If you’re a small business growing fast, chances are you need a strong IT support but can’t really afford to build a team in-house. That’s what Managed IT Service Providers are for.
For a recurring fee (usually monthly), you get a dedicated team of experts to handle your IT issues, give you full-time support and secure your data.
But how to pick the right MSP for your business?
What does a managed IT service provider do?The 5 qualities of a good MSP
Prepare your questions |
A managed IT service provider (known as MSP) provides IT services to businesses that don’t have an in-house IT department.
So, while you and your team can focus on growing your business, your MSP can help with the following:
Let’s dive into the 5 qualities you should be looking for in your future MSP.
Of course, the first quality most organisations are looking for in an MSP is their technical expertise. However, this part can be quite overwhelming; after all, you’re looking to hire experts because you’re not, so how can you assess your MSP’s level of expertise?
There are a certain number of qualifications/certifications you can and should expect from IT experts. Look for significant partnerships the provider may have, such as Microsoft, Google, Apple… all the big names you may be familiar to and software you might already be using in your business.
Technology never sleeps. While you log off at the end of a working day, your computer network never shuts off. So, what if an issue occurs while you’re soundly asleep?
You should expect your MSP to be available at all times and be ready to jump in in case an issue arises.
While availability is important, you should look for a provider that is also adaptable. They should be able to adapt to your business goals and be flexible as your business grows. This includes being proactive and adapt their offerings to the latest services and technology.
This one is a no-brainer. When choosing your MSP, you’ll want to make sure that they’re able to provide ongoing support to you and your team. That means that they need to be reachable, whether it’s a dedicated email address or phone number.
Consider these 3 things when it comes to IT support:
Make sure to discuss this with your potential MSP when interviewing them.
Some say that what can make or break an MSP is the reliability of their online backups and data recovery processes. You’ll want to confirm with them that in case of a data breach, they’re able to recover all your data and have the right processes in place to back up your data regularly.
You should also have a conversation with your potential MSP about their disaster recovery planning. Should your business suffer from a natural disaster or a theft, your Managed Services Provider is here to make sure you’re prepared and covered.
This last one may be subjective, but just like you wouldn’t hire an employee who doesn’t share your values, you should look for an MSP with a company culture that is similar to yours.
What principles and values are important for you and your business? What are the ones you absolutely want your business partners to share? And what are the ones you can be more flexible about?
We put together this list of questions to help you kick start the interview process in your quest for your future MSP.
Every business is different and have different goals, but this article should get you started in your search for your next Managed Services Provider. Having an MSP takes all the technology-related stress away and will allow you to focus on scaling your business. Outsourcing your IT management will eventually save you time and money and give you peace of mind that your computer network is in good hands.