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5 Factors to make or break your MSP partnership

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A managed service provider should be like your tech best friend. Would you continue to be best friends with someone if they continuously let you down, deceived you, or didn’t respect you? Of course not! Just as friendships have expectations, so does a partnership with your MSP. Here are a few “make or break” points that you should monitor. 

Break: You still have tech problems

Tech problems are precisely what an MSP should help you avoid. MSPs are staffed with the best tech experts out there, and it is their duty as your partner to keep your system up and running without fault. However, technology isn’t perfect, and it’s understandable if it has a hiccup or complication at some point. That’s just the way things work. When this happens, it is an MSP’s duty to take care of it for you. They should also offer you proactive services that are constantly scanning your system for potential danger and addressing what they find immediately. According to a recent report by SecurityIntelligence, 41% of all ransomware attacks analyzed in 2020 targeted organizations with operational technology (OT) networks. 

Most of the time, managed service providers stop the danger before it can even hit and cause harm. This significantly reduces the chance of having tech problems and system downtime, all while saving you money. If you are continuously experiencing IT problems, that’s definitely a breaking point for your MSP partnership. 

Make: Your infrastructure and overall operations are improving

As mentioned in the previous section, you’re dealing with tech experts when you turn to an MSP. Not only do they look after your technology, but they assess your specific situation to make sure you have services custom to YOU and YOUR needs. For example, here at AppSolute, we will custom tailor our solutions to your network and how it operates. We will also suggest services we think will help your network improve, like automation to take care of those daily, time-consuming tasks. We’ll also meet any IT demands you may require and scale to your needs. This flexibility and constant monitoring and maintenance will improve your overall productivity, efficiency, and profits. 

Break: Your MSP and IT budget is unpredictable

There are a variety of pricing models used by MSPs and their customers. Arguably, the largest selling factor of managed services is their monthly, flat-rate IT. This makes budgeting easier and eliminates the chance of surprise service costs. If you continuously reach into your wallet for various IT demands and requests, your MSP isn’t doing its job and fulfilling its promise. 

Break: You don’t have the answers you need

Another part of an MSP bundle is a 24/7/365 help desk. We’re available for you whenever you need us to be, and that’s something we take seriously. If you don’t have that constant assistance from your trusted partner, they shouldn’t be so trusted anymore. 

Make: You have a trusted partner

An MSP should be more than just a service provider. An MSP should be a partner that you form a strong relationship with, and at AppSolute, we strive to become long-term partners with our clients. We view it like this: architecting shared success. It’s our responsibility to make sure you succeed. We will remain by your side through any issue or complication, refusing to leave until it’s solved and all is well. That’s the type of mentality that an MSP should have, which should be the most significant “make” factor. Want to learn more about MSPs? Contact us – we’d love to chat! 

5 signs that your business needs a managed service provider

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When you’re focused on growing your business, it’s easy to forget the IT side of things. However, without an effective IT strategy, you risk costing your business money in the long run. That’s where a managed service provider (MSP) comes in. Here’s what you need to know about how a managed service provider works and the five signs that it’s time for an upgrade.  

What managed service providers do 

Think of a managed service provider as a one-stop-shop for all your IT needs. An MSP lets you outsource your essential IT services to an external provider. These services include:

  • Cybersecurity
  • Cloud storage
  • Network monitoring 
  • VoIP and communications 

Here are the five indications that you’re ready to partner with a managed service provider who offers these services and more.

1: No cybersecurity policy 

Cybersecurity is more important than ever because attacks are on the rise. Worryingly, a recent survey showed that over 67 percent of SMBs experienced a cyber attack. What’s more, 60 percent of SMBs admit that they wouldn’t survive a severe cyberattack financially. 

The good news is that an MSP can design a custom – and cost-efficient – cybersecurity package to protect your company using the latest in cyber technology. With a managed service provider on your side, you don’t need to worry about data compliance or network security. 

2: Regular downtime

Downtime is actually one of the first signs that your IT strategy is failing. Systems crash, software lags, and you lose critical data. These inefficiencies cost money – almost $10,000 an hour on average, to be precise. 

So, how can an MSP help? They’ll restructure your IT, so it’s efficient, streamlined, and above all, scalable. Whether you need system upgrades or more hardware, an MSP knows how to fix your infrastructure.

3: No usage tracking

If you can’t monitor IT usage across your organization, you can’t make the decisions that will help your company grow. It’s also impossible to save money or use your existing IT budget effectively. 

A managed service provider can supervise IT usage and reduce your expenditure without compromising system performance.  

4: Inefficient support

As your business grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for your in-house IT staff to keep up with demand. What’s more, as your systems become more complex, many in-house personnel simply lack the knowledge to effectively fix IT problems.

MSPs bring up-to-date IT knowledge to your company and answer queries around the clock, giving you the advanced support you need when you need it. 

5: No backup plan

It’s essential to safely back up data, whether you store data in the cloud or in hard copy. You also need ways to safely share files and back up any changes so everyone’s working with the most recent version of a document. Without the right procedures, you risk losing your data or compromising its security.

A managed service provider can devise a safe, secure backup strategy for data and show you how to share files across the company efficiently. In the long run, efficiency boosts productivity and your bottom line.   

Improve your IT infrastructure today with AppSolute

A managed service provider increases productivity, streamlines your internal processes, and ultimately boosts your business. For more information on what MSPs can offer your company, contact us.

3 Things your managed service provider should do every month

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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.