Beyond the Surface: Unveiling the Importance of Expertise in a Managed Service Provider (MSP) •

As technology and data have come to play a significant part in today’s business world, it’s not surprising that more and more service providers are entering the IT solutions arena. Selecting the right Managed Service Provider for your business can be challenging given all the options. This article breaks down those options and outlines the best practices for choosing the right MSP for your organization.

Estimated read time: 5 minutes

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Why Doing Your Research is Important

Just as you wouldn’t choose to go to a neurosurgeon for knee replacement surgery, it’s important to select an IT vendor that not only can provide support, but also has the IT expertise your business needs to achieve optimal business success. These outsourced IT experts are known as Managed Service Providers (MSPs for short), and they offer multifaceted IT support services. MSPs can serve as an extension to an existing IT team, or they can support all of a company’s IT needs. A business’s success with outsourcing can depend on the MSP they choose to do business with.

Options, Options, Options!

As organizations take on the analysis of outsourcing their IT needs to an MSP, an important first step is understanding the types of Managed IT options available. The two primary ways businesses outsource their IT with an MSP are via Fully Managed IT or Co-Managed IT. Fully Managed IT solutions offer companies technical support without having to hire and staff their own IT department. Co-managed IT is a hybrid model that allows businesses to employ IT team members and outsource some IT functions when those employees reach their capacity for workload or time, or for more specialized technical matters or projects.

The most reputable MSPs deliver onsite and remote assistance—regardless of a company’s size. When researching and looking for business IT solutions, look for varying levels of expertise for helpdesk support, antivirus safeguards, patching, firewall protection (network and host-based) and security training for staff members. Additionally, you will want to ensure the MSP has a service agreement that can grow and adjust with the growth of your business.

Cybersecurity Should Be at the Top of the Priority List

One area you will want to make sure is at the top of the list when working with an MSP is cybersecurity. The success of your business is dependent on a secure network, and an MSP you partner with should make it a top priority. For more information on the varying aspects of cybersecurity and the things you should look for when safeguarding your business, read our article “Cybersecurity Options For Your Business — Interview”.

Experience Counts

With the changing landscape of cybersecurity, various industry regulations and unique IT needs of your business, you want to choose a Managed IT service provider that has a proven track record. Here are some of the details a business or organization should ask for during the discovery phase.

References – This might go without saying, but look for MSPs who have a robust list of references of current work with varying industries (emphasis on current) that showcases their diverse expertise. As we mentioned above, each industry or business has different needs and it is important to choose a provider who can offer your organization the specialized assistance it requires. By making a few phone calls to their supplied references, you also have the opportunity to determine customer satisfaction levels.
Report Examples – A qualified MSP provides regular reporting on various topics such as Cybersecurity Risk Assessments, Remediation Plans, Network Backup Schedules, etc. It’s a good idea to know the type of information and reporting you will receive as part of your solution.
Response Time – This is a topic that businesses might not think about initially, however it is important to consider when it comes to having timely responses to your IT issues and requests. Known as Guaranteed Response Time, a qualified MSP will have plans in place and the staff to support all requests from urgent to low user impact.

While the above list is just a sampling of the items you should consider when working with a Managed Service Provider, often the best course of action is to set up a consultation with the MSP and simply discuss your needs. Hamilton provides free consultations in an effort to provide a relaxed atmosphere and open discussion with any business looking to outsource some or all of their IT needs. Our team will take the time to review and understand your needs upfront to help your business succeed.

The Managed Service Provider Experts

Hamilton has been in business since 1901 and is available to help you with your Managed IT and technology needs. We provide services to all business types and sizes. Give us a call today at 308.381.1000 to discuss your matters with one of our many experts.

More reasons on why expertise matters when it comes to Managed IT & Cybersecurity, take a look at this article: “Managed IT & Cybersecurity Go Hand In Hand.”