A managed IT service provider, also known as MSP, serves many functions. These functions are primarily to provide IT services to their clients, quickly and economically. Companies that want quality IT services without all the associated overheads tend to contract with MSPs. Some companies will not need to or want to outsource all their information technology services, but managed services allow them to select areas of operations they want to outsource.

Services Provided

Managed IT service providers offer a range of information technology functions to their clients. The scope varies depending on the size and needs of the client company, and how much they can afford to pay. Some of the services are:

• Website design, hosting and management

• Provision of hardware such as servers and computers

• Network management

• Call center management

• Email management

• Onsite and offsite hardware repair

• Information technology consultancy

• IT policy development

• Onsite and offsite vendor management for IT products and services

Growing Your Business

Outsourcing IT services is a cost-saving measure, but business growth, especially for small businesses can benefit can also from using MSPs. A good managed IT service provider can offer more than the basic services to their clients. By outsourcing these services, according to Scott Samborn, chief business development officer for Vantage Point Solutions Group LLC, states in an article published in August 2013 on the CRN website “…that smaller businesses will continue to seek out managed service providers. Businesses can save 30 to 40 percent on their IT costs by switching to a managed service provider…”

The benefits of using a managed service include savings to the company and more efficient IT infrastructure and services. Of course, the MSP also benefits as they are paid for the services they provide. Other benefits of using a managed IT service provider include:

• An on-call team of experienced, certified technicians

• A service level agreement outlining what to expect and how to escalate issues for rapid response if necessary

• Reduction in downtime as many issues are caught early and quickly resolved. The available resources get your information technology system back up and running quickly

• Helps to control IT costs as you only pay for what you use

• It allows staff to focus on core functions as your company’s IT issues are handled by the experts Hiring and training your own IT staff can be expensive

• Better management of the company’s information technology infrastructure

• Quicker implementation of new technologies as companies that provide the services will have the resources for this purpose. Doing this