What should you look for in a managed service provider partner given the recent boom in the managed service provider industry?
Between 2014 and today, the market’s worth has nearly quadrupled, going from $107 billion to $193 billion. The market is anticipated to grow to $296 billion by 2023.
Businesses increasingly rely on managed services partnerships to meet their IT demands.
The need for outsourced IT services has greatly increased as a result of this vast global expansion.
- 75% of SMBs outsource at least a portion of their IT to a managed service provider (MSP).
Managed services are increasingly appealing to SMBs as an alternative to the more conventional internal IT departments to which they have grown accustomed.
The explanation for this is straightforward economics. In other words, it is far less expensive to hire an MSP partner than to hire an entire internal IT staff.
Here are some qualities to look for in a managed service provider.
- Take a shared approach to managed services
- Provide a flexible service model
- Offer advanced services
- Offer round-the-clock support
- Support multiple time zones
- Solid strategic relationship with your cloud provider
- Leverage remote monitoring for proactive maintenance
- Robust backup and disaster recovery plan
- A dedicated, reliable, and single point of contact for your business
- Work with your legal team to address compliance issues
How do I choose a managed service provider?
Choosing a managed service provider (MSP) is a critical decision that directly impacts your business’s efficiency, security, and growth. Start by assessing your specific needs and objectives. Identify the IT services you require, such as scalability, cybersecurity, cloud management, and technical support.
Flexible, Scalable Plans:
What kind of plans does the provider of the service provide? If they are difficult to understand and contain a lot of fine print, you run the risk of being paid for services you don’t need or finding out in the middle of a crisis that some services aren’t covered by your service plan.
Look for a clear, straightforward charging agreement that explains what is and isn’t included. Before signing, get professional counsel if there is anything in the contract that you are unsure of. Avoid businesses who wish to tie you into a long-term contract but are reticent to explain their obligations. Are they leading the way in continuous improvement, remaining current with emerging technologies, and adhering to data compliance laws?
Robust Customer Support:
It would help if you usually had it right away when you needed customer support. You don’t have time to wait until business hours begin in a different part of the world or try and explain a complex problem to a chatbot that can only deliver answers from a preprogrammed FAQ. Ask what kind of support is promised, when and how it will be given, and what your options are in an emergency.
Service Level Agreements:
The uptime of your business is crucial. If your business is inaccessible to your clientele, you are losing money. The uptime promised by a service level agreement (SLA), which is often well over 99%, and the reaction time promised for outages within a predetermined time frame are both guaranteed. Let’s say the Managed Services provider is unable to fulfil these duties. In that situation, they will frequently be liable to a fine (often a free service time to make up for their service breach).
Technical assistance and installation on-site
When a business needs maintenance or repairs, engineers can be called upon as a backup because they are trained subject-matter experts.
On-site IT project design and installation are their responsibility, and they are also in charge of making routine check-up trips to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Remote monitoring and troubleshooting
Support teams capable of proactively observing how the company’s network operates.
If a customer has an urgent issue, a help desk should be open or an engineer should be prepared to handle the issue remotely without the customer’s involvement.
This assistance ought to be accessible every day of the week, round-the-clock.
Extensive support for cloud-based operations
2019 saw $182 billion in revenue from public cloud services; in 2020, that figure will rise to $250 billion.
As executives acquire confidence and comprehend the advantages, cloud services soon become the center of attention for many small and medium organizations.
They provide a range of alternatives for licensing software and keeping business data and are more secure than before.
Your MSP partner should be able to give evidence of significant relationships with cloud service providers.
Final Words
Having your staff manage every aspect of your IT infrastructure may seem contradictory, but doing so can prevent them from focusing on tasks that have a direct influence on your bottom line. Your staff will be able to concentrate on improving the effectiveness, productivity, and innovation of your firm if you hire an MSP to assist your IT team. Additionally, the right MSP will stick by you in the long run, enabling your business to reach new heights.
Protected Harbor is not your typical MSP. We assist you in maximizing the benefits of current and emerging IT solutions so your business thrives. If you want to learn more about how outsourcing your IT can enhance your business’s productivity, contact us today for a FREE technology assessment, or read our FREE eBook.