While switching to managed services carries big benefits for your organization, it’s important to find a vendor that’s a good fit for your needs. Of course, technical expertise is an important part of this process. However, there are many other aspects you’ll need to consider.
A Diverse List of Services
One way to approach managed IT is piecemeal, by finding a provider for each specific service you need. While it’s certainly possible to go this route, we don’t recommend it. By splitting your services across multiple providers, you’re actually adding to the work your IT staff needs to do. They’ll need to not only research each company’s services but track who they need to ask about each service in case anything goes wrong.
Instead, it’s best to find one that offers multiple types of service. Ideally, you can find one company that has everything you need. If not, consolidating your services into as few providers as possible is the way to go.
Outcomes and Assessment
In business, it’s important to make outcome-based decisions. You want to be sure that any third-party provider you use gathers the data you need to do so.
When you’re researching potential partners and exploring your options, make sure you ask each for a service level agreement (SLA). SLAs are a type of contract which details the services you will be receiving as well as the timeframe and any quality requirements you have.
Communication and Collaboration
While it’s certainly possible to find an MSP that will just give you access to technologies and nothing else, there’s a better way. Look for a company that is invested in working closely with your IT staff. This is the easiest way to free up your staff’s time and ensure that you get the services you need for your company’s continued growth. Transparency and effective communication practices are also essential elements for the provider you select. If you have questions or if something needs adjusting, you’ll want to be sure your partner is responsive. And in the rare case that service goes down, you want to avoid being stuck with a support team that ignores you for days or even weeks at a time.
Cybersecurity
Security is essential for any business. When it comes to a modern company, that means cybersecurity. Although it’s always important to make sure a vendor secures their own cloud-based services, you can also find vendors who offer cybersecurity for your business. If you deal with customer data, financial transactions, or other sensitive information, you will want to pay special attention to this aspect. The best providers won’t just mitigate your risks by securing your network; they’ll provide security evaluations, engage in proactive measures like penetration testing and staff training, and will even be able to assess and neutralize threats in real-time.
Location
It might seem like location doesn’t matter for managed services. While most IT operations, including security, can be seamlessly provided in the cloud, someone who knows the local business landscape will better understand your organizational needs. It’s also important to have staff nearby in case you do need on-site support.
The bottom line is that it’s a great idea to select a vendor with an office nearby.
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Greg Allen2023-06-07 09:10:002023-05-31 19:03:29What to Look for in a Philadelphia Managed Security Provider
