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Managing complex, company-wide IT infrastructure while staying on top of new trends, potential threats, and keeping things running day-to-day is a lot to have on your plate, especially if you’re a smaller organization with limited resources.
That’s where MSPs come into play. MSPs are companies that offer a wide range of IT services, all with the idea of taking some of the burdens of operation off of the clients they serve.
The role of MSPs and leveraging expertise
Partnering with a trusted MSP allows businesses to do what they do best – focusing on their core objectives and growth strategies, without getting tied up in the latest technical difficulty and having to shift focus and, in turn, stall productivity. The actual list of services will vary from provider to provider, but generally includes network monitoring, cloud computing and some sort of help desk support, among other things.
There are, of course, a multitude of factors that can impact your choice when selecting a managed services provider, some of which will be extremely nice depending on your organization and its specific needs. However, there are a few factors that all businesses should consider when searching for a MSP that can help them achieve their goals:
1. Range of service offerings
Nothing in business is one-size-fits-all, and your managed IT service needs won’t be either. Choosing a provider that can flex their offerings to fit your specific business objectives and growth goals will ensure that you get the most out of your budget, without any unnecessary add-ons. This means that the range of services prospective MSPs offer should be on the top of your list of considerations.
2. Security and encryption
Security is something we talk about a lot, and for good reason. Today’s online landscape is riddled with potential threats, meaning robust security measures, access controls, and the identification and management of potential vulnerabilities can not
only help you mitigate risk, but could potentially be the difference between long-term success and security or a damaging cyberattack or data leak.
3. Healthy client communication
Having an MSP that prioritizes open communication and transparency by providing regular updates on the status of service requests and shares key insights can help you stay informed about what exactly is being done to strengthen your organization’s IT infrastructure.
4. Location and access
While it’s true that most work these days can successfully be done remotely, location and accessibility are still practical concerns when entering into any business relationship. Sometimes, the hands-on nature of IT management means that local companies are a better fit for this kind of work. If you think that might be true for your company, consider the physical proximity of the provider’s location to your own, and inquire about their preferred way to do business.
5. Technological capabilities and infrastructure
You wouldn’t buy a toolkit without making sure that it had everything you needed for your home renovation project, so why would you hire an MSP that didn’t offer all the services your company needs to succeed? Make sure that the tools at your disposal can solve the problem you’re trying to solve in the first place before you make any sort of commitment. Remember, it’s important to not overlook potential compatibility issues with your current system that can cause a disruption during the transition process.
Deciding on a MSP
Make a thorough checklist of all your requirements and priorities, and then see how each of your potential service providers stacks up when compared to each other. Break down each factor, think of potential questions about approach and procedure, and generally gather your thoughts as best as you can. Doing this systematically and intentionally can help you objectively compare a handful of MSPs according to the factors that are uniquely critical to your organization.
The primary function of an MSP is to automate and scale daily IT operations so that businesses can grow and profit more quickly. To learn more about Access One and how we help our clients achieve their goals, click here.