Maybe you’ve heard of the term managed service provider or MSP while searching for an alternative or addition to your in-house IT team. And now, you’re asking yourself how MSP works.
Basically, MSPs take on different IT tasks to support their clients. These businesses, which are usually small to medium sized, lack manpower or do not have their own IT team. MSPs fill in this gap and use advanced tools to maintain and service these companies’ information systems.
To guide you through the process, let us give you an example.
Let’s say you are a firm with less than 50 employees and you have outsourced an MSP service. Now, you have work to deliver but your workstation isn’t functioning well. You then submit a ticket to your MSP’s helpdesk using your smartphone.
After which, your request is forwarded to the best available tech specialist. He/she contacts you and begins troubleshooting. If it’s an easy one, it may be done through the phone but they may also come to your location if it needs a major repair. Since your MSP manages your IT, they are equipped with the right tools and expertise. They also have a ton of resources that can address your issues.
The timeframe set for your ticket resolution is based on the Service Level Agreement (SLA) you had with your MSP. The SLA dictates the expected response and remediation times for handling tickets depending on their severity. Urgent tickets are often prioritized, so it gets pushed to the front of the line.
The Business Model of Managed Services
MSPs handle IT-related things and keep you in the loop of any progress or issues across your organization. Hiring MSPs can protect your data, store client’s information in a secure centralized server, and send techs over at your location to fix computer problems.
With their updates and the contract you have with them, you will know when to reach out for assistance. MSPs can even lend you hardware or a cloud service whenever necessary.
Managed service providers offer two kinds of business models. First, there’s the technical support, wherein they send a technician to your business site to address a problem. The MSP charges the company based on the number of hours the tech spent fixing the issue and for the parts they used to repair your equipment.
The second model is the subscription type, which is the most common one. Companies pay the MSP a fixed rate for servicing their IT network on a monthly basis. They monitor your systems and endpoints during the subscription period and they may also send technicians over to fix problems. You won’t be charged extra for it since it is covered by the monthly fee you’re paying. Payment schemes for this model may be computed per hour or per computer or equipment supported.
How MSP Works to Drive Positive Change
Managed service providers extensively review all of your current processes – whether it’s the way you operate, store data, or how you manage your cybersecurity. Based on their evaluation, they will find you opportunities to maximize your savings and reduce expenses in your organization, while still maintaining compliance and company efficiencies. They will also check for liabilities and challenges within your processes that you may not know of to mitigate risks.
After analyzing your systems and uncovering opportunities and liabilities, MSPs will build custom solutions that are unique to your business needs. Then, they will provide on-going maintenance and support for your organization.
Why Should Your Business Use an MSP?
As we live in a highly competitive marketplace, you need to look for ways to make your company stand out from the others. You must try to operate as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. This is one of the things to keep in mind if you want to succeed in today’s saturated market.
Outsourcing an MSP lets you work on your core businesses, including your direction, strategies, and growth trajectory. That said, you don’t have to worry anymore about IT duties. In addition, the improved accuracy, reduced liabilities, as well as cost savings allow you to manage your business to the best of your abilities.
Your in-house staff will be able to focus on the tasks that drive profits and nurture your business. An MSP will act as an extension of your team, providing value and helping your organization achieve your goals.
Do you want to know how MSPs can help your organization transform your IT environment? Contact ITarian today!