What is a Managed Service Provider and How Can You Choose the Best One?

The managed services market has seen major growth over the last few years. It’s currently worth around $193 billion, and it’s expected to reach a global valuation of $296 billion by the year 2023.

Clearly, lots of people are investing in managed services. You might still be on the fence, though. You might also have questions like “what is a managed service provider?” and “why do I need one?”

If this resonates with you, keep reading. Explained below are the answers to these and all your other most pressing managed services questions.

What is a Managed Service Provider?

Managed service providers (or MSPs for short) are companies that handle IT infrastructure and end-user systems issues for another business. They work on a remote basis and tend to offer their services as part of a subscription.

Some MSPs specialize in specific types of information technology, such as data storage, or they may work with specific clients like law firms or healthcare clinics. Others offer a broader range of services and have more diverse clientele.

Why Do I Need One?

There are plenty of benefits that come with outsourcing your business’s IT needs to an MSP. The following are some of the greatest benefits you can enjoy when you take this approach:

Reduce Risk

Things like a malfunctioning website or a lapse in security can lead to serious, long-term trouble for your business. Depending on the extent of the damage, you could lose a lot of money and have a hard time recovering.

To avoid this and minimize the risks that come with running a business in 2019, it’s best to work with IT professionals who have the tools necessary to keep your company safe.

Be Proactive

There’s a lot of truth to the adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Don’t wait until an IT issue arises to get help. Get set up with a managed service provider now.

When you do things this way, they can get to work right away making sure your business is protected and that everything is running smoothly on the back end.

Control Spending

Handling IT problems as they arise can get expensive, fast.

Not only are there the initial costs of getting the problem fixed, but IT issues can lead to reductions in sales and other challenges that will have a negative impact on your company’s cash flow.

Wouldn’t it be better to pay a flat monthly or annual fee to an MSP in exchange for assistance and prevention?

Remain Competitive

Investing in professional IT assistance now will help you remain competitive with other businesses in your industry. It can give you an advantage as well if these businesses haven’t started taking their IT needs more seriously.

With the right tools and procedures in place, you’ll be able to scale your business and handle growth without worrying about your website crashing or security problems happening on the backend. Can your competitors say the same?

Enjoy Fast Response Times

With the help of a managed service provider, you get help right away. Most of them offer 24-hour customer support, so even if something goes wrong in the middle of the night, you can get it resolved as soon as possible.

The same is not always true when you have an in-house IT professional. If they’re not on the clock, you’ll have to wait for them to arrive for their next shift to get things sorted, and a lot could go wrong in the time you spend waiting.

How Do I Choose the Right One

If you want to reap all of these benefits, you need to choose the right MSP. Here are some tips to help you in your search:

Consider Their Expertise

Start by looking into the expertise of the professionals who work for a particular MSP.

What kind of training do they have? How long have they been working in the field? Do they specialize in IT services for a particular type of business?

Take the answers to all these questions into account before making a decision.

Ask About Their Technology

It’s a good idea to find out about the technology the company uses as well. Are they utilizing the latest tech to help you handle your IT issues and keep things running in a smooth and efficient way?

Make sure they’re investing in the tools they need to do their jobs well and offer the best services to their clients.

Seek 24-Hour Support

Look for an MSP that offers round-the-clock customer support. You never know when something might go wrong, and you need to work with professionals who are available right away to help you fix a problem right when it arises.

Think About Their Financial Health

Do some digging to learn about the company’s financial health, too. It doesn’t do you any good to work with an MSP if they’re in bad shape financially and get shut down a couple of months after you sign a contract with them.

Think about how long they’ve been in business and how well they’re performing. This will give you more insight into whether or not they’ll be around for the long haul.

Read Reviews from Other Clients

Finally, don’t forget to read reviews and testimonials from other clients. The experts at Be Structured encourage this because it helps you get a better sense of how the company runs and how well they assist their clients.

If they don’t have any reviews or testimonials available, or if they can’t put you in touch with past or current clients, that’s a big red flag.

Find the Best MSP Today

A managed service provider can offer a lot of benefits to you and your business. Now that you have answers to questions like “what is a managed service provider” and “how do I choose the right one?” it’s time to start your search.

Keep this information in mind and you’ll have no trouble finding a great MSP that can help you grow your business and keep everything running smoothly.

Want to learn more about managed services and outsourcing aspects of your business? Visit the Business section of our site today for additional tips and tricks.