MSP Archives - InfoManage

April 13, 2017April 27, 2018

The Five-Point Checklist for Selecting a Managed Services Provider

The managed services industry is growing at a rapid rate. In fact, it’s expected to grow from roughly $145 billion in 2016 to over $242 billion by 2021.

For those shopping for MSP services, this means one thing: They have more choice than ever before. But how can you be certain that you’re making the right choice?

Here are five factors to consider when selecting your next MSP:

They Ask the Right Questions

An MSP can’t help your business unless they truly invest time to understand your business. What are your goals? What role does technology play in those goals? What challenges are you currently facing? These are just a few of the questions that potential managed services providers should be asking.

The right provider will give you detailed information about what they offer, but they’ll also spend equal amounts of time getting to know your business. Without truly understanding your organization, they can’t manage any part of your IT infrastructure.

Proactive, Technology-Focused Approach

The right managed services provider should go much further than the “break it and fix it” approach and instead implement a proactive approach that minimizes downtime and allows for continual improvement.

For example, what proactive actions do they take to keep the IT infrastructure running smoothly and avoid downtime? How can they help make proactive recommendations for software and upgrades that will proactively prevent potential IT challenges in the future? These factors are key to the success of your business.

Around-the-Clock Support

One reason why small- to medium-sized businesses look to partner with MSPs is that providing 24/7 internal support is tough. Employees are stretched thin already, and this adds another layer of stress. In contrast, a good MSP often provides 24-hour support, 365 days a year.

As a result, your staff can get speedy access to help at any time and keep your infrastructure up and running without fail.

Industry-Specialized Expertise

The right MSP for your company is one who has expertise working in your specific industry. When the support team understands your industry, they can be more proactive than the average MSP. They understand the challenges that other clients in your industry face and can make proactive recommendations that will save money and time long-term.

Great Track Record

What is the MSP’s client retention record? How long do they retain current employees? Do they have high turnover? These are just a few factors that help prove or disprove the track record of an MSP. The right partner should have a solid client and employee retention record and be able to provide the expertise it takes to keep your business running smoothly.

Do you have questions about the benefits of working with an MSP? If so, we can help. For more information, visit InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.

January 16, 2017April 27, 2018

Why are More Companies Outsourcing IT in 2017?

As the new year kicks off, most companies have a robust list of objectives to accomplish in the coming months. For many, this includes adding additional IT staff or outsourcing IT by enlisting the help of an MSP (Managed Services Provider) to support future growth. In fact, the use of MSP services has increased sharply.

Two years ago, studies found that only 30 percent of organizations had adopted MSP solutions. Today, that number has spiked with 66 percent of companies saying they outsource IT. Yet why are so many companies turning to MSPs?

Here are five major reasons for outsourcing IT:

Efficient resource allocation. As with any department, balancing the needs of the organization with staffing is difficult. For example, maybe you hired additional IT staff because you’re opening new locations. Once those demands slow down, however, you don’t want idle staff, which depletes resources. An MSP allows you to efficiently allocate resources and set monthly budgets that are predictable and meet your exact demands.

The ability to scale quickly. Business needs are a moving target, and part of being successful is the ability to compete with greater agility. MSPs provide resources that help you maneuver with greater flexibility.

IT-related distractions are removed. Nothing slows productivity down faster than IT challenges. Productivity grinds to a halt, and all work ceases until a solution is found. MSPs find that solution faster so downtime is minimized. As a result, staff is freed to focus on mission-critical objectives rather than fixing IT problems.

Tapping into specialized talent at a reasonable cost. Acquiring specialized IT talent is a challenge. Even if you locate the right talent, the cost of acquiring that talent can be high. MSPs allow companies to tap into the exact talent they need without high, ongoing cost — providing a competitive advantage.

Added security and compliance. Evolving compliance and security demands are a major concern for many companies. MSPs can provide technology resources and expertise that meet those demands.

Do you have questions about security solutions? If so, we can help. For more information, contact InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.

December 11, 2016April 27, 2018

Do I Need an MSP if I Use SaaS?

Software is a critical part of business operations, with recent adoption rates sharply increasing. In fact, the global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market is projected to grow to $67 billion in 2018, with cloud applications forecasted to account for 90 percent of worldwide mobile data traffic by 2019.

Remote access, collaboration functionality, and business continuity are just a few of the reasons for increased adoption. But when adopting SaaS solutions, there are still technology struggles, questions, and help that is required. Many companies do not enlist the assistance of MSP providers when it comes to software as a service — should you?

Here are 4 factors to consider when deciding whether you need an MSP to assist with your SaaS solutions:

Single point of contact. As your business grows, you may adopt numerous SaaS solutions, but managing these solutions and requests for help can get complicated. An MSP provider can eliminate this complexity by providing a single point of contact for all solutions, including representing you and “going to bat” for you when problems with these solutions arise.

Around-the-clock monitoring. Monitoring all SaaS solutions around the clock is difficult with limited IT staff resources; however, the MSP business model is built around 24/7 monitoring, so partnering with an MSP ensures that all systems are up and running so employees have the applications they need in order to complete business-critical tasks.

Handling upgrades and managing patches. A key benefit of using SaaS solutions is the ease with which software updates and enhancements are deployed to you. Some of those upgrades are critical to the security of the SaaS solution, but managing all those upgrades is time-consuming. Once again, an MSP provider ensures these tasks are handled in a timely manner and with little or no impact on your business.

Fast resolution to challenges. Even the best SaaS solutions don’t work perfectly all the time. Employees will still have questions, and often need help troubleshooting and resolving issues. MSP providers are experts at these solutions, and their Help Desks are designed to handle end-user questions and issues. When employees need help, they can get the answers they need much faster — and get back to work.

Do you have questions about the benefits of using an MSP to manage your SaaS solutions? If so, we can help. For more information, contact InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.

November 27, 2016April 27, 2018

Managed IT Services Benefit Small Businesses

Small businesses face many challenges — among these: maximizing each and every dollar that they spend. Small businesses must keep customers happy while ensuring that employees are maximizing resources and efficiency.

Some small businesses think that managed service providers (MSPs) are only for large businesses, but this isn’t the case. In fact, MSPs can be valuable resources for small businesses that want to grow and thrive in the future.

What are the major benefits of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) for small businesses?

Here are five (5) major benefits of MSPs for small businesses:

Minimized downtime. The cost of downtime is high. In fact, IDC reports the price tag at $137 to $427 per minute. When downtime occurs, business becomes paralyzed; even worse, if customers are adversely affected, the effects could be long-lasting. Working with an MSP allows you to handle issues quickly, and identify and prevent issues before they occur.

Reduced labor costs. Tapping into the required IT skills can be time- consuming and costly. But when using an MSP, you can tap into the exact skills you need quickly, easily and at a fraction of the cost of employing a full-time staff member.

Proactive IT planning. MSPs understand your IT infrastructure inside and out. As a result, they can assist with solving complex challenges and coming up with the right solutions quickly and easily.

Higher ongoing efficiency. Employees are slowed down by technology challenges, which are expensive for small businesses. Small businesses that are working with an MSP provider can focus on what matters most — their core business. The MSP provider handles any glitches and technology challenges quietly in the background.

The ability to control costs. MSPs allow you to pay for only what you use. As a result, you can ensure that costs are predictable and consistent.

Moving Forward with Greater Efficiency

The services that MSPs provide for small businesses aren’t one-size-fits-all. They are tailor-made to fit the unique challenges that small businesses face. If you have questions about the benefits of MSPs for small businesses, we can help. For more information, contact InfoManage online or call 212-931-0705.