Top 5 Things to Look For In A Managed IT Service Provider

1. Look for a managed service provider that excels at communication

IT issues – whether impacting the entire organization or one person – can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. Add in disorganization or miscommunication, it can also cost your organization in downtime and unengaged employees. If the team is unable to use the tech or is frustrated with the experience, they aren’t working to their full potential.

That’s why it’s important to look for an IT vendor with strong communication skills.

When your team needs?IT support, you can rely on a great managed service provider (MSP) to focus on the employee as well as the technology itself. Driven by the desire to help, they respond quickly and talk about technology in an approachable way.

Through personal connections and quality support, these IT experts help build trust and confidence in your organization’s IT strategy.

2. Look for a managed service provider that values collaboration?

Your technology fuels growth when it supports how your team works.

That’s why it’s incredibly important to look for an IT partner that works?with you?to create an?IT strategy?driven by your specific needs. Without wanting to learn more about your business, they can’t help you to develop strategies that help your organization thrive.

A great managed IT service provider talks with you regularly about your business goals – where you are and where you want to go – and adjusts priorities as needed. They value 2-way communication as a key to partnership. By being curious and asking questions, your MSP can make meaningful recommendations that fit your organization. After all, your success is their success!

3. Look for a managed service provider that prioritizes cybersecurity

While it’s impossible to prevent all attacks, having the right?cybersecurity?strategy protects against the potential costs and downtime caused by one. That’s why it’s important to look for an IT partner that recognizes the probability of a cyberattack and helps you to be prepared.??

Every organization has different threats, vulnerabilities, and risk tolerances. A great managed service provider helps to build a solid cyber defense with this in mind. They help to create knowledgeable employees and implement the right security tools to prevent threats from wreaking havoc.?

Keeping in mind the likelihood of a successful breach, they also stress the need for reliable backups and a recovery plan.?

61% of all SMBs have reported at least one cyberattack in the past year.

4. Look for a managed service provider that focuses on being proactive

Technology that isn’t properly maintained creates risk. Unreliable systems can slow employees down and interfere with their ability to get work done. It can also leave your organization vulnerable to cyber attacks.?

That’s why it’s important to look for an IT partner that focuses on proactive IT support and maintenance.??

A great managed IT service provider combines automated maintenance, system monitoring, and proactive support to keep technology running smoothly and securely. When working through issues, they look to remedy the root cause to prevent recurring problems.?

You can count on these MSPs to be forward-thinking, focusing on business results (not the technology).?

5. Look for a managed service provider that is process-driven

Having a proven process?is the key to consistently excellent?support.?Using experience and best practices, a great managed service provider defines?(and regularly?refines)?processes around delivering service.?

This helps to set?clear expectations?whether?onboarding as a new client,?meeting for strategic planning sessions, or?installing new technology.