As businesses become increasingly dependent on technology to grow within their industries, business owners are facing the need to maintain a variety of IT managed services. This task can be challenging and often cost-prohibitive, especially given the rapid progress that is constantly taking place in the IT industry.
For many businesses, outsourcing their IT needs is the ideal option. Many businesses choose to turn to managed service providers, or third party businesses that specialise in offering a variety of professional IT services. Managed service providers, or MSPs, typically handle some or all of the business’s IT services, depending on the service agreement made between the business and the MSP.
Managed services” typically include, but are not limited to:
- Network management
- Round-the-clock server and desktop monitoring
- Backup & disaster recovery solutions
- Colocation and data center solutions
- Helpdesk services
- Cloud-based services (virtual servers, private servers, cloud-hosted systems)
- On-site and remote technical support
By outsourcing IT management to third parties, businesses can save money compared to creating a comprehensive in-house IT department and allow internal IT staff to focus on Business-advanced projects rather than breaking/fixing mundane maintenance and its needs. In addition, managed service providers help businesses stay the latest in IT technology by hiring experts in the field and keeping a keen eye on the ever-changing landscape of it. When business owners are in the market for new MSPs, many important considerations have to be made before choosing a provider.
Below are ten things to consider before choosing a company to handle your Managed IT services.
1. Assess Your It Needs & Budget.
Every business is different. Before choosing a Managed IT service provider, business owners must first understand what their specific IT requirements are. This will help determine which MSP and which selection of Managed IT services is best for the business.
Does your business need 24/7 monitoring? What is your business budget for a monthly service contract? Are you looking for comprehensive managed services or would you prefer to choose specific offerings? Will you need on-site support, remote support, or both? These are all important questions to answer before meeting with potential MSPs.
Knowing what you need and what you can afford before talking to various managed IT service providers can help you eliminate some MSPs altogether and avoid unnecessary, surprising costs.
2. Determine Your Long-Term Goals.
Gone are the days of relying on breaking/fixing it Management alone. As technology is progressing and business owners have become more dependent on it to run their business, long-term IT planning is more essential than ever for business growth.
Before entering into partnerships with MSPs, business owners should know where they want to take their business and how it will play a role in that progress.
3. Seek A Valued Partnership.
As important as technology is to businesses today, a relationship with MSPs should be entered into as a long-term partnership rather than a temporary customer/customer relationship. This is because Managed IT service providers can help businesses grow their IT as their business grows and ensure businesses are up to date on the latest IT trends, cybersecurity threats and more. In addition, MSPs ‘ dedication to long-term partnerships is a good indicator of their commitment to delivering impeccable service.
4. Learn About The Staff.
Experience is essential when it comes to choosing the right Managed IT service provider. When meeting with MSPs, ask about the experience, expertise, and credentials of their employees. It is also important to know how many employees your business will receive support from. Will your MSP provide you with a one-time consultant or will you work with a team of people? Knowing how MSPs run their business will help determine if they fit your needs.
5. Look For Results And A Proven Track Record.
Experienced, effectively managed IT service providers should have a range of clients with whom they have a proven track record of success. Before settling with an MSP, check out reviews, references, and testimonials to determine if other businesses are happy with the service.
6. Determine What Services Are Offered.
Just as every business is unique, so is every Managed IT service provider. Some MSPs focus on the fundamentals of IT management while others offer services beyond the umbrella of traditional managed services.
For example, is & T, A Houston-based managed service provider, offers everything beyond a variety of unique services that can be expected of an experienced MSP:
- Website design
- Mobile application design
- Logos, brochures, marketing and graphic design
- Software and Business app development.
For many businesses, it can be very beneficial to have an MSP that can help manage additional technology-based services in addition to traditional managed services.
7. Ask About Industry Partnerships And Experience With Third-Party Applications.
To get the maximum benefit from your Managed IT service provider, it is important to know which partners MSPs have in the IT sector. When MSPs partner with companies such as Microsoft, Dell, and the like, they are often able to bring businesses better value on equipment and software. It is also important to find out how experienced MSP is in working with third party applications, such as various e-commerce platforms, Amazon Web Services, and others. The last thing you want is to have a long term service agreement with the MSP that doesn’t work with the third party apps your business needs.
8. Ask About Industry-Specific Experience.
In addition to general IT experience and knowledge, it is always helpful if your potential managed IT service provider has experience in the specific industry of your business. And while it is not necessary for MSPs to have experience with businesses exactly like you to be able to provide excellent service, this helps if they have experience or are willing to learn about the methodology of your industry.
9. Ask About Mobile Computing.
Now more mobile devices are becoming the centre of it than ever. This makes it a top priority to look for MSPs who understand and experience mobile computing.
10. Pay Attention To Business Culture And Customer Service.
Considering that the MSP / customer relationship will probably be long term, it is very important that your business matches well with the culture of your potential managed IT service provider and that the MSP meets your expectations in terms of customer service.
Can you see yourself working with MSPs for long hours? Is MSP able to translate technical things into everyday context? When you talk to employees do you feel that you are being listened to and that you are important? These are all important considerations.
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