Are Your Current IT Services Right For Your Business?
Although MSPs can differ from one to another in terms of how they provide those services, they typically provide a similar set of services that deliver the following important benefits:
- Access to a range of expertise
- More predictable technology-related expenses
- Help desk support whenever necessary
These three benefits bring HUGE value to the average business, but when you’re choosing an MSP, what are the separate components of a managed IT services plan to look for? Before we review this, let’s remember what defines an MSP.
What Defines an MSP?
Ultimately, an MSP is defined by its proactive approach to managing your information technology infrastructure. They put various measures in place, such as around-the-clock monitoring, regular maintenance, and cybersecurity solutions, in order to prevent issues from occurring in the first place. They will typically:
- Provide a range of services for a flat-rate monthly fee.
- Offer remote and onsite support to resolve issues whenever necessary.
- Provide guidance on strategically aligning your technology with organizational goals.
- Document standard operating procedures, policies, and protocols.
- Abide by a service level agreement, and in some cases, a response time guarantee.
As mentioned above, many MSPs offer similar services, so there are various components that remain standard and can be found in most plans. This includes:
Network monitoring: Each endpoint will have a remote monitoring and management tool, known as an RMM, installed to monitor performance, health, and overall status to ensure alerts are sent to the MSP whenever something goes wrong.
Backup and disaster recovery: A data backup and disaster recovery plan will be created to ensure all applications, systems, and important information is backed up – preferably in two places (locally and in the cloud) – with regular testing and verification to ensure they’re recoverable.
Onsite and remote support: A helpdesk support team will be available to provide remote or onsite support whenever an issue arises. You can submit a support ticket – typically via phone, email or chat, and they’ll respond within the specified time in your agreement.
Cybersecurity: Nowadays, enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions are necessary to combat cybercrime. This should include firewalls, anti-virus software, web content filtering, encryption, anti-spam software, and more.
Aside from the 4 separate components listed above, an MSP may also offer cloud services wherein they help you migrate your applications, operating systems, hardware, and software to the cloud.
Ready to switch MSP’s?
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