The term âmanaged service providersâ â or MSP â has been growing in popularity since the turn of the century. Many organizations today rely on the work of MSPs to meet challenging requirements and stay competitive.
If youâve missed our previous blog post: During the early days companies predominantly employed a break-and-fix approach when it came to IT strategies. Then, the idea that IT support and management could be outsourced began to spread when the market started to recognize the hindrance of the âtraditional modelâ and demand more proactive solutions.
Nowadays, as many as 30% of executives around the globe are outsourcing management of their organizationâs infrastructure and application portfolio (source: IDC Application Services Survey). This number is expected to grow in the near future.
Finding the âChosen Oneâ
To many companies, working with MSPs still feels like stepping into unchartered territory. Technology is already complex and stressful enough, and now they have to deal with a new business model. In addition, investing in IT service is entirely different from buying a commodity â we cannot rely solely on data or traditional research methods to make decisions. Thus, it is understandable for businesses to err on the side of caution when selecting an MSP that they can truly depend on.
To evaluate which MSP best aligns with your business goals, here are a few things to consider:
- Trustworthiness
Like with any product or service, a choose a company that is worthy of your trust. If youâre interested in hiring an MSP, the following questions need to be answered:
- How long has the company been around?
- Is the company struggling to keep its clients, or are its clients loyal?
- Are their clientsâ businesses in a similar size/industry to your own?
- Did the company receive any awards or industry recognition?
The information you gather on a potential partnerâs history and industry experience could go a long way in securing an everlasting working relationship.
- Availability
Not every company is made available for you 24 hours a day; some might consider that a tall order, which is understandable. All it comes down to is whether you think your data needs to be protected every moment of the day. The good MSPs offer 24/7 support for all 365 days of the calendar.
- Capacity
While all MSPs want to serve clients to the best of their abilities, not all are equipped with the capacity to provide the same kind of IT support. Before talking to MSPs, know your specific needs and budget. MSPs that have the infrastructure to support your business may be out of your price range, and the ones you can afford could prove to be insufficient.
If thereâs an MSP that meets both criteria, but youâre still unsure, then a good indicator is by looking at how up to date that company is. The top MSPs are always ahead of the game, especially in cybersecurity and cloud hosting. These are the ones that can immediately identify the problems and locate vulnerabilities that may hurt you down the road.
- Vigilance
How much should an MSP care about your business? This is an important question that often gets overlooked. Some MSPs offer the same service package to clients without knowing which solutions they really need.
The bottom line is: Your MSP should have a wave of questions on your operations. The more resources and effort a service provider puts into knowing you, the better the service will be. Whatâs more, this is a sign that the MSP is truly committed to your partnership â someone is always going to have your back.
Not Every MSP Equals the Best MSP
As the pace of technological advancement intensifies, more and more businesses will be on the lookout for the best IT support on the market. The modern MSPs provide a sense of security for companies to continue on with every aspect of their business. Though there is no shortage of talented IT organizations in todayâs economy, finding the right service provider may be an elusive feat. As much as enterprises wish to pursue the next business opportunity, the hunt for the right MSP could be just as important.