How to know you picked the right service provider

Managed IT services have become an inexpensive and convenient way for businesses to dial-up their IT products, services, and support structures quickly and efficiently. According to a recent report by Mordor Intelligence, the global managed IT market is expanding rapidly in all commercial sectors. The report also points out that many organizations hope to reduce their IT budget by 25 to 45 percent and improve operational efficiency by 45 to 65 percent with the help of managed service providers.

The role of managed service providers

The prospects of reduced IT costs and enhanced efficiency are the two main incentives for outsourcing IT services to MSPs. But that is not all — your business could benefit from managed services in many different scenarios, such as when freeing up your internal IT team to focus on high-level tasks, transitioning to cloud infrastructure, optimizing IT requirements for compliance, and upgrading IT systems. 

The bottom line is, you can dictate the value that any managed service provider brings to your enterprise. 

Here’s a list of the basic services that MSPs provide:

  • Endpoint and server management
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data management, backup, and disaster recovery
  • Resource hosting and cloud maintenance
  • Network and hardware monitoring
  • Software and hardware troubleshooting and servicing
  • IT consultancy
  • Deployment and integration of IT systems
  • IT help desk and support

What can the right managed IT partner do for your business?

Partnering with a managed service provider is an easy decision for many companies; however, finding the right fit is a different matter. Choosing the right MSP is important if you want to get the most out of managed services. Here are three main reasons for outsourcing IT services to the best provider.

1) Improve the bottom line

Working with an MSP should improve your bottom line by generally minimizing IT expenses and boosting productivity. Managed IT is a cost-efficient solution for guaranteeing 24/7 IT performance, health, and security. A managed partner eliminates redundancies in your workforce and provides a cheaper, dependable alternative to in-house IT support. On top of that, the MSP should offer cost-effective products and services to supplement your existing IT infrastructure and digital strategies.

MSPs charge a flat monthly subscription fee; this makes it much easier to manage consistent IT spending and budget. Predictable expenses help stabilize cash flow, giving the business room to strategize and accurately plan for the future.

2) Offer practical solutions to IT needs

Businesses have varying IT requirements, standards, and frameworks. Many MSPs offer generic services, but most of them are prepared to tailor their products and services to suit different business models and unique IT setups. An ideal MSP must understand what your business needs and align their solutions to meet your business’s specific demands. 

Besides delivering effective solutions to all your IT challenges, the MSP should be compatible with the organization’s culture and in support of its mission and goals.

3) Support business growth and adaptation to change

Business analysts agree that technology and modernizations are the primary drivers for change and growth in business. The commitment to building, maintaining, and continually improving IT capabilities is integral to ensuring flexibility in a dynamic business environment. 

A good managed service provider equips your business with an adaptable and scalable IT support structure that promotes growth and business transformations. IT agility allows you to quickly position the company to pounce on new opportunities and respond appropriately to unexpected changes.

Evaluate the real business value that the MSP brings to your enterprise — only then will you know whether you picked the right managed partner. More importantly, gauge the MSP’s performance and relevance based on realistic expectations and objective metrics. Lastly, ensure that the ROI justifies working with a managed service provider in the first place.