Every business in the digital space is struggling to keep up with the dynamic forces and changes in the digitals space. In essence, there is a constant need to keep integrating, monitoring, and maintaining new devices, systems, programs, and applications to stay afloat in the market. To keep up with the trends, 75% of small businesses now outsource their IT services to a Managed service provider. Today, a simple Google search on managed service providers will yield many results. The big question is, how do you find a good MSP? Well, let us answer this with a few tips.

Enquire about the response time

One of the reasons for hiring a managed service provider is to improve efficiency, right? Well, think for a minute what happens when you have to wait for a phone or email response for more than one hour, or when you make that call to your vendor, only for your calls to be forwarded to the call center? Bad, right? If you don’t want such occurrences, make sure you work with a vendor that values customer service and has real-time support.

Key Questions to ask the vendor

• Do they have a limit on ticket submissions? A good one should not have a limit
• Average wait time on queries (If they offer a fast response, then you are good to go)

Look at their Data security measures

Every company has a myriad of confidential and private information that needs to be protected. In fact, every serious entrepreneur should protect their business by employing different cybersecurity measures, given that 43% of cyber-attacks are targeted on SMBs. One of the ways is seeking quality service by hiring professionals to handle cyber issues for you. A good managed service vendor will protect your network from cybercriminals. They will also offer best practice recommendations and security management that keep your data protected. When picking a package, make sure your plan includes regular security testing and monitoring.

Price

Price should never be the only factor, but one of the key factors that you consider when choosing a managed services provider. Well, different vendors offer different prices. You must choose one that fits into your business needs and budget, especially if you care about being profitable. Ideally, your business can’t be profitable if you’re spending more on your managed service plan than you need to. Spend time comparing pricing plans from trusted IT companies in your area; find one that offers IT support for every user, every time at a price you can afford. Ask if the provider caters to small businesses, have flexible payment plans like pay-as-you-go pricing so that you know exactly how much you’ll be paying every month.

The level of expertise

Again, there are so many IT managed services today. Well, not all companies provide the same level of service. When it comes to managing crucial aspects of your business, such as data and security, you must go with someone that will get the job done. Before going into business, ask about the level of expertise? Look at their clients, partners, and innovations.

Tip:

• In addition to the years of operation, go for a company that combines state of the art technology with certified industry specialists to deliver solutions that are fast, smart, and efficient.

Round the clock monitoring

Most businesses downplay this step, but it could hurt your services! If you think about what can go wrong in the event a system fails and you don’t know what to do, then you might want to factor in this aspect. Think about data that might be lost, privacy intrusion, losses, etc. A good and credible managed service should offer 24/7 monitoring services to ensure you get help when you need it.

Find out if they offer onsite maintenance and support

In addition to on the clock monitoring, find out if your vendor offers onsite support. Certain technical aspects might be beyond your knowledge. Having someone on-site will come in handy in case of challenges.

Employee support

Imagine your employees spending hours trying to figure a system or application? That isn’t nice if your goal is to improve business efficiency using technology. To avoid this, make sure your IT managed service provider is available to offer proper IT support for your business. They should be able to provide fast answers to all your technology-related questions affecting operation.

Wrap up

Managed service providers are meant to help your business improve by adding value to you. When your business operations are efficient, you save time, money, or any other costly disasters. There are great resources at your disposal, including an army of professionals waiting to lend a hand. While that’s the case, it is important to take your time and look for a true partner to handle your technology needs