3 Things your managed service provider should do every month

Your business relies on IT to survive and thrive. It’s nearly impossible for a modern business to survive without properly leveraging technology. Unfortunately, many business owners choose to neglect their technology needs. Some justify this course of action by saying state-of-the-industry IT is too expensive or that hiring a managed service provider is an unnecessary substitute for hard work and elbow grease. This is a dangerous philosophy, especially in an increasingly digital economy.  The paradigm is shifting. In 2019, 52% of small business owners planned to outsource a business practice, including IT services.

Excellent IT is about working smarter, not harder. It’s about cutting down on the legwork your employees have to do so that they can focus on their most important tasks. Great technology helps your talent shine so that your business can compete against larger, more connected competitors. Not too long ago, it was difficult for smaller companies to access these solutions. Thanks to the emergence of managed service providers specializing in IT outsourcing, excellent IT is accessible and affordable for businesses of any size, and the market is growing.  According to a recent study, the global managed services market is forecast to reach more than 200 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

You may be considering working with a managed service provider for the first time. If that’s the case, you’re probably curious about what kind of service to expect from the partnership. Beyond the initial project, you can expect several ongoing services from your managed service provider. Here are three things you should expect from your service each month.

1. Network performance updates

Every reputable managed service provider should offer ongoing maintenance and network monitoring for their clients. Network monitoring shouldn’t just be a silent feature that you pay for and never reap its benefits. A responsible managed service provider will have a proactive attitude toward network monitoring and keep you apprised of your network’s strengths and weaknesses.

Knowing how your network is doing enables you to work with your managed service provider to remedy pain points and optimize your processes to take advantage of your network’s strengths. It’s also important to stay informed of threats to your network, like emerging phishing and ransomware trends.

2. Current tech trends

It’s a managed service provider’s job to stay informed of the latest trends in technology. In a traditional setting, upgrading software and hardware is a huge hassle and expense for most companies. Part of outsourcing IT is knowing that your technology is as current as possible. That means your managed service provider should take the necessary steps to inform you of emerging technology solutions and how they can help your business. Having expert counsel a phone call away means that your business never has to lag again.

3. Personalized service

Even if a managed service provider monitors your network proactively, some things are hard to spot remotely. A reputable managed service provider will check in with their clients on an individual basis to discuss what is and isn’t working. This kind of one-on-one service strengthens the partnership and leads to superior service in the future.

Your managed service provider has many responsibilities and will help your business in a variety of ways, but these three practices, in particular, are excellent signs of professionalism and commitment. If you think your business could benefit from managed IT services, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to learn about your business and discuss what AppSolute can do to change your world.