Information Technology is advancing rapidly, and as a result, the range of skills, knowledge and expertise required to manage ICT infrastructures has widened dramatically.
Many in-house IT staff are finding it hard to keep up with the demands of upgrading to the latest technologies while also serving the needs of their customers.
Organizations are also having difficulty retaining the resources needed to manage their IT services and systems.
And as such, many companies are outsourcing their IT operations to top Managed Services Providers (MSPs) to help them maximize the value of their investments while also making better use of their internal resources.
But, before partnering with an MSP, it is worth noting that you must consider specific criteria to find the right provider for your business.
This article will discuss 5 major factors that will help your business find the perfect IT service provider:
Managed Services Offer a Live Support Desk
Hire an MSP that offers 24/7 IT help desk service. A good IT service provider should be able to offer emergency tech support and in-house and after-hours IT support when needed. There might be times your employees are faced with specific IT issues; you should be able to get help from the provider by simply placing a call or creating a support ticket.
In addition, an excellent IT provider will help install new updates, troubleshoot and fix issues, and handle emergencies without delay.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Before hiring an MSP, ensure that your expectations align with their services. You can do this by looking into their service level agreement.
An SLA is a legal document that provides detailed information about all an MSP’s services, obligations and responsibilities to their customers. It dictates what you should expect from the provider as a customer and your responsibilities in return to them. Outsourcing your IT services to a company without an SLA can be dangerous.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery are essential services that must be included in managed IT services.
Without data backup, you can’t restore lost data in case of accidental deletion, file corruption, physical disaster or any problem that leads to data loss.
Similarly, having a robust and effective disaster recovery strategy ensures that your operations are restored in time without prolonged downtimes. So, you should hire top MSPs with professional IT experts like SecureTech, who can provide you with personalized BDR solutions in cases of disasters.
Cyber Security
With the increasing activities of cybercriminals, you need strong cybersecurity measures to protect your systems and networks from criminals. And this is why you must hire the best Managed IT services provider, to proactively monitor your systems, detect and eliminate potential threats, train your employees about the right security practices and protect your organization from hackers.
Customer Service
When you have an IT issue, you should be able to speak with someone who can assist you immediately. A good MSP will not make you wait for days before proffering a solution to your problem. You need an IT provider that always offers prompt and professional customer service and support.