Evaluating a managed services provider (MSP) can be a daunting task. With many providers offering a variety of services, finding one that aligns with your business’s specific IT needs can be challenging. Before you begin researching, it’s important to identify your current requirements for an MSP so you can find one that meets your needs while supporting your future goals.
Continue reading to discover important considerations when selecting your managed services provider.
How to select an IT service provider
There are countless managed services providers out there that market ambitious offerings, but how do you know if they will follow through? Before actively looking for an MSP, consider what you need from their services.
Use these three steps to gather the necessary information to determine what MSP best suits your current and future needs.
1. Determine your business needs
To understand which MSP is the right one for your business, you first need to understand your specific needs. Start by gathering an inventory of all the software, systems, and hardware your business is operating with to understand your current IT environment clearly.
Additionally, create a to-do list you would like the MSP to complete after being brought on. This list can include pain points your business has been facing that the MSP will need to manage. This is great to use during the interview process; you can ask the MSP how they would handle each of these pain points to find a solution.
It’s crucial to identify if your business has any compliance regulations that are specific to your industry. The MSP you choose should be able to understand and work within these guidelines. Gather a list of current compliance requirements and IT workflows your company is operating with to determine which MSP can efficiently work with these policies.
2. Consider your current and future demands
Your IT infrastructure is an essential component of your business foundation. The MSP you choose should be able to help you reach your future goals and stay flexible as you grow. The needs of your business may change, and your software development requirements may increase while the number of employees working on it remains the same.
Your MSP should not require an expensive upgrade to continue supporting your business. It’s important to understand if a managed service provider will be able to grow with your future needs and circumstances so you can continue to work efficiently for years to come.
3. Assess the potential for long-term partnership
Ideally, the MSP you choose will offer your business value for many years. A long-term partnership gives you access to reliable IT experts who will grow alongside your business and help you reach new goals. It will allow the team to become fully accustomed to the business values, changes, and challenges you face.
Pay attention to the turnover rate at the MSP company. If they consistently hire and train new employees, it could negatively impact their ability to learn your business and work efficiently.
MSP Checklist
Now that you have gathered the information your business needs from a managed service provider, it’s time to create a checklist to decide what factors an MSP offers. These questions will help your business determine what is most important and how to find which MSP is going to align with your needs.
Does the MSP understand your business?
In order for an MSP to quickly add value to your company, it’s important to find one that already understands the foundations of your business. This is especially true when the task at hand involves creating IT strategies to help your business succeed.
With unique software, security, compliance requirements, and networking involved, it will be more efficient to find an MSP who can jump in and help right away.
Do they have a strong services portfolio?
The MSP you choose will depend on your business’s needs. If you require an MSP to handle cybersecurity but also need one that can provide application development services, you’ll want to ensure that both services are offered by your MSP.
Common services from managed services providers include:
- Build new software to improve efficiency
- Automate demanding workflows
- Create business intelligence solutions
- Improve performance by making adjustments to your current applications
What is the scope of their technical experience?
With a wide range of skills, an MSP will efficiently add high-quality value to your business. When comparing MSPs, pay attention to their approach to finding solutions to your pain points. Many may claim they have the ability to solve issues, but the way they solve them may not be efficient.
This is one of the most important factors when deciding between MSPs. Verify their technical expertise by checking the apps they use, what environments they work in, the architectures they are experienced in, and the variety of challenges they can tackle.
Looking into case studies for each potential provider will give you insight into past successes and how the MSP has handled challenges, found solutions, and ensured client satisfaction.
Are they good communicators?
With any business partnership, communication and timely responses are key to keeping things functioning. Especially in IT services, where some requests may be time-sensitive, you’ll want to ensure the MSP consistently responds in a timely manner and offers clear communication.
Find an MSP that:
- Is available when you need their assistance
- Is comfortable communicating through different channels, such as phone live chat, email
- Is able to resolve your needs in a short time frame
Do they have positive references and reviews?
When interviewing a potential MSP, it’s good practice to ask for references and verify each one. This will give you insight into how they have worked with past customers and how they will probably interact with your business.
Some questions to ask the references may include:
- How long have you worked with this MSP?
- Has their quality of service remained the same over time?
- What are the services they provide?
- Are you satisfied with their responsiveness when an issue arises?
- Have you had any downtime or lost data while working with this MSP?
Are they proactive?
Rather than waiting for issues to arise, your MSP should continuously find new ways to prevent problems, design new solutions, and act as a resource for your business. The MSP should become a partner in helping your business continue to work efficiently, avoid data loss or downtime, and find potential issues before they emerge.
Does their value validate their cost?
A high or low cost should not be a deciding factor when deciding between different MSPs. Instead, look into the value they will bring to your business. Consider factors like how the MSP reduces downtime, whether they can optimize the efficiency of your IT functions, and the level of quality in the services they provide. If the MSP can effectively meet these guidelines, they will bring value to your team that is worth the cost of their services.
What are their technological capabilities?
It’s essential to determine the capabilities of the MSP team. When choosing a team, ask the following questions:
- What certifications do their team members currently possess?
- Does their team have extensive experience with the technologies your business uses?
- How does their organization utilize technology to support businesses in reaching their goals?
- What industry-specific skills does their team have?
Gathering information on these questions will clear up any misconceptions or doubts you may have about the MSP you are considering.
Choose the best MSP for your business
Choose an MSP that can meet your current and future needs to maintain a dependable and efficient IT infrastructure. Gaining an understanding of your goals, evaluating potential MSP providers, and ensuring they have the skill set your business requires will allow you to find a managed services provider that aligns with your goals.
If your business is looking for a trusted partner to offer extensive MSP solutions, Applied Tech is here to support your IT needs. With a dedicated team of IT experts, we are committed to helping you achieve long-term success in your current and future IT goals.
About Applied Tech
Applied Tech is a leading IT and cybersecurity services provider dedicated to helping businesses protect their digital assets. Our proactive and strategic services include cloud management, security, productivity, and IT growth strategy. With a team of experienced professionals, we provide unique solutions tailored to your IT needs.
Protect your business with Applied Tech’s fully managed IT services, co-managed support, and security assistance. With IT services focused on your business goals, keep your team productive and your data secure.