When choosing a Managed Service Provider or MSP for your company, there are 10 important factors to consider, including:
1. Does your MSP have the IT skills and expertise to support your business?
2. Does your MSP have reliable and friendly help desk support?
3. Does your MSP provide Managed IT Services with proactive monitoring?
4. Does your MSP provide Managed IT Services for your remote and hybrid workforce?
5. Does your MSP support your future business growth with scalable IT solutions?
6. Does your MSP guarantee service in writing with a Service Level Agreement?
7. Does your MSP provide and enforce robust cybersecurity services?
8. Does your MSP protect your business with IT disaster recovery services?
9. Does your MSP offer vendor management services?
10. Does your MSP share your values and fit your company culture?
Looking for answers to these questions and more, please visit our FAQ educational resource or give us a call!
IT Skills and Expertise
It is imperative to choose a Managed Service Provider or MSP with IT professionals who have years of experience and skills in network management, cybersecurity solutions, cloud integrations, help desk assistance, remote workforce support, disaster recovery, phishing simulations, cybersecurity education, and technology vendor management.
A reputable MSP will have a history of delivering quality service and measurable client satisfaction. Ask for references and then check those references, especially if the references are for notable companies or comparable to your business in size or industry.
Reliable and Friendly Help Desk Support
Experience and expertise are key indicators of a Managed Service Provider’s ability to support your organization effectively. However, extraordinary customer support is the mark of an exceptional MSP.
The right Managed Service Provider has a dedicated team of friendly network engineers and security professionals ready to meet your needs and exceed your expectations with pleasant and patient support over the phone or in person. Avoid any provider that talks down to your end users or consistently over their heads.
Managed IT Services With Proactive Monitoring
Your Managed Service Provider shouldn’t just be waiting for something to break so they can fix it. Rather, an MSP should have experience preventing problems before they become major IT issues, which saves your company money and reduces business downtime.
Proactive IT monitoring examines hardware, applications, security, technology trends, and internet connectivity to bolster both uptime and employee productivity. Your MSP should recommend ways to improve the security and performance of your IT network and provide a roadmap for future technology improvements.
Proactive communication is also important. An MSP that cares about your success (and their own), will take the time to engage with you regularly and ask for your feedback on help desk interactions.
Managed IT Services For Remote Workforces
It’s valuable for your Managed Service Provider to have experience supporting a host of work scenarios such as remote work, work from home, traditional office environments and a hybrid mix of all three. Each work type presents unique challenges and cybersecurity risks.
We all know work isn’t restricted by geographical locations or time zones anymore. A capable MSP enables your team to be more productive, collaborative, and efficient — on any device, at any time, and from anywhere in the world. That MSP also empowers your company to manage and protect your vital business information wherever it is being accessed.
Growth With Scalable IT Solutions
A good Managed Service Provider (MSP) will take time to understand your business’s unique qualities and be invested in your growth with scalable IT solutions. Scalable IT solutions ensure your IT infrastructure can adapt quickly as your business needs – and user count – change. And predictable billing based on your employee count makes budgeting for a growing staff simple.
Whether it’s setting up your new employees with computers, expanding your IT infrastructure, or implementing new technology solutions, an MSP can rapidly adapt to your growth trajectory, ensuring your IT remains aligned with your business goals and growth.
Get It In Writing With A Service Level Agreement
A Service Level Agreement or SLA is the promise of your Managed Service Provider (MSP) to meet certain requirements such as response times, help desk ticket priorities, data recovery, and downtime. A top-tier MSP will provide you with an SLA and then work tirelessly to exceed the SLA standards.
Robust Cybersecurity Services Provider
It is vital your Managed Service Provider (MSP) provides cybersecurity services. The dangers of phishing, ransomware, and data breaches are both very real and rapidly growing, and they can lead to severe financial and reputational damage.
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving, and attacks are ever increasing. Proactive security measures such as constant intrusion detection, continuing cybersecurity education, and persistent phish testing will help safeguard your confidential business information.
Strict adherence to security policies is also crucial if your business ever needs to file a claim with your cybersecurity insurer. Successful claims are those that can withstand rigorous scrutiny from insurers keen to limit policy payouts.
IT Disaster Recovery Services
Disaster can come in all shapes and sizes and at any time. Potential disasters include cyberattacks, hurricanes, fire, flood or even the well-meaning employee who accidentally destroys critical files. Make sure your Managed Service Provider or MSP can restore your data in a matter of hours, not weeks. It’s also important to understand the quality of your backups. For your business continuity, make sure the integrity of your backups is tested and verified regularly.
Vendor Management From Your IT Partner
Don’t get stuck in the endless cycle of finger pointing between your IT company and a vendor such as your internet or phone provider. Choosing a Managed Service Provider that offers Vendor Management can relieve the pressure of this pain point. Vendor management also extends to the makers of your company’s most critical software, printing and copying partners, even security camera solutions.
Your MSP should be able to effectively communicate with your IT related vendors and expedite solving issues. A sharp MSP speaks the same language and knows when to escalate support. And because the MSP spends the time needed to troubleshoot vendor issues, your staff is free to keep working. The MSP also manages ongoing relationships with those other technology vendors, ensuring your company gets optimal performance from its investment.
Cultural Fit When Selecting An MSP
Often overlooked, a good cultural fit is a significant element of a successful partnership with your Managed IT Service Provider. When there is a cultural fit, it’s easier to establish open lines of communication and collaboration, leading to more effective problem-solving and longevity of the IT partnership.
Also, the corporate culture at the MSP is important. Do they outsource their help desk or suffer from frequent employee turnover? Do they retain high-level technicians who can handle complex networking issues or is troubleshooting a basic issue too much? When selecting a Managed Service Provider for your business, look for stability and make sure your company can work in harmony with the MSP.
Summary: 10 Important Factors When Choosing An MSP
Selecting a Managed Service Provider or MSP to support your small or medium-sized business isn’t just about cost. There are many factors that play a role in effectively choosing the MSP for a successful partnership, so you can focus on the success of your business instead of worrying about IT. These 10 factors are: IT skills and expertise; reliable and friendly help desk support; proactive monitoring; support for remote and hybrid workforces; scalable IT solutions; written Service Level Agreement; cybersecurity services; disaster recovery services; vendor management services; and company culture.
Secure Your Business With I.T. Solutions of South Florida
I.T. Solutions of South Florida is an award-winning Managed Service Provider with a long history as one of the best MSPs in Palm Beach County and the surrounding areas of South Florida since 2004. Headquartered near West Palm Beach, FL, I.T. Solutions of South Florida delivers expert IT support and proactive technology solutions for small and midsized businesses locally and nationwide. Our knowledgeable network engineers are known for their patient and friendly approach to providing prompt technical support, saving you valuable time and frustration.
Experience the I.T. Solutions of South Florida difference:
- Experienced IT professionals: We tackle any challenge, from cybersecurity to remote work, with proven expertise and a patient, friendly approach.
- Proactive IT monitoring: We prevent problems before they disrupt your workflow, saving you money and downtime.
- Cyber risk mitigation: We deliver 12 layers of risk protection.
- Scalable IT infrastructure: Grows with your business, ensuring smooth transitions and predictable budgeting.
- Fault tolerant architecture: Eliminate single points of failure.
- Vendor management: We handle your IT vendors, freeing you to focus on what matters.
- Open communication: We prioritize collaboration for a long-lasting, successful partnership.
Looking for answers to these questions and more, please visit our FAQ educational resource or contact I.T. Solutions of South Florida today for a no-cost, no-obligation, no-nonsense conversation about where your technology is today, and where you want it to be.
