Choosing a managed IT service provider is a big decision. After all, this is the company that will be responsible for keeping your business's critical IT systems up and running smoothly. Not to mention, with the right managed IT service provider, you can free up your in-house IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives that can help grow your business. So, how do you go about choosing the right managed IT service provider for your business? Here are six key factors to keep in mind.
1. Industry Experience
When it comes to managed IT services, it's important to partner with a provider that has experience serving businesses in your industry. Why is this important? Because different industries have different IT needs. For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry, you'll want to partner with an MSP that has experience working with HIPAA compliance. A managed IT service provider that's experienced in serving businesses like yours will know what those specific needs are and will be able to provide tailored solutions that address them.
2. Scalability
As your business grows, so too will your IT needs. That's why it's important to partner with a managed IT service provider that can scale its services to meet the changing needs of your business. Find out what kind of scalability options are available and how easy it is to add or remove services as necessary. You should also inquire about any long-term contracts or commitments required by the MSP—you want to be sure you're not locked into a service agreement that doesn't fit your needs anymore. Otherwise, you run the risk of outgrowing your current provider—and having to start the search for a new one—all over again.
3. Proactive Maintenance
You know the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." That definitely applies when it comes to managed IT services. The best managed IT service providers take a proactive approach to maintenance, which helps prevent issues before they cause downtime and disrupt your business operations. Make sure any potential providers you're considering offer this type of proactive maintenance as part of their services.
4. Security-First Approach
In today's business environment, data security is more important than ever before. Make sure the MSP you choose takes a security-first approach to managing IT systems. Ask about their security protocols and find out what kinds of encryption methods they use to protect client data. You should also inquire about their incident response plan in case of a data breach or other security incident.
5. Support Services
What kind of support do they offer? Are they available 24/7? Do they have a dedicated account manager or team assigned to your account? What is their average response time for support requests? No matter how good a managed IT service provider is, there will always be times when things go wrong and you need technical support. That's why it's important to make sure any potential providers you're considering offer 24/7/365 technical support services. This way, you can rest assured knowing help is always just a phone call away—no matter what time of day or night it is.
6. Customer References
Finally, don't forget to ask any potential managed IT service providers for customer references. It's important to partner with an MSP that has a proven track record of success. Talking to existing customers will give you insights into things like the quality of the services provided, responsiveness levels, and more. Once you have references lined up, be sure to actually contact them! A good reference is worth its weight in gold—so don't neglect this critical step in the selection process.
These are just a few of the things you need to keep in mind when choosing a managed IT service provider. By taking the time to do your research and ask the right questions, you can be confident that you're selecting a provider that will meet your needs, exceed your expectations, and help keep your business's critical IT systems up and running now—and well into the future.
If you have more questions on how to select the right MSP or what TSR’s Managed Services offerings can do for your business, contact us today!