framework:
SentinelOne (Protect)
deployed via N-able policies, monitored from the N-central dashboard
Cove Data Protection (Recover)
backup status, alerts, and recovery testing visible within N-central
N-able RMM (Detect)
the platform that binds endpoint protection and backup into a unified, managed service
One platform. One team. Complete visibility across your entire IT estate.
→ Learn more about our N-able partnership
Service Tiers
OAS offers flexible engagement models to match your needs:
| Tier | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Only | OAS monitors your environment and forwards alerts to your IT team |
| Co-Managed | OAS handles Level 1 and Level 2 support; your team handles Level 3 and strategic decisions |
| Fully Managed | OAS handles all tiers of support, monitoring, patching, and ongoing management |
Per-device or per-user pricing. No long-term lock-in. Scale up or down as your business requires.
Key Capabilities
24/7 monitoring
endpoints, servers, and network devices with automated alerting
OS patch management
Windows, macOS, Linux with cloud-based deployment
Third-party patching
100+ applications, tested and verified
700+ automation recipes
pre-built, proven across millions of devices
Network discovery
multi-protocol detection with visual topology maps
NetPath diagnostics
network path analysis for on-prem, hybrid, and cloud
Remote support
secure remote access for troubleshooting
Help desk
tiered support with SLA-backed response times
vCIO consulting
strategic IT guidance and quarterly business reviews
Multi-tenant isolation
your environment logically separated with dedicated dashboards
Your IT Team, Extended
You should not need to choose between hiring more IT staff and accepting risk. OAS managed IT services give your organisation enterprise-grade monitoring, maintenance, and security — without the enterprise headcount. Proactive. Automated. Integrated with the full Three Pillar security framework.