What Are Managed IT Services? The Quick Take:
Managed IT services involve outsourcing your company’s IT operations to a specialized provider, ensuring your technology infrastructure is expertly managed, monitored, and maintained. These Managed IT Service Providers (MSPs) offer their clients a proactive approach—enhancing efficiency and cybersecurity, while allowing clients to offload the hassle of daily IT management issues. Companies can contract with MSPs for all their IT tools and management, or sign a more narrow, co-managed agreement where the MSP only takes on specific duties, like cybersecurity. Managed Service Providers can tackle a wide variety of critical IT tasks, including:
- Cybersecurity software licensing, management, and monitoring
- Compliance operations and advanced cybersecurity strategy
- Data backup and disaster recovery
- Cloud services and license management
- Hardware Inventory management and onboarding/offboarding services
- Help Desk and End User Support
A full 88% of small and medium-sized businesses are using, or plan to use a managed service provider (MSP) for their IT, according to the latest reporting from FORBES. For many companies, outsourcing all or part of their IT is a win-win, taking daily network management headaches off their plate, cutting recruitment and staffing costs, and improving the depth and breadth of their information technology. But is an IT MSP right for your business? Let’s dig a little deeper into the services an MSP provides, and how outside consultants can integrate seamlessly into your IT operations.
What Are Managed IT Services? An MSP’s Role:
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a third-party company that remotely manages a customer’s IT infrastructure and end-user systems. MSPs proactively monitor and manage IT systems, ensuring optimal performance and security. They provide a range of services, including network management, cybersecurity, data backup, and technical support, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities without worrying about IT issues.
There are many different ways an MSP can work with your company, depending on your need. Common contract formats include:
- Fully managed service—that offloads the company’s entire IT operation to the MSP. They handle all physical IT hardware, software license management, end-user help desk, cybersecurity, budgeting, and more. In this case, all incoming IT tickets go to the MSP, and all onsite installation is handled by the MSP, too. Clients pay one monthly fee that’s based on the number of users in their network and any additional consulting fees. Clients taking this approach may be able to eliminate all or most of their internal dedicated IT staff.
- Co-managed service—allows the MSP to take over a portion of IT operations, such as cybersecurity, while internal staff handle day to day ticketing, inventory, and the like.
- Project services—that keep the MSP only during a defined service, for a defined period, such as a system upgrade, a corporate move, or a new compliance initiative. Costs are billed hourly, and rates range based on the complexity of the service needed.
Now that we’ve discussed the way MSPs work, let’s take a closer look at the services they offer.
What Are Managed IT Services? The Key Components:
A premium MSP can offer all these services, including:
Network Monitoring and Management:
Network monitoring is crucial for maintaining the health and performance of an IT infrastructure. It involves continuously observing network components like routers, switches, firewalls, and servers to detect and respond to any issues before they impact business operations. MSPs use advanced tools to monitor network traffic, identify bottlenecks, and ensure optimal performance. They also implement security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits to protect against cyber threats.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery:
Data is a critical asset for any business. Regular data backups ensure that in the event of hardware failure, cyberattacks, or natural disasters, a company can quickly restore its data and resume operations with minimal disruption. Disaster recovery planning involves creating a strategy to recover and protect a business IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster. MSPs help design and implement comprehensive disaster recovery plans, including regular testing and updates to ensure readiness.
Cybersecurity Solutions:
Businesses face various cybersecurity threats, including malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and insider threats. These threats can lead to data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage.MSPs provide robust cybersecurity solutions, including antivirus software, firewalls, encryption, and employee training programs. They also conduct regular security assessments and updates to ensure the IT environment remains secure against evolving threats.
Compliance Operations and Consulting:
Whether they’re handing sensitive customer payment data, or managing health records protected by government regulations, many companies have a high cybersecurity threshold to meet to have “safe” operations. It can be a challenge to stay ahead of the cybersecurity asks from regulators, cyber risk insurers, customers and more. A compliance-minded MSP can help its clients with cybersecurity strategy and implementation. They’ll help company align its cybersecurity operations, tighten it’s data handling standard, monitor its cybersecurity tools, and produce the security reporting and documentation regulators require. The best MSPs can even provide Virtual Chief Information Security Officers (VCISOs) on a consulting basis. These CISSP-trained cybersecurity experts and considered the gold standard in cybersecurity expertise, and can provide advanced security consulting for companies with significant compliance needs.
Cloud Services and Management:
Cloud services refer to the delivery of computing services—servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and more—over the internet (the cloud). These services offer flexibility, scalability, and cost savings. MSPs help businesses migrate to the cloud and manage their cloud environments. They ensure that cloud resources are optimized for performance and cost-efficiency, provide security measures to protect data, and offer support for cloud-based applications. Perhaps most important, they manage all key cloud software licenses, such as Microsoft 365, ensuring that clients never pay for old or unused licenses.
