5 Things to Look for in a Managed Services Provider
Arranging to work with a managed service provider, or MSP, will mean that you are outsourcing the management of certain resources, systems, processes or pieces of equipment in order to streamline the way in which your business works. If you’re thinking of taking this approach, you’ll need to carefully choose between the wide and diverse range of specialists currently providing services of this kind. In this article, we’ll explain the key criteria you should consider when choosing an MSP.
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It’s important that the company that you choose is easy to reach and quick to respond whenever you need them. Whoever you speak to should be friendly, knowledgeable and proactive, whatever the matter they have been asked to pursue. An MSP should also do more than keep an eye on the existing systems, processes or equipment to which they have been assigned. Part of the deal should be that they regularly update you on new tech, software, hardware or upgrades that will benefit your company.
Value for Money
One of the reasons why many businesses use MSPs is that they are cheaper than handling maintenance issues and investing in new tools or services on a case-by-case basis. You need to make sure that this is the case when looking into service providers for your own company. Find out what their fee covers and whether there are any hidden additional costs.
Watertight Security
You’ll probably be sharing a lot of information with your managed service provider, so it’s important that they use high quality cybersecurity software and have a solid firewall policy in place. We highly recommend that you discuss this matter directly with each service provider you consider and take note of the firewall management software and all other cybersecurity approaches they employ. Then compare what you have discovered against the details given by other specialists.
Proficiency
MSPs must always remain in the loop when it comes to technological, legislative and strategic advances within their specialist field. This will help them to update you regarding the latest software, applications, hardware, equipment and upgrades that are available to you, along with their benefits. Service providers of this kind should also be highly experienced and qualified in a way that is relevant to your practices. It’s a good idea to research their previous and current clients to find out whether they’ve worked with similar businesses to yours.
Flexibility
Be sure to ask your potential service providers plenty of questions to find out what is included in their packages. Do they have a single set of services or all-in-one software for MSP that they provide for every client, or can their offerings be tailored? Will you need to pay extra for certain things? If you don’t require a particular service, will you still have to pay for it? The more flexibility available the better. If the provider manages your software or equipment, you should also consider their affiliations. Do they only work with one or two brands, or do they consider all new products when seeking the perfect option for their clients?
