Password resets; the majority of Americans need at least 5 every month.
About 57% admit that they forget the new password immediately after setting it up. Companies that provide customers with online accounts understand how time-consuming password resets can be. They can also negatively affect your bottom line.
If a customer requests a password reset and it takes too long, they might take their business elsewhere. How can your company save time and face? Outsource your needs to the right managed IT services.
Instead of handling password resets in-house, let a team of professionals handle that for you. From small password resets to complex network needs, an IT team can help your company thrive.
What exactly should you look for when hiring an IT company? Read on to find out.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Outsourced IT providers or managed services are a type of third-party service. Managed IT providers help create the infrastructure that will allow your company to thrive.
The right provider will also be able to assist different types of IT support throughout your organization. Sometimes you’ll hear managed IT services referred to as MSP, which stands for a managed service provider.
Cybersecurity, backup recovery, and VoIP solutions are just a few of the things MSPs can offer. Usually, a company will seek out an outsourced IT provider when they don’t have the capital to hire an in-house team. Outsourcing can also be the preferred choice when the provider has the right expertise for your field.
What Do You Need?
The reality is that IT problems are broad. Different providers are going to focus on helping with different services and solutions. Since MSPs cover a wide umbrella of different services, it’ll be helpful to familiarize yourself with each option.
As you get quotes from different IT providers, keep in mind that not everyone offers the same services. One MSP might be willing to work with managed security, while others only work with managed communication services. Ensure that you have a full list of what the provider is willing to handle before signing a contract with them.
Types of IT Service Management
A couple of the most important services to request include managed networks and infrastructure features. Using this type of service, a provider will usually take over the entire network’s objectives.
The MSP will then be responsible for establishing WAPs, LANs, and all of the other connections for your company. In some cases, MSPs that offer managed networks and infrastructure services also provide storage and backup options. They’ll serve as a one-stop-shop for your cyber security infrastructure.
Deter Hackers
There are currently 10 new viruses banking apps have to watch out for. It’s clear to see that hackers are constantly evolving to overcome cybersecurity measures.
When you have managed network assistance, you’ll be able to solve all of your antimalware needs while also receiving up-to-date/live reports. Thanks to innovative touchpoints, IT providers can now alert you of threats within seconds rather than hours.
How Do They Handle Managed Support Services?
Are you considering purchasing managed support services? These services are going to help with all sorts of IT issues, such as troubleshooting. However, managed support services can also assist with more advanced infrastructure needs.
Before hiring a team, find out if they’ll be able to assist with your managed service for print as well. The right MSP will be able to remotely assist with file infrastructure and data needs. Manage print services are the best when you have complex filing systems or intricate organization setups.
Of course, cloud infrastructure handling is going to be one of the more advanced services. Managed cloud infrastructure means that team will be helping with computing, network needs, storage, and troubleshooting. If you’re not sure how cloud computing works, now would be a great time for a refresher!
Does the MSP Offer Virtualization Assistance?
Managed cloud infrastructure providers can also offer virtualization services. The virtualization services can apply to your operating systems, software, and apps. If you think your company could benefit from this type of approach, then double-check that the provider you’re choosing offers managed cloud infrastructure services.
Are you looking for a software-as-a-service solution for your company’s communication needs? A lot of IT providers will be able to help set up your subscription-based software platforms.
For instance, if you need help getting Microsoft office 365 set up, an MSP could assist you with that! There are also managed wireless and mobile computing services to keep an eye out for. If you’re able to find an MSP that offers managed wireless and mobile computing, you’ll be able to take advantage of wireless connections.
The service is especially helpful for companies who don’t want to spend the capital investing and setting up their own connections. You can also use this managed wireless service for internal networks.
Look To Streamline Communication Infrastructures
Did you want help setting up a streamlined communication infrastructure? Then look for an MSP that provides managed communication services.
The right MSP will be able to assist you with your video, data, and VOIP or voice-over-internet protocol. The MSP might even be able to serve as a third-party call center. Imagine how beneficial that would be for your company’s productivity.
Finally, another service to look for is data analytics. Companies that need monitoring services for their data use and management are definitely going to want to invest in data analytics.
Why invest in data analytics? This service takes advantage of the latest analytics to help put your company on the road to success! By taking into account business intelligence and the latest trends, you’ll be able to improve your business performance like never before.
Data analytics is a diverse managed service, which means it can help with almost every aspect of your IT needs. Whether you’re looking to invest a little or you have a big budget, you’ll be able to get results.
What Results Do You Want?
Why do you want to hire an IT company? When you’re looking for an MSP, you have to have clear-cut goals.
Whether your goals are to improve your cyber security, grow your company, or both, the more clearly defined they are, the better. By clearly defining your goals, you’ll be able to find an IT company that offers the right type of services and expertise.
