Choosing the right IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) is as simple as knowing the wants and needs of your business. All providers aren’t created equal, and while one may have options and services that fit your needs, others may not. This can make searching for an MSP a little more complicated. Fortunately, there’s a way to streamline the entire process.
Use the following tips to help you in your search to find the best managed service provider for the job. The right provider can do wonders for your business, such as increase your productivity, improve your services, and bolster overall customer satisfaction.
Choose a Managed Service Provider with Good Communication
Proper communication is the key to a successful working relationship with your MSP. It’s the providers job to educate you on the managed services you’re paying for and the technology used to provide those services. You should know what’s going on behind the scenes, be able to reach your provider 24/7 and shouldn’t be subjected to long response times. Additionally, ensure you choose a provider with remote and onsite support.
Onsite support helps keep your equipment operating properly while remote support helps resolve smaller issues quickly. Preventative maintenance for workstations and servers is necessary to keep your system operating at peak performance. Also, choose a provider that offers 24-hour remote monitoring for your system, network devices, servers, firewalls, workstation, switches, and routers. With remote monitoring, you’ll get an alert as soon as a system problem arises so that service can be provided immediately.
Choose an MSP That Understands Your Industry
An MSP is an end-to-end solutions provider, so if they lack knowledge and experience in your industry or business operations, they won’t be able to provide the proper IT services. They should be knowledgeable about all aspects of your business and industry, including industry standards, requirements, and compliance. Business and industry requirements should be considered during every project, communication and system upgrade. Besides that, the Managed Services Provider should make recommendations beyond software and hardware, including providing insight for improved employee training, productivity, and workflow.
To check their experience, you should ask for bios and resumes of any team members that have knowledge and experience in your industry, as well as ask for references for any of their clients that work in your industry.
Choose a Provider That Offers Designated Tech Teams
Your MSP should provide designated teams that can maintain your current IT solutions and prepare you for future IT solutions. Their staff should be qualified and able to help you maintain your current structure while helping your business grow from a technological standpoint. Keep in mind that a great Managed Services Provider will have many clients, so make sure they have enough staff on hand to meet of your IT needs. Ask the provider two simple questions:
- How many full-time employees do you have on staff?
- Do your employees work in-house or remotely?
Ultimately, the goal of managed services is to help your business address and overcome issues with network infrastructure, software, and hardware. Addressing and overcoming these issues means increased productivity, more streamlined processes, fewer issues and increased customer satisfaction. All around it’s a win-win-win situation for you, your customers and your MSP. Just be sure to choose the right managed services and service provider like Magnify247.com, for your needs. The difference could be fewer IT problems, better business operations, and greater profits.
