How to Choose a Managed Service Provider

This is a guest post by Steve of Syntax.

Managed services refers to the practice whereby a business transfers day-to-day management functions (usually IT functions) over to a professional managed service provider (MSP). Companies will hire MSPs in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency of their internal systems as well as lower cost of operations.

This does not mean that the business must completely relinquish control of the company to the service provider. The provider manages and assumes responsibility for the services they are supplying. When scoping out potential providers, make sure they meet the following 5 requirements:

Professionalism

The business world today is a scene of numerous changes in economic, technological and communication aspects. This means that companies may find themselves at a loss to try and keep up with the ever-changing trends in the market. The major limitations in this situation are budgets and expertise. As a result of this deficit, companies often choose to get MSPs to handle busy work so they can focus on core elements of the business. This helps ease the burden on already existing resources. MSPs are highly skilled people whose expertise comes in handy to lift a company from hostile conditions.

Improved risk management

With the unprecedented increase in MSPs, there are better deals coming up. More service providers are now looking for longer-term relationships with businesses so as to mitigate risks. These providers also present figures that are key performance indicators (KPIs) to the success rate of their services. For instance a service provider may showcase previous ventures which they have managed with good results. This further increases confidence of the company to hire the providers.

Reputation of the service provider

Before choosing a managed service provider, a client should do a background-check of potential prospects. This will give valuable insight on whether the provider is to be trusted. It also gives a client a benchmark with which to compare a certain provider with others. The provider that is eventually chosen should have a visible track record of good performance and reliability. This is even more important when the economic conditions are unpredictable or largely unstable.

Willingness to work alongside company management

Services which are crucial to the operations of the business are often included when a MSP is hired. These may pose serious concerns both to the security of the company’s information and may have an impact on profitability. A service provider must therefore be willing to allow their operation to complement the work of the actual management staff. This ensures that the management is at all times aware of the goings on in the operations that are vital to the business.

Ability to plan for future problems

A managed service provider should have adequate experience in the given field, to be able to plan for future eventualities. They must therefore be able to put measures in place that will work to mitigate negative effects on the business in future. This should also be the case when it comes to other unforeseen circumstances.

Keeping these requirements in mind should help you narrow down your search to a few key players. A MSP can be a great asset to improving processes within your business.

Author bio: Steve has an expansive background in accounting and has worked for multi-state companies in US which have incorporated managed services from Syntax. He has had many exchanges with consultants in the program about what changes need to be made in order to accommodate employees.