Managing data and IT solutions in-house can be challenging and expensive. That’s why many organisations turn to MSPs.
Digitalisation has forced businesses to alter their operations and make IT a huge part of their day-to-day affairs. By hiring a managed service provider, or MSP, to take care of the work the business then has access to a broader range of skillsets from a team of experts.
But what exactly is an MSP?
Simply put, this is a third-party company you can collaborate with to help manage parts of your business, such as your IT or cloud needs. An MSP provides technology and expertise to boost your organisation’s scalability.
Working with an MSP like Orbitel Technologies can have tremendous benefits for your business. Our understanding of the technology landscape can help you make the best choices for your business when implementing technology to improve performance, operations, and security while reducing overheads. Having access to a team of highly skilled support engineers gives you increased redundancies.
Another great thing about MSP’s is that they can support your business even after hours.
Overall, MSPs can help take your company to the next level. However, you can’t work with just any service provider. You need to select the right team for your enterprise, and this article will show you how.
CHOOSING AN MSP – WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Hiring an MSP shouldn’t be a hasty decision. Instead, you want to take a variety of factors into account.
Here are the five important factors to keep in mind:
#1 THE MSP'S TRACK RECORD
Prospective MSPs should provide case studies and success stories to demonstrate they’re suitable for your business. You can also look for testimonials, references, and endorsements. These will help you determine if the team has been operating for a while and if their reputation is solid.
Working with a reputable MSP can give you peace of mind with the knowledge that your system will be appropriately managed. Moreover, you’ll feel confident that the MSP will do all in its power to preserve its name.
The MSP’s success hinges on yours in some respect, which is why they’ll view you as a valuable partner.
Check out Orbitel Technologies testimonials here.
#2 THE RANGE OF SERVICES IT PROVIDES
MSPs offer a wide array of services. Some teams are full-service companies, meaning they address your cloud and IT needs comprehensively. In contrast, others may help you with different pieces of your tech puzzle.
Therefore, consider your needs carefully and ensure your MSP can meet them.
Regardless of your service package, the MSP needs to keep up with the latest technology trends. Otherwise, numerous security issues may compromise your company and allow the competition to prevail over you.
Here at Orbitel we can provide a holistic technology solution, covering managed IT, Cyber Security and Communications.
#3 RESPONSE TIME
Your network can go down for any number of reasons, preventing your employees from working and your clients from reaching you. This situation can even cripple your reputation, customer base, and revenue. In the worst-case scenario, it can even make you shut down your business.
Fortunately, a high-quality MSP can help you avoid this scenario. They can identify threats to your system and neutralise them before hurting your company.
#4 SECURITY AND BACKUP
One of the most important duties your MSP should perform is to shield your data from cyberattacks. This is critical to protecting your company and customers. Besides, safe data storage might be mandatory in your industry, which is why your IT department could use all the help they can get.
Once you work with an MSP, they should recommend robust security solutions and endpoint protection to combat harmful software.
Another major part of their mission should be the implementation of backup software. It enables you to retrieve your data in case of a breach. Such implementation may involve automation, a restoration plan, and a no-downtime policy.
With a failproof backup and security strategy in place, you should be able to run your company more confidently. The risk of downtime will be drastically lower, allowing you to operate smoothly, maintain high sales, retain customers, and preserve your brand.
#5 GUIDANCE ON WORKFLOW OPTIONS
Your MSP shouldn’t just deal with cybersecurity – they should also suggest adopting the best practices across the entire tech landscape.
For example, they should advise you on various CRM solutions and project management applications. They should also help you revamp your approach to workflow and data to create efficiency in all departments.
The fact is, you can yield tremendous results from their guidance. Your team can work faster, collaborate in real-time, and be more tech-savvy.
Recruit your MSP carefully
While price is important when selecting an MSP, it pales in comparison to all the factors listed above. Be sure they’re a perfect fit for your business, even if you need to pay more.
With high expertise, customised services, and an understanding of threats, Orbitel Technologies can help you stay ahead of your competitors.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.