As an MSP we get asked these two questions a lot: ‘What is an MSP’ and ‘Does my business need one?’
The simple answers are:
- An MPS is a Managed Service Provider, a technical support company that provides managed services to businesses of any size and industry and in any location.
- And, yes, most probably.
Still not too sure what an MSP does?
MSP defined
An MSP looks after the IT requirements of businesses, and is defined by Gartner as:
“A managed service provider (MSP) delivers services, such as network, application, infrastructure and security, via ongoing and regular support and active administration on customers’ premises, in their MSP’s data center (hosting), or in a third-party data center. MSPs may deliver their own native services in conjunction with other providers’ services (for example, a security MSP providing sys admin on top of a third-party cloud IaaS). Pure-play MSPs focus on one vendor or technology, usually their own core offerings. Many MSPs include services from other types of providers. The term MSP traditionally was applied to infrastructure or device-centric types of services but has expanded to include any continuous, regular management, maintenance and support.”
Clear as mud?
Let’s dig a bit deeper…. MSPs offer information technology services and support to other businesses. They employ highly technical teams, proficient in the many nuances of information technology. Managed Service Providers offer various services from Cloud to backup and disaster recovery solutions, cyber security provisions and training to managed printing solutions; communications and telephony to cabling, infrastructure design and office moves, and plenty of other IT related services too. Since the pandemic, MSPs can offer their services both in-person and remotely, so you can take advantage of the provision that best suits your location and needs.
Some MSPs look after the IT for small companies, (2-25 employees), others look after mid-size companies and some look after enormous worldwide conglomerates.
There are MSPs that provide services for a niche section of businesses, only looking after schools and educational businesses, for example. Others deal with solicitors, lawyers and investment businesses, some even look after oil rigs! But for the most part, a Managed Service Provider will look after businesses and companies that are local to their offices with either remote or office-based support, or a mixture of both.
Regarding office-based businesses, MSPs will generally work with those within a catchment area of their own location to ensure that they can provide timely on-premises service from their base. But some can also provide an in-house IT professional technician to be based within their company.
In 2019, Covid-19 and the move to remote working changed this dynamic slightly, meaning that many MSPs now offer purely remote services for clients. But generally, an MSP is office-based, with technical experts delivering IT services, platforms, products, and support to local businesses by way of a Service Contract.
Does your business need an MSP?
Today, all businesses will be reliant on tech solutions in one way or another, whether that’s purely an accounting system and a laptop, or 5 desktop computers, a network and a printer, or a complex system of networks, computers, laptops, mobile devices, and servers (physical and/or Cloud-based) – IT is at the heart of every business.
With technology solutions there’s a need for user training, technical support, software updates and patch management, trunking, networking, cyber security and much more. Smaller companies can potentially manage their IT solutions themselves, but to ensure effectiveness of solutions and systems, and to have the required cyber security solutions, training and GDPR provisions in place, working with a professional IT company will bring many benefits.
Some of the advantages of working with an outsourced IT provider include:
- Effective, efficient and reliable IT solutions and operations
- Superior cyber security and compliance
- Proactive system and solution maintenance and upgrades
- Internal resources aren’t compromised with IT issues or delays and new systems and updates are seamlessly managed
- Business systems and solutions are better integrated and managed
- Apps, software, and hardware are maintained, patched and updated
- Service to suit your business in-house, remote, 9-5/7 or 24/7
Employing a professional outsourced Managed Service Provider can be far more cost-effective than an in-house solution, with a much better ROI.
If you’d like to learn more and talk to an IT professional to look at your needs and potential outsourced IT provisions, please just get in touch. We’re happy to consult, offer advice and have created simple pricing models for services.
Get in touch with the SPC IT team now. We’d love to help streamline your IT, and save you time and money.