A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is simply an extension of your existing IT department. For smaller companies, a MSP may control all your IT management needs – most times, remotely. MSPs have been around for a long time, but companies have been slow to adapt to this structure for their IT departments.
According to a recent CompTIA study, 3-in-10 organizations (only 30%) have ANY of their information technology in the hands of an MSP. That’s a small number who are trusting all their IT needs to internal resources versus experts. What’s more? More than two-thirds of companies surveyed say they have used the services of an outside IT firm within the past year.
Although managed services companies have been around for a while, recently they have become more cost effective, scalable and available for SMBs – a key component for a SMBs success.
It is possible to hire an MSP to provide a single-function that your internal staff would prefer not to handle (i.e., backup / disaster recovery)? Yes! Is it possible to hire an MSP to run a company’s entire IT department? Yes!
What benefits can companies reap from partnering with an experienced managed service provider?
- It’s more cost-effective and much more reliable to have an outsourced MSP handling your system, many times.
- You will get more for less. Most MSPs ensure data backup, disaster recovery, reliable maintenance on your computer systems and much less time for your internal resource(s).
- Keeping data safe from viruses, hackers and other cyber attacks is a pivotal reason to hire an MSP. Protecting your data and systems should be #1.
- Real-time remote maintenance and monitoring of your systems ensures issues are identified before they attack your network, server, etc. Let’s face it, your IT professional(s) don’t have time for this!
An MSP isn’t looking to replace your internal IT staff; they are simply acting as an extension of your team, to complement your existing resources. With larger companies, they prefer to hire an MSP, so their existing IT staff can focus on more strategic and futuristic matters. Would that benefit your company?
Over the past few years, cost savings have been identified as the primary reason companies are welcoming MSPs into their business with open arms. Also, with the level of malicious attacks on company servers and network systems, security monitoring is also a key service that is being purchased.
The CompTIA survey also found that:
- improving the efficiency and reliability of IT operations was a main driving factor for going with an MSP for 56 % of companies.
- 6-in-10 companies that consider their technology usage advanced are using an MSP for security services.
- 63 % are using an MSP for application monitoring.
So, what’s keeping you from hiring an MSP?
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