In a way, it’s almost like you’re looking for an outsourced CIO. You don’t just want to hire a team who’s going to fix what’s broken.
You want a team who’s going to plan for your future. You want to make sure that the MSP is going to be focused on helping you achieve your desired business results! That’s why we suggest that you only hire companies that offer remote monitoring and management tool services.
Hire Companies With Remote Management Tools
IT management is a 24/7 responsibility. Just because people clock out and go home, that doesn’t mean your company doesn’t still need IT assistance. It may Be Structured managed IT services you need too.
The best-managed service providers will be able to offer some type of remote monitoring and management tool. They’ll be able to actively monitor all of your systems while also having some type of control.
Remote monitoring and management systems are able to constantly assess, maintain, and fix broken systems. By fixing the problems within the network automatically, you won’t have to worry about costly business interruptions.
Remote monitoring and management tool systems also allow MSPs to alert someone if there’s a problem they can’t fix on their own. If there aren’t solutions within the remote monitoring tool, the system will alert the appropriate person right away.
Look Beyond IT Management Services
Once you know the different services that MSP offers, it’s time to find out what their experience looks like. It costs more to hire experienced engineers, but it’ll lead to much better results.
Inexperienced staff, no matter how good-hearted their intentions might be, can have trouble resolving tickets in a timely manner. In some cases, inexperienced IT engineers can make a broken system even worse than it was in the first place! That’s why you should always find out who your MSP engineer will be before signing a contract.
Determine how much experience your engineer will have, and learn with their history looks like. Do they have experience in your industry? What type of services and problems do they specialize in?
Let’s say, for instance, that you run a warehouse. In that situation, you’d want to MSP with experience in warehouses directly. Then determine their track record.
Look at their website for testimonies, reviews, and case studies. Inquire about professional references.
Dig deeper into the company’s successes and customer service skills. Once you’re sure you have a trustworthy IT company, you need to start thinking about the long-term picture.
Think About Longevity
Even when an IT company has experience in your field, it still takes some time to familiarize themselves with your exact company needs. That being said, once you hire an MSP, you’ll want to know that you have somebody who’s in it for the long haul.
You don’t want an MSP who’s going to provide you with great services only to disappear in a year or two. Instead, you’ll need a company that can be with you year after year as your business grows.
To find the right provider, look at how long the MSP you’re considering has already been in business. Then take a moment to review their entire company history.
The longer a company’s been in business, the better you can feel about its potential longevity. Moving forward, you’ll also want to find out about availability for a help desk as well as on-site support.
Request On-Site Visits for Support
Ask potential IT providers how they’ll be visiting your facility. Do they offer help desk support outside of normal communication?
Depending on your network needs, you might need somebody to visit your facility on a weekly basis. Weekly visits can be a great way to maintain the longevity of your hardware and infrastructure.
Sometimes issues are going to pop up that are outside of the scope of work that your provider helps with. A quality MSP provider will be able to offer help desk support as a bonus in your agreement. That way, whenever you have IT questions, help will always be there.
Finally, the next step is to find out how the MSP deals with mobile computing. It’s critical to have an IT professional on your side who understands the importance of mobile devices.
When you streamline mobile computing across the workforce, you can boost productivity like never before! Mobile computing also gives your employees access to information, no matter where they are. If the provider you’re considering doesn’t offer mobile computing services, they’re probably not going to work when your company starts growing.
Flexible Pay Models
So far, we’ve been focusing on the services and expertise an IT managed service provider has to offer. By making sure that an MSP can assist with the right type of solutions, you’ll be able to set your company on the right track!
However, services and expertise are just the beginning. You’re also going to want to find out what the cost looks like and how flexible their pay rate models are.
We find that the best MSPs are the ones who provide flexible pay rate models that let you add and remove services at your leisure. For instance, one month, you might want to boost your cybersecurity as you enhance your infrastructure.
However, perhaps you don’t want to sign up for an entire year of cybersecurity monitoring. In that case, the right MSP will be able to provide you with the month of service and end when you’re ready to end.
You won’t have to pay a fortune, and you’ll be keeping your company safe at every turn. It’s also helpful if the MSP provides predictable costs.
Typically providers are going to use rates based on the specific services your organization wants. Your rate will also be based using agreed-upon hours.
When you know exactly how much you’ll be paying each month, it’ll be easier to budget for your IT needs. Furthermore, when the company’s willing to bill you for what you use instead of a flat fee, you can avoid overspending.
Boost Your Company’s Productivity With IT Management Services
Now you know how to find the right managed IT services, no matter what industry you’re in. As you start to funnel IT tasks to the right third parties, you’ll notice your employees suddenly have a lot more time.
From password resets to advanced technical challenges, let your MSP handle it. Start calling different IT companies today to get your free quotes.
The sooner you set up a service agreement, the sooner you can focus on growing your company. When you’re done, read another post for more advice.