The beginning of the year is a great time to ask yourself, “Do my employees or I have any frustrations with our current IT support?” If the answer is “yes,” it may be time to change.
Luckily, you have plenty of options to consider that improve your IT support and day-to-day business.
Maybe you have an internal IT employee or team, or you are already outsourcing your IT, but your current provider isn’t cutting it.
Let’s take a look at your options….
First, we want to understand what a Managed Service Provider is.
An IT MSP is a technology provider that essentially takes on the responsibility and manages all or some aspects of your internal technology.
Some of the services an MSP can offer:
- Network Monitoring
- Help Desk
- Cyber Security
- Backup and Disaster Recovery
- Cloud Migration & Management
- VCIO
- Email Solutions
- Etc.
Inadequate IT support can negatively impact your business in many ways (employee satisfaction, productivity, revenue, etc.)
Here are some tips for making the switch to a new MSP:
A Smooth Transition
Whether you are going from one MSP to another or are adding extra support to your existing internal IT team, it is crucial to focus on good communication.
You will want to know everything your current team has been operating. Things like how many devices they manage, each service they provide you with, or any tickets created. This will allow your new MSP to understand the support you need and provide you with an accurate quote and plan.
Another thing to figure out is who owns what hardware. Sometimes, an MSP will lease hardware out to their customers for a monthly fee. Other times, they sell them devices so that the customer owns them. Make sure you are returning devices if necessary.
Finally, make sure you understand the contractual obligations between your business and your current IT provider. For example, an MSP will often require 30, 60, or 90-day notice. Also, make sure you know the SLA (service level agreement) you signed at the beginning of the partnership, so you aren’t slapped with cancellation fees.
Choosing The Right MSP
If you are looking to switch to a new MSP, it is important to understand what isn’t working with your current IT team. Where are they falling short? Bring these concerns to other potential partners to see how they compare or if they can meet your needs.
Figure out the model that works best for you. An MSP can offer either an all-you-can-eat model or al a carte model. An all-you-can-eat model typically includes every service they offer, whereas the al a carte model is more customizable to the specific needs of your business.
Questions to ask a potential MSP:
- What do their pricing models look like?
- Can they meet all of your requirements?
- What is the contractual agreement?
- What does implementation look like?
Closing thoughts
IT support can make or break a company, so it is vital to have a partner that understands your business and needs. Luckily for you, there are many options out there. It is just about finding the one that works best for you and your employees.
If you are interested in receiving a free network assessment to better understand your network health, or you would like to learn more about how Now Micro can help you manage your IT, visit our Managed Services page.