A good MSP can help your business. A bad one can harm it. How can you tell if a prospective partner is one or the other?
Increasingly, companies are realizing the importance of having a reliable managed services provider partner (MSP).
An MSP delivers services ranging from I.T. support to cybersecurity measures and staff training. With the right partner, your business can run more smoothly and profitably. However, the wrong MSP can cause more problems than it solves, perhaps because of poor communication skills or a lack of focus on your business needs.
So, you must weigh the pros and cons of the managed services that a prospective MSP partner provides. Here, we provide the information and insights you need to differentiate the good and the bad in MSP companies.
What is a managed service provider?
Simply put, an MSP is a company that can manage your I.T. (information technology) infrastructure and end-user systems. A good managed I.T. service provider can provide the level of help you need, whether full remote servicing or limited on-site staff.
Just some of the services an MSP can provide include:
- Equipment upgrades, including software and hardware
- Data recovery and backup plans and implementation
- Consulting for growth and new technology needs
- Support of employees in using standard applications
- Centralized management of complex networks
- 24/7 system monitoring
- Regularly scheduled maintenance
- Comprehensive security protections
- And much more
Signs of poorly managed service provider companies
Poor customer satisfaction is a strong first sign of a job poorly done when it comes to I.T. managed services for small businesses. You might feel, for example, that the MSP isn’t paying full attention to your needs and isn’t responding to your feedback and frustration.
If a technical or service problem keeps recurring, the MSP isn’t working hard enough to solve your issues. You might be frustrated because the MSP only addresses technical problems with impenetrable jargon, which undermines your confidence in their abilities. Additionally, they may not be keeping their commitments.
Cybersecurity is a big concern today. If an MSP does not have a fully developed strategy to protect your business adequately, you can suffer catastrophic business consequences from a cyberattack or other security threat.
Every client’s needs are different. So, if an MSP doesn’t sit down with you to understand your business’s special requirements and pain points, then alarm bells should go off.
When it comes to I.T. lifecycle management, it is never a good idea to let technology age until it stops working. This can lead to protracted downtimes, disruptions to your operations, and loss of income. So beware of MSPs that don’t have upgrade and maintenance plans.
What makes a good managed service provider?
A good MSP ensures excellent customer satisfaction and a smoothly running business. It also provides great responsiveness to problems. They also demonstrate the technical expertise to handle your needs and will always exceed expectations.
They are proactive in providing the support and maintenance your network needs, usually in 15 minutes or less. They take the time to understand your requirements and build a solution tailored to you. They also take the time to explain complex technical problems in ways you can easily grasp and act on.
When asking yourself, “What makes a good I.T. managed service provider?” you should start by looking at the MSP’s reputation in the business. They will publish happy customer testimonials online and readily provide references for you to check out. Be sure to look for testimonials that include project durations. A good MSP should help plan and knock out most tech projects within 30 days or less.
A good MSP will provide security services and implement a comprehensive security strategy that keeps you safe and evolves with new security threats.
Good security also needs a robust recovery plan, which includes backup, disaster recovery measures, and incident response. If a problem occurs, the MSP will help you get back on your feet quickly.
Education should also be part of the MSP’s services. They can provide resources and hold learning events to update you about technology changes, including new threats and opportunities.
Managed services benefits and risks
There are many risks and downsides of having an MSP that cannot execute their duties properly. A security breach, for example, can disrupt your operations, cost you a lot of money, and damage your reputation in the business.
If your data backup and disaster recovery plan are inadequate, you can lose precious data, jeopardizing your business.
If an MSP isn’t prepared to evolve your I.T. services as your business grows, the limited scalability and flexibility can hold you back. Your I.T. infrastructure needs to change with your business seamlessly.
For its part, a good MSP can help keep your I.T. infrastructure up to date so it is prepared for future growth and to handle future challenges. An MSP can also help reduce your I.T. overhead, minimize the load on your internal team, and allow them to focus on serious business issues. They should also be willing to travel onsite for ongoing maintenance and emergencies, as needed.
Proactive monitoring and maintenance will solve many problems before they arise. A good MSP will provide services at a predictable cost so you can confidently plan and budget your finances. They should also track key metrics to ensure you’re getting the value you expect.
You will always have access to proven expertise, so you know that everything will be taken care of, whether it is security, database administration, disaster recovery, specialized application support, or more.
Ultimately, a good MSP will provide you with simplicity and peace of mind, knowing that your I.T. needs are entirely cared for by a trusted partner.
How to choose a good I.T. managed service provider
Choosing a good MSP means knowing which questions to ask. For example:
- Do they offer fully managed service provider services?
- Can they meet your industry’s specific demands?
- Are they continuously evolving to meet new security challenges?
- Do they resolve I.T. issues quickly and efficiently?
As the Pacific Northwest’s leading MSP, Attentus Technologies can answer all these questions and others. We’re committed to taking the mystery out of I.T., which means listening to our customers’ needs and working together to develop clear, concrete solutions.
At Attentus Technologies, we believe in the saying, “Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.” By seeing things from our clients’ perspectives, we ensure every interaction and project is the best it can be. Delivering exceptional results is one of our core values, driving us to prioritize our clients’ needs and build lasting, trust-based relationships. Contact us today, and we will show you what a good MSP can do for your business.
