Choosing a Managed IT Services Provider (MSP) for your business is an important task not to be taken lightly. First, you want an IT company that has been in business for at least several years. The longer they have been in business the better. IT companies that are only a handful of years old might not have long term survivability. And you do not want to be having to go through the process of looking for another IT service provider after a year or two because the one you hired initially is closing their doors.
Reputation is also a key component. If they allow you to, ask to speak with some members of their current client base. Ask the tough questions and find out how long it takes for them to respond to support requests and when those support requests are completed, does it seem like a permanent fix was applied or does the issue re-surface again shortly afterwards? You want someone that fixes issues correctly the first time and not a provider that applies Band-Aids to tech support requests. Also, is their staff courteous and friendly when dealing with them over the phone or in person? Superior customer service is very important to the long term success of any business, and MSPs are no different.
What is meant by Managed IT Services?
Managed IT Services is the term used for an IT Company that offers service and support plans to businesses. These support plans are generally paid on a monthly basis by the business to the support provider. The exact services provided can vary but typically would include hosted email, spam filtering, office firewall protection, computer security software, secure file sharing services, onsite and or offsite file backups.
Phone, remote assistance and onsite support is provided to the client on a day to day basis and can include 24 hour, 7 days a week support. 24/7 support can be an extra cost, so make sure to ask the provider about that specifically. Most support plans cover your business during what is deemed as normal operating hours, with evenings, weekends and holidays extra cost.
What is included with Managed IT?
Having an MSP plan for your business from an IT Company is very similar to having your own IT department. You are hiring this IT Company to maintain and support your entire IT infrastructure. Within your chosen service plan most all services and support is provided to you as if you had an in-house IT person or IT department.
Beware that support and service plans from a Managed IT Services Provider typically come with a 12 month, 24 month or 36 month agreement. The provider will expect you to commit to them for an agreed amount of time. Monthly costs are directly affected by agreement length. The longer the term of the agreement, the lower your monthly flat rate will be for service and support.
What is the cost of Managed IT Services?
Cost is typically affected by the amount of users, how many computer systems you have, and the amount of locations of your business. If you have a 100 user multi-location business spread out across a state or region your monthly support costs will be higher than a business that has a single location with 25 employees. Managed IT Services is going to have a much lower monthly cost than a larger business with 200+ users.
Location can be a factor in cost as well. If you are in a rural area or smaller city you can expect lower monthly support costs than if you are a business based in a major metro area. Keep in mind some regions that have a higher cost of living will reflect that in IT Support costs such as locations like New York City and southern California.
Check with several MSPs about pricing and what services and support you expect to receive. That way you can compare options and pricing but keep in mind that pricing sometimes is a reflection of service level. Lower pricing sometimes means you could be waiting a day or more to get a support issue resolved, versus higher pricing that could get issues resolved immediately.
MSPs can be local, regional or national. Many MSPs have offices in different states around the country and are able to serve a much wider audience because of that. Depending on the provider, your monthly support costs could decrease by going with a national IT company. At the national level they tend to have a broader client base with established access to resources.
Choosing the right managed IT services provider is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your business's technology infrastructure and support. By evaluating factors such as business needs, experience, service offerings, support, security, and client references, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your objectives and ensures seamless IT operations.
Remember, selecting a managed IT services provider is a partnership, and finding the right fit can contribute to your business's success and growth.
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