Managed IT: What it is and Why you need it
If you’re running just about any kind or size of business,?Managed IT might make it a whole lot easier for you. Here’s a quick and dirty guide to what it is and why you might need it.?
So, what’s Managed IT?
There’s a broad clue in the title. Basically, you pay someone else to manage your IT for you by outsourcing some or all of your?IT infrastructure and management to a third party.?It’s a bit like getting someone to keep your house nice, because you don’t have the time to do it properly, and you’re no good at it anyway. Except if your housekeeper doesn’t dust under the bed, you’re not going to go to jail or lose business. Ok, we’ve stretched that analogy as far as it can go.?
Companies that manage your IT for you are often called Managed Service Providers (MSP).?
When’s a good time to have a conversation with an MSP??
Perhaps your business has been trotting along quite nicely without the help of an MSP, thank you very much. Your lovely employees work from home (different homes probably) on a laptop and do a load of stuff on the Cloud. You’ve had a few glitches that were troubling but it’s all been pretty straightforward. But it’s worthwhile thinking about an MSP if:
What can you expect from an MSP?
Not every MSP gives you the same level of support or breadth of services. Some typically include mobile device management, configuration and management of Cloud services, security monitoring and testing. Some are more of a “call us when you break it and we’ll fix it for you” kind-of-outfit, which is fine if you have a fantastic IT team and that’s all they need. Some may even store and manage your spare devices for you (ahem. We offer this.)?
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When you’re thinking about an MSP, think about your business strategy. It’s probably a given that you want to stop the bad things happening. You’ll also want to make sure that your IT helps your people do their jobs effectively. But if you’re looking to grow?your business through employing more people, expanding into different markets or offering new services, you may want an MSP with higher service levels.??
A good all-round MSP will:
How to choose an MSP provider
When you’re shopping around, arm yourself with the right questions and observe the response. A good MSP will be happy (frighteningly so) to be open about anything you ask. Find out if:
During your conversations, you’ll get a feel not just for what an MSP can do for you, but for how they’ll do it. A good, can-do attitude is a must.?If you’re thinking about taking the MSP plunge, we’d love to show you our good, can-do attitude.?Give us a call.?We’re here to help.