[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]MSP stands for Managed Service Provider. But what is a managed service provider? When a company uses an MSP, it is outsourcing the majority of its IT work to the MSP. Read on to find out more about this process and to find out what is a MSP company.
What is an MSP and what do they do?
IT is an integral part of most businesses these days. A consequence of this is that IT is becoming more and more complex. It is expensive and time consuming for a business to maintain its IT infrastructure, especially if the company is small and just starting up. A solution to this is for that company to outsource their IT work to an MSP. But exactly what is a MSP company and what value do they offer? Connected Platforms is a MSP Brisbane businesses depend on, and we get asked these questions a lot. We decided to write this article to let businesses know what is an MSP and how to go about choosing one.
What is a Managed Service Provider Good For?
A business needs to focus on its core competencies. That can be difficult to do while also maintaining complex IT infrastructure. When a company outsources their IT work to an MSP, the MSP takes care of all of the IT backend to let the company focus on its core strengths. An MSP does this by utilising economies of scale. The MSP will usually invest in large datacentres. These datacentres can be quite expensive, but because the MSP is investing in such a large amount of storage, it works out to a good price per unit of storage processing power. The MSP then leases fractions of these datacentres to companies that would otherwise be unable to benefit from the use of this level of computing. The MSP also performs maintenance and monitors those datacentres to make sure there are no interruptions in service for the leasing companies.
Companies that Benefit from Using an MSP
If a company uses IT in any form, then it could probably benefit from using an MSP. This is especially true for smaller or medium sized businesses and new businesses. If a business only has a handful of employees, they need to be working on what that business does best, and not trying to maintain their IT. Here are some examples of the kinds of businesses that can benefit from using an MSP:
- E-commerce
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Distribution
- Finance
- Construction
- Tourism
- Hospitality
- Medical
- Transportation
- Etc…
How to Choose an MSP Company
Now that we’ve covered what an MSP does and who could benefit from using an MSP, let’s go over how to choose an MSP company. There may be services that an MSP provides that are specific to your industry and you need to discuss that with any potential MSP company. But there are also some key services that any good MSP should provide, and we’ll go over those here.
Reactive vs. Proactive
Some MSPs are reactive when it comes to IT monitoring. That is, something breaks then you call them, and they fix it. This kind of company often charges by the hour for work they perform. On the other hand, a proactive MSP actively works to prevent problems from happening in the first place through system monitoring. The pricing arrangement for this kind of MSP is generally a fixed price. The proactive model of MSP business is superior to the reactive one, as it minimises any downtime for your business operations.
Constant Monitoring
A good MSP will constantly monitor the IT hardware. That means they have systems in place to detect problems before they get out of hand. If it appears that a hard drive or cooling fan is about to fail, they will seamlessly replace it without any interruption to business. They also have a comprehensive disaster recovery system should a catastrophic failure occur. You’ll be fully covered with a good MSP.
Patching Services
A quality MSP not only monitors the hardware but is also there to take care of any software issues. This involves being proactive about making sure all software receives their latest patches. This is an important part of IT security, as properly patched software is less susceptible to viruses, hacking, and ransomware.
Customer Support Service
A good MSP should be like the air – you need it, but you don’t really notice that it’s there. But there are times when you need to get in touch with your MSP. A good MSP will have ample customer support and be readily available for any and all customer needs.
Find Out What Connected Platforms Can Do for Your Business
We hope this is a good explanation of what is an MSP and how to choose one. Ultimately you need to get to know your potential Managed Service Provider and perform your own due diligence to make sure they are a good match for your business. Connected Platforms is a MSP company and we offer the managed IT services Brisbane businesses count on. Get in touch online or call us on (07) 3062 6932 to find out more information about what we can do for your business. You can also request our FREE IT health check.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
