Your employees can’t work if your technology isn’t working. Many small businesses hire a dedicated IT manager, but that’s not always the best answer. Managed service providers (MSPs) are an increasingly popular option for small businesses.
Considering outsourcing your IT tasks? Here’s everything you should know about MSPs.
Managed services are available for small businesses looking into outsourcing options for their IT needs. Managed service providers support your company’s technology for a monthly flat fee. They proactively monitor a business’s network, minimize IT problems, and troubleshoot any issues that come up on the network.
With advancements in cloud computing, most IT work is available for outsourcing. The managed service provider remotely accesses networks and deploys solutions for any computing issues without being in-house.
Managed service providers present contracts to clients to detail what services they include. Contracts also list service start and end dates. Outsourcing solutions available through vendors could include:
Most managed service providers promote all-inclusive packages with unlimited IT resources while hired, including day-to-day network management.
When looking at MSPs, ensure they’re familiar with the regulations your business must follow, which may include the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and PCI compliance.
Businesses need managed service providers because they negate risks. Instead of outsourcing IT when a problem occurs, managed services allow consistent network monitoring. Also, a managed service provider handles all updating and maintenance tasks. This allows managers to focus on their businesses instead of worrying about the company’s IT functionality.
A prospective managed service provider should also evaluate current and future IT needs. The MSP advises on what products and services a business should implement over the next year.
Consider online tech support if your tech needs aren’t extensive and your budget can’t accommodate an MSP. Online tech support services can provide immediate IT help remotely.
MSPs differ from other tech-upkeep methods because they’re designed to support and centralize many facets of IT for a small business. For example, an MSP can handle your company’s networking, help desk queries, server upkeep, project management, and desktop support.
MSPs support many clients – more than a computer store or independent professional would handle. They have more resources at their disposal and a deeper knowledge base to draw from.
However, small businesses should consider several factors before subscribing to an MSP. For example, does an MSP fit in your budget? Do you need someone on-site who can fix problems like printer jams? Are you sure your technology is secure?
Benefits of using an MSP include the following:
Downsides of using an MSP include the following:
An MSP can help you choose the best tech solutions for your business by researching vendors, testing options, and evaluating security measures.
Small business owners must weigh several factors when deciding to work with an MSP. For some, an MSP’s costs may be prohibitive. Similarly, bringing on an MSP may be unnecessary if the business already has a fleshed-out IT team.
However, if you find your business frequently leaning on IT support or you’re spending too much time trying to fix technical issues yourself, an MSP may be an ideal solution.
Jeremy Bender contributed to the reporting and writing in this article.