Running a successful business takes time, money, and effort, as well as a reliable IT infrastructure. However, managing and maintaining your IT system can be time-consuming and take your focus off actually doing your job. Not only does this harm your operations, but it can also put your business at risk of data breaches and costly downtime. This is where having an IT managed service provider (MSP) can help. Instead of fighting with your IT systems, you can rest easy knowing everything is being taken care of by an outsourced IT expert.
But how do you find the right managed service provider for your business? There are countless options available, but not all are equal or may be a good fit for your business. And the last thing you want is to hire the wrong MSP and have to start the search for a new IT solution all over again. Avoid the frustration of endless researching and investigating by reading this blog to learn what to look for in an IT managed service provider so you can find one that is perfect for your business.
Assess Your Business and IT Needs
If you don’t know what your business needs, you won’t be able to find the right IT solution. Remember, not all managed service providers have the same offerings. You must understand your own IT challenges and requirements, so you know what to look for in an MSP. Start by making a list of the current parts of your IT system like hardware, software, and networks. These will all need to be managed and monitored, so be sure to find a managed service provider who can handle an IT system of your size. Next, determine if you need an on-site IT team, 24/7 support, regular system monitoring, or data backup systems. Additionally, if you have a hybrid or remote work environment, be sure to look for an MSP that can support remote operations. If your managed service provider doesn’t have the services your business needs, then you’re wasting time and money onboarding the paying for an MSP while you’re still having to resolve issues yourself.
Look for MSPs with Relevant Experience
Every industry has different requirements when it comes to IT infrastructure. And many of those industries have strict regulations when it comes to managing IT systems. Some like healthcare even have laws in place to enforce compliance. In order to stay compliant and avoid hefty fines or legal repercussions, a managed service provider must be employed to ensure everything is up to code. Working with an MSP experienced in your industry doesn’t just prevent noncompliance though, it also ensures the efficiency of your IT infrastructure. Managed service providers who have worked in your industries will have a detailed knowledge of IT operations, system architectures, and cyber threats specific to the field. Since they’ve seen it all before, these experienced MSPs will be able to easily manage and maintain your IT system, and even take proactive measures to solve problems they’ve seen before.
Verify Performance of Potential MSPs
Just because an MSP appears to have the right kind of experience does not mean they will automatically be a good fit for your business. Look at customer reviews on trusted platforms to see how a specific managed service provider handles their clients. Specifically, look for reviews that mention deadlines, problem resolution, and overall performance. Be sure to ask potential MSPs for references or relevant case studies to get even more details on how they handle their clients and work. These will give you great insight into what it would be like to work with a certain MSP without having to find out firsthand.
Review Communication and Support Standards
One of the most important qualities of a managed service provider is their ability to communicate with clients. When issues arise, you need to know they are being taken care of. Schedule a meeting with a potential MSP to gauge how well they communicate and explain their offerings to you. Be sure to ask about their monitoring solutions, average response times to issues, service level agreement (SLA), and how they communicate updates to clients. Not knowing if your managed service provider is addressing the issue leads to unnecessary stress as you wait in limbo wondering if the IT problem is even on your support team’s radar.
Evaluate Cybersecurity Practices
A managed service provider ensures that your IT infrastructure is working like it should at all times. This requires more than routine maintenance and management. A professional MSP should utilize cybersecurity practices like data encryption, regular security audits, and password management to protect your business. Expert cybersecurity increases the chances of catching cyberattacks early on, so your business doesn’t experience unexpected downtime, costly expenses, or reputational damage.
Ensure There’s Room for Growth
As time goes on and your business grows, so too should your IT infrastructure. More business means more technology to keep up with the growing demand for your products or services. This new technology could include cloud services, upgrading your IT system to accommodate AI, or simply expanding the setup you already have. But before any of this happens, you need to ensure your managed service provider can meet your future needs as well as your current ones. Ask potential MSPs how scalable their services and costs are. This will tell you how seamlessly they can adjust your original IT plan when your business grows. These kinds of upgrades are vital to prevent prolonged downtime while your IT system struggles to keep up with your new business demands.
Learn How You Can Protect Your IT Systems
Finding the right IT managed service provider takes careful consideration and a strong understanding of your business’ needs. This is the only way to ensure you find an MSP who will make your life easier and not waste your valuable time or money. This isn’t to say you should ignore your IT systems completely though once you’ve found your perfect IT managed service provider. Cyber threats are on the rise and while MSPs can identify and stop many of them before they cause your business harm, this isn’t enough. Everyone in your business needs to know how to spot and respond to potential cyberattacks to ensure your data is secure. Sign up for our free cybersecurity e-course to get weekly updates on the latest cyberattacks and learn how to defend your business.
