Top 5 advantages of Managed Service Provider
Most of today’s businesses would not be able to operate without making use of IT. While it’s true that IT may not be the sole focus of your business, you probably have sales and admin departments which need IT systems in place to help your business function.
What we’re getting at here is that where IT is being used, it often needs support. When support is needed, the right IT team can make all the difference. If you’re looking for an IT team, you generally have two options, the first being an in-house department, and the second being a team which you can outsource your IT work to – an Managed Service Providers.
You may assume that an in-house department, which you have specifically employed and created, would be the better option, as you’d be able to screen individuals to build the best team you can. But if your business isn’t focussed solely on IT – or even if you’re not an IT expert – it can be hard to know what is really necessary for an IT team.
MSPs – what are they?
An in-house IT department is fairly straightforward to understand, but you may be unsure of what an Managed Service Provider even is. MSP stands for ‘Managed Service Provider’. They are essentially a ready-made IT team, which will work outside of your premises.
Most Managed Service Providers will offer helpdesk type support, as well as support for more complex tasks involving designing and setting up elements of infrastructure. For instance, if you were interested in adopting SD WAN, but you were unsure of what is required and whether it would be worth it, an MSP could give you the information you need.
The advantages of using MSPs
So now you know what exactly an Managed Service Provider is, but what are the reasons to hire one? Read on for 5 reasons why hiring an MSP might be the best choice for your business.
1. MSPs don’t need training
Training costs are something that need to be accounted for when you hire an in-house team. Even if you’re prepared to provide the training for them, there’s the additional costs of accrediting and certifying the team to keep them up to date and able to work with the most current tech. Managed Service Providers on the other hand will handle all the training their team needs, and you won’t have to spend a penny for it.
2. MSPs don’t add to recruitment costs
Recruitment is another thing that can lead to costs adding up fast. If you were to hire a tiny team of two, when all is tallied up – including setting up interviews, consultancy costs, and accounting for the time lost – it can cost a business almost £20,000? Starting to work with an Managed Service Provider tends to be the much less expensive choice, as getting them working can be as simple as having a couple of calls and meetings.
3. MSPs work based on a set agreement
There really is a lot to think about when deciding between going in-house, or outsourcing to an Managed Service Provider. How big is your business? Who are your users? What kinds of data do you do business with, and who accesses it? These unique aspects of your business can complicate things, as they mean finding a simple solution is a little harder. Before settling on an MSP, it can be a great idea to meet with them and discuss what you really need from them. By doing this, you will be able to create a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which will detail exactly what your chosen MSP will be providing, letting you know you’ll be getting what you want.
4. MSPs usually have a fixed cost
Generally, the cost of working with an Managed Service Provider is predictable, as long as you don’t get them to do anything not agreed upon in your SLA. This is because generally the cost will be a fixed monthly rate, which can be a lot easier to deal with and plan around than dropping a hefty, unpredictable amount of cash to hire an in-house department. Even though an in-house team’s wages will often be fixed, there are plenty of costs that aren’t, such as sick pay.
5. MSPs stay on the cutting edge
The average MSP’s business model involves working with a large number of businesses at once, which are often in a variety of different industries. Due to this, they need to be on the cutting edge of tech, otherwise they’ll fall behind their in-house competition, as well as competing MSPs. You can have access to this technology if you choose to hire in Managed Service Provider – meaning your network will be supported by individuals with the most current knowledge and expertise.
MSPs – what about disadvantages?
It would be misleading to talk about all the fantastic benefits of working with an Managed Service Provider, while completely glossing over any disadvantages. As is always the case with IT, there are benefits and drawbacks to any choice.
One of the main disadvantages to choosing an Managed Service Provider over hiring in-house can be that your business’ culture may be impenetrable to anyone not on the inside, meaning a whole other company may have difficulty fitting in and working well with your current department. If you were to hire in-house, it may be easier to find individuals who you know will fit in well, with the specific knowledge and work-ethic your team is used to.
Is an MSP right for you?
Ultimately, choosing between an in-house team and an Managed Service Provider is not an easy choice. It’s a decision which is best made when you know exactly what your business needs to improve, as well as knowledge of what kinds of support is out there, and what it can do for you.
Make sure that any team you hire can provide the exact, specific support you want, with full coverage, so nothing important slips through the cracks. As long as your data is kept secure, and you have consistent uptime, your business can be prevented from messing up before you have the chance to get going.
