Learn about the benefits of managed service providers and how they lower IT-related business expenses
Cloud Service Provider and Managed Service Provider are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to a specialist company providing IT and software services to a business. This article will explore what a managed service provider is and why you should hire one.
What Is A Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), NGOs, and government agencies hire a specialist company to manage their IT infrastructure and end-user systems. This specialist company is known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP). MSPs offer installation and management services and provide their clients with training, security, monitoring, and other day-to-day services.
MSPs often have areas of specialization in IT, such as data storage, cloud management, enterprise software services, and security-as-a-service. Some MSPs provide holistic solutions to vertical markets such as healthcare, financial services, legal services, and manufacturing, to name a few.
What Do MSPs Offer?
- MSP can help an organization improve its business operations and workflow efficiency by easily using advanced systems. Most SMBs have minimal in-house capabilities, lack the necessary expertise, and don’t have the requisite budget to set up an independent IT department. Due to these reasons, SMBs opt to utilize the services of MSPs.
MSPs are trained to handle complex and repetitive tasks efficiently, especially those relating to IT infrastructure and end-user systems. MSPs generally offer the following type of services:
- Management of IT infrastructure
- Technical support to staff
- Cybersecurity services
- User account and access management
- Contract management
- Compliance and risk management
- Payroll services
How Do MSPs Work?
- Generally, MSPs are expected to fill a gap or a role in a business’s IT infrastructure or workforce. The first step for any MSP is to thoroughly assess the business’s existing systems and infrastructure. The MSP will point out troublesome areas and areas that can be improved, thus supporting the business’s long-term objectives.
A good MSP understands that not all businesses are the same; therefore, a custom-designed solution is developed for each company that best meets their needs. MSPs usually offer their customers subscription, technical support, and fix services as part of the solution.
- The technical support and fix service offer both remote and onsite troubleshooting, repairing, and fixing any issues faced by the business. The subscription service offers various enterprise software solutions in terms of deployment and management to the business alongside providing training to its employees. One such example of such software-as-a-service is Microsoft’s Azure.
What Are The Types Of MSPs?
MSPs can be categorized based on the size of their target customers and the amount of responsibility they can efficiently take.
- Pure-Play MSPs: These MSPs offer services to smaller clients. They have their own native services and are limited to monitoring networks, application performance, reporting, and alerts.
- Staffing legacy MSPs: These MSPs offer services to midlevel businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Their services include monitoring, reporting, software installation, and upgrades.
- High-level MSPs: These MSPs offer the highest level of services. Businesses usually outsource their entire IT department to such MSPs.
What Are The Benefits Of MSPs?
MSPs can bring about several benefits to any organization. Some of these benefits include the following:
- MSPs can offer HR and hiring services to an organization, thus taking care of worker shortages and ensuring the right people are hired for the right job.
- MSPs are often experts in their area, so hiring one would result in the organization gaining access to experts that can solve their problems in the least amount of time.
- MSPs offer disaster recovery services that ensure business continuity and data resilience.
- MSPs offer constant network monitoring services as well as cloud management.
- MSPs enable cost efficiency for the business by ensuring only those services deployed that the company needs. The technical support offered by the MSPs also helps minimize business downtime.
A long-term relationship with the right MSP can help your business reap many benefits and protect itself from unexpected outages and downtime. At Henson Group, we are proud to be one of the best MSPs for Microsoft’s services. Our highly qualified specialists will ensure you get the best service for your business. Contact us today and learn more about how we can help your business grow.