Help Desk and Technical Support:
Help desk services provide users with assistance for IT-related issues, ranging from troubleshooting software problems to resolving hardware failures. This support is essential for maintaining productivity and minimizing downtime. 24/7 technical support ensures that help is available whenever issues arise, regardless of the time of day. This round-the-clock support is particularly beneficial for businesses with global operations or those that operate outside of standard business hours.
Now that we’ve had a chance to review what an MSP does, let’s talk about why you should consider working with a managed IT services provider.
Benefits of Managed IT Services
When you have the right IT MSP working for you, you have a true partner that’s dedicated to the success of your business. The fractional IT services they offer can offer significant benefits, including:
Cost Efficiency:
Managed IT services can significantly reduce IT costs by eliminating the need for in-house IT staff and infrastructure. Businesses pay a predictable monthly fee, which covers all IT services, including maintenance, support, and upgrades. This model helps avoid unexpected expenses and allows for better budget planning. Additionally, MSPs leverage economies of scale, providing access to advanced technologies and expertise at a fraction of the cost of maintaining these resources internally.
Expertise and Experience:
MSPs employ highly skilled IT professionals with extensive experience across various industries. This expertise ensures that businesses receive top-notch service and support. MSPs stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and industry best practices, providing clients with cutting-edge solutions and strategic advice. This level of expertise is often difficult and costly to maintain in-house. With an MSP, you can get all the types of IT talent you need, from engineers, to help desk experts, to advanced vCISOs and vCIOs—delivered on a fractional basis. You only pay for what you need, without having to manage a large internal staff. With the cost of tech talent on the rise and demand tight, these services can be a real life-saver for cash-strapped companies.
Proactive Support and Maintenance:
MSPs adopt a proactive approach to IT management, continuously monitoring systems to detect and address potential issues before they escalate into major problems. This includes regular software updates, security patches, and performance optimizations. By preventing downtime and minimizing disruptions, MSPs help maintain business continuity and enhance productivity.
Scalability and Flexibility:
Managed IT services are inherently scalable, allowing businesses to easily adjust their IT resources as they grow. Whether a company is expanding its operations, opening new locations, or experiencing seasonal fluctuations, MSPs can quickly adapt to changing needs. This flexibility ensures that businesses always have the right level of IT support without overcommitting resources.
How to Choose the Right Managed IT Service Provider
Get a Thorough Assessment:
Start by conducting a thorough assessment of your current IT infrastructure and identifying areas that require improvement. Consider your business goals, budget, and specific IT challenges. This evaluation will help you determine the scope of services you need from an MSP. While many MSPs will do this assessment for free as part of a new contract estimate, we generally don’t recommend this option. A paid assessment will allow an MSP to evaluate your IT infrastructure and information technology with a focused lens. This allows them to find out of date software, system incompatibilities, hidden vulnerabilities, and more. You’ll come away with an accurate estimate, a full IT strategy, and an implementation plan. This ensures there’s no “hidden surprises” once an MSP starts working with you.
Check Provider Credentials:
Look for MSPs with relevant certifications, such as CompTIA Managed Services Trustmark, Microsoft Gold Partner, or Cisco Certified Partner. These credentials indicate a high level of expertise and commitment to industry standards. Additionally, consider the provider’s experience in your industry and their track record of success with similar clients. Reputable customer review sites, such as Clutch, can provide you with first person accounts from the MSPs existing client base. If you’d like a more detailed guide on how to rate IT MSPs. check out our recent blog on the subject.
Evaluate Service Level Agreements (SLAs):
SLAs define the level of service you can expect from an MSP. Key elements to consider include response times, resolution times, uptime guarantees, and performance metrics. Ensure that the SLA aligns with your business needs and provides clear accountability for the MSP.
Consider Customer Support:
Reliable customer support is crucial for resolving IT issues quickly and minimizing downtime. Look for MSPs that offer 24/7 support and have a reputation for responsiveness and effective communication. Also take note of their vendor relationships. If they’re “gold level” or “preferred” partners with their vendors, it is likely that they have direct access to the vendor’s escalation desks, and have the engineering staff on hand to handle emergency requests and mitigations. Customer testimonials and reviews can provide insights into the quality of support you can expect.
Are You Looking for a Managed IT Partner? Integris Can Help.
Managed IT services offer numerous benefits, including cost efficiency, access to expert knowledge, proactive maintenance, and scalability. By outsourcing IT management to a trusted MSP, businesses can focus on their core operations while ensuring their technology infrastructure is secure and efficient.
For small and medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their IT capabilities and reduce operational costs, managed IT services provide a comprehensive and reliable solution. Partnering with an experienced MSP can drive growth and innovation while safeguarding your IT environment.
Ready to take your IT to the next level? Contact Integris IT today to learn more about our managed IT services and how we can help your business thrive.
