Outsourcing managed IT services to Managed Services Providers (MSPs) can help your organization increase its productivity and efficiency.
MSPs employ IT experts who are proficient in dealing with an array of IT issues and know how to build a strong IT infrastructure. This, in turn, gives you more time to focus on your core organizational objectives and optimize your business processes.
In other words, hiring an MSP gives you access not only to up-to-date technology, but also to experienced and skilled IT professionals. No wonder the global managed services market is forecasted to reach USD 309.4 billion at a CAGR of 9.6% by 2025!
However, you can make the most of an MSP’s services only when you find one that can take care of your company’s unique IT requirements. Let’s take a look at a few tips that can help you hire the right MSP for your business.
Factors to Consider When Partnering with an MSP
#1 Check for the MSP’s Expertise and Experience
When you think of partnering with an MSP, their experience and expertise in providing outsourced IT support should be your top priority. MSPs that have been active for years know how to adapt to changing business demands, while staying abreast with the latest technology trends.
Also, as mentioned already, a reputed MSP brings onboard top IT experts that have impeccable knowledge of IT issues pertaining to cybersecurity, cloud services, data back-up, and more.
In order to gauge the experience and expertise of an MSP, you should ask them the following questions:
- How long have you been in this business?
- Do you have case histories, references, and testimonials related to your work?
- Do you possess industry-specific knowledge and experience? For instance, a financial firm needs to adhere to regulatory compliances such as PCI DSS. Their MSP should, therefore, have knowledge of implementing relevant regulations smoothly.
- How can you solve our IT issues and address our specific business challenges? For instance, an e-commerce company looking to streamline its customer support communication can benefit from hiring an MSP that’s proficient in setting-up and executing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.
Once you get answers to the above questions, verify the credibility of the MSP. You can do so by contacting the references provided, and requesting them to provide feedback on the MSP’s performance. You can also check the MSP’s portfolio and website to understand if they are an apt choice for your business.
#2 Analyze Their Approach towards Cybersecurity
The global number of cybersecurity incidents was reported to be 32,002 last year. In the same year, the global number of data breaches with confirmed data loss rose to 3950.
Cyber-attacks and data breaches can lead to major financial loss. In fact, the average cost of a data breach in the United States reached 8.64 million U.S. dollars this year. Therefore, it is important to find out what kind of security approach your prospective MSP will undertake.
A good MSP will take a proactive approach to cybersecurity and prevent cybersecurity issues before they happen. Also, if your organization does fall victim to a cyber-attack or data breach, a reputable MSP will be able to mitigate its effects immediately.
Here’s a list of IT services, software, and tools that a reliable MSP must provide to make your IT security top-notch:
- Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM)
- Mobile Device Management (MDM)
- Data back-up and business continuity
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Web content filtering
- Software updates and patches
- Firewall and antivirus
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Penetration testing
- Spam filtering
- Email encryption
- End-point Detection and Response (EDR)
- Cybersecurity awareness training
#3 Get an Idea about Their Availability
Round-the-clock monitoring is important to keep your business network functioning 24 hours a day. Hence, choosing an MSP with 24/7 availability is critical. A competent MSP will monitor your business’s network and resolve any issue through its 24-hour IT help desk and on-site IT support, irrespective of your business’s time zone and location.
#4 Ensure They Provide Flexibility and Scalability
Your IT requirements may change as your business grows. It is, therefore, imperative to select an MSP that understands your shifting business requirements and offers scalable services while keeping up with your business’s increasing demands.
In other words, the MSP you choose should help you scale up and scale down your business operations in accordance with your present requirements.
#5 Find out about Their Payment Structure
The MSP you hire should offer you a transparent payment structure. A reputable MSP will charge you a fixed monthly fee for the IT services they offer under a scalable Service Level Agreement (SLA).
Having a clear pricing structure ensures that there are no hidden costs or last-minute charges. It will also help you create a predictable monthly IT budget and enable you to invest your capital in other revenue-generating activities.
Wrap Up
A reliable MSP enables you to focus on your core competencies while taking care of your routine IT tasks. They also provide you with scalable IT solutions and safeguard your business’s network from cyber-attacks and data breaches with their best-in-class cybersecurity services. The above-mentioned tips will help you choose an MSP that best suits your IT requirements and keeps your business operations running smoothly.
