What is a Managed Service Provider?
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a professional IT company that provides a business-to-business (b2b) outsourcing service, with specialized staff and expertise. Levering this expertise, the Company providing IT Services will generally be the IT Department that manages all aspects of Information Technology in the business.
When it comes to defining an MSP, typically the services are usually related to information technology services. That’s where Selenium Technology Partners fits in. However, there are other services that an MSP can provide outside of IT to a business such as Human Resources, Payroll, or even Accounting. It doesn’t always have to be specific to IT.
That being said, typically in our industry, an MSP is looked at as an IT outsourcing service for small to mid-size businesses. The IT service typically replaces all the required technical expertise that a business would require to run its technology systems and services.
Who benefits from a Managed Service Provider Company?
An MSPs outsourcing service is typically provided to small to medium-sized businesses. It’s a familiar strategic approach to being able to utilize this outsourced service for many operational and business-related department functions or tasks. This can save a business a lot of time and money. Both of which can be in short supply in an SMB.
An MSP can also provide independent consultancy services related to technology and IT services for any given individual, or a business startup, or it can provide an auditing service for existing companies that already employ a third-party IT service.
What are the key benefits of a Managed Service Provider?
The benefits can vary depending on the managed service provider that is chosen as not all managed service providers are created or operate equally. The benefits tend to be the expertise a business can gain without having to employ those resources themselves. That can be a huge advantage with costs and availability.
An MSP should and will have the latest technology under their service catalog to fit your industry, and threat intelligence services to manage cybersecurity problems before they occur.
Why IT Managed Services are Important for Your Business?
Although we talked about the benefits, what’s really important is being able to utilize an outsourced service that can provide these expert staff when and where you need it. The timeliness and availability factor are critically important, cost benefits aside. It’s critical that you choose an MSP that has the right Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for your business.
Many MSPs will try and claim that their 2-hour SLA is somehow much better than the average, which is a 4-hour SLA. That’s true, 2 is better than 4. That timeframe means the MSP will start working on your problem to a resolution within 2 to 4 hours.
Selenium has a much better SLA – our time frame to start working on a problem is immediate. There is no waiting. Our SLA is immediate. As soon as we’re contacted and we’re aware of a problem we are working on a resolution.
Choosing an MSP can be difficult: How do you select an MSP?
This may not be as difficult as it would seem to be. You can weed out any unwanted MSPs for your critical business functions, by finding an MSP with at least 10 years of experience. Any shorter and they may be using your business to gain experience in your industry.
Select an MSP that already has existing clients within your industry. They will have the experience and knowledge to work with your business proprietary applications and business vendors.
Lastly, pick an MSP that does not publically disclose who their clients are on their website. Never select an MSP that chooses marketing over your anonymity.
What does a Business look for in a Managed Service Provider?
When it comes to choosing an MSP, always interview 3 companies before a Managed Service Provider is selected. You want to take this evaluation very seriously. Pick a Managed Service Provider that has the right Service Level Agreements, and the right response times you need, and make sure it has Cybersecurity Services built into its service.
Make sure that your MSP manages its own cybersecurity, utilizing the NIST Framework.
How can you protect your business from the risk of using an MSP?
A business doesn’t always have the technical expertise to properly audit and manage an MSPs day-to-day functions with complete transparency. There is a way to protect your business and your technology while keeping the MSP honest.
Have regular meetings with the IT Management Staff responsible for your business. The discount, bargain basement MSPs will only engage you at a service desk level.
Ask for continual auditing and reporting mechanisms to understand the work that the IT Department is charging you for.
Lastly, the best way is to get an IT Audit – use Selenium Technology Partners’ Auditing Service. A 3-tiered high-level evaluation of your existing technical support and IT coverage.
What makes or breaks the best Managed Service Provider?
When it comes to factors that can influence an MSPs longevity with you as the client -, it boils down to being proactive, keeping up to date on the latest technology, and having regular health checks on all services provided by the business.
Ask a lot of questions.
Keep up to date on technology trends. Ask to be included in various technology news and cybersecurity feeds provided by vendors that the IT service utilizes.
Furthermore, be proactive when it comes to issues piling up that you’re dealing with. An MSP that has its eye on the ball, will communicate even more when there are issues, not less. When it comes to keeping the IT Service honest, ask for proof of what is being done and how it’s being done.
Trust is everything when it comes to managing your IT Service related concerns.
Summary and key indicators of the Best MSP Service
Key Indicators of the Best MSP Service:
- Proactive maintenance and support: The best MSP service providers will offer proactive maintenance and support to prevent downtime and identify potential issues before they become major problems. This includes regular system updates, patch management, and network monitoring.
- Customizable solutions: Every business has unique IT needs, and the best MSP service providers will offer customizable solutions to meet those needs. This includes offering a range of hardware and software options, as well as the ability to tailor services to fit the specific requirements of a business.
- Responsiveness: When issues arise, businesses need a responsive MSP that can quickly address and resolve them. The best MSP service providers will have a dedicated support team that is available 24/7 to respond to issues and provide timely solutions.
- Expertise: MSPs should be IT experts with specialized skills and knowledge. The best MSP service providers will have a team of highly trained professionals who are up-to-date on the latest technologies and best practices.
- Transparency: The best MSP service providers will be transparent about their pricing, services, and performance metrics. They should provide regular reports that detail the services provided and their impact on the business.
- Flexibility: MSPs should be flexible and able to adapt to a business’s changing needs. The best MSP service providers will offer flexible contracts and services that can be adjusted as needed to accommodate a business’s growth and evolving IT requirements.
- Security: Cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses, and the best MSP service providers will offer comprehensive security solutions to mitigate this risk. This includes implementing security protocols, providing ongoing monitoring and support, and offering regular security audits.
In conclusion, MSPs can provide significant value to businesses by offering cost savings, expertise, increased productivity, scalability, and security. When selecting an MSP, it’s important to consider key indicators of the best MSP service providers, including proactive maintenance and support, customizable solutions, responsiveness, expertise, transparency, flexibility, and security.
By choosing the right MSP, businesses can improve their IT infrastructure, increase productivity, and mitigate cybersecurity risks, allowing you to focus on what you do best – running your company.
Our main service coverage for onsite support carries across all of Toronto and the GTA. From Barrie to Fort Erie, from Oshawa to Hamilton. Learn more about our IT Services: Toronto IT Service Experts. Contact our IT Management Experts at any time for more information.