What to Look for in a Managed Services Provider

Your technology needs are ever-evolving, especially as your business grows. As your company expands, you might start to realize you can benefit from working with a managed services provider simply because you may not have the resources you need to support that growth. So, you know your business is ready to partner with a managed services provider (MSP), but don’t know where to start? Here’s what you need to look out for when evaluating an MSP.

High Availability

Your business likely doesn’t stop when the work day ends at 5 pm. When looking at your options for a managed services provider, make sure to ask if they offer 24/7 support. Emergencies can happen at any time and it’s important to know your provider has your back whether it be on-call support or dedicated 24/7 support.

Response Time

If you have a technology need or issue arise, how quickly an MSP responds should be just as important as how available they are. You want an MSP that is there when you need them and responds in a timely manner because that can be crucial to your network.

Skills

In your search for an MSP, be sure to look for one that provides skills that your in-house IT team doesn’t retain. Think of your MSP as an extension of your team so you’ll want one that adds value and fills any skill gaps you may have.

Experience

Much like skills, it’s equally as important to find an MSP that has a team of experts with experience across multiple industries. A well-rounded MSP team should have a variety of experiences under their belt to be able to handle different situations that may come along.

Culture

When evaluating an MSP, it’s important to make sure the company culture and values align. Establishing a true partnership that results in an extension of your IT department should be top of mind.

Proactive Support

You don’t want to just react to challenges or needs that come up – you want to be able to proactively prevent those problems. It’s critical to find an MSP that is proactively monitoring, running updates, and doing everything they can to avoid potential issues.

Budget Planning

A big advantage of partnering with managed services is cost savings. In your research, be sure to look out for a provider that can assess your current environment to provide advice on best practices to improve efficiency and maximizing budget. A great MSP will always look ahead to help you plan how to take your IT initiatives to the next level.

Disaster Recovery Planning

Unexpected disasters happen and unfortunately, there’s no avoiding that. All you can do is prepare and protect your company’s critical data. That’s where you’ll want to make sure your MSP is well-versed. A good partner will help you develop a disaster recovery plan to minimize risk and help your business recover in the event of the unknown.

Local Support

Although MSPs can support you no matter where you are through remote access, it’s important to look for a provider that’s local. If they’re local, you can have access to on-site support and take advantage of even faster response times.

Daily Backups

As mentioned, you can never predict when something goes wrong so the best thing you can do for your business is to make sure all your bases are covered. Be sure to find an MSP that offers daily and automated backups to ensure your data is always secured.

Security

Backing up your data is only one form of security and prevention. Hackers and cyber-criminals never stop so it’s critical to find an MSP that can protect your IT environment, perform security tests, and continuously monitor your network.

Help Desk Support

Daily IT tasks can take up a lot of your time. Looking for an MSP that can provide the support your employees need for day-to-day IT questions and help resolve issues quickly is imperative. A seasoned MSP should offer support options and customizable plans to fit your business needs.

Scalability

As your company expands and your goals change, it’s important that your MSP can adapt and scale with you. The MSP should offer scalability and be able to provide expert support no matter your size and growth.

Whatever your reasons are for looking to partner with an MSP, it’s easy to see the value they can bring to any business. Above all, it’s important to find a managed services provider that understands your business goals, has your organization’s best interests at heart, and looks out for you. Ultimately, that true partnership is what’s going to help your company achieve great success.

Viyu is a true Value Added Reseller (VAR) partnership and your one-stop shop when it comes to your IT needs. Schedule a call with us today to see how Viyu can support your business!

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In addition to MSP services, Viyu provides Professional Services. This includes consultation, implementation, project management, and support.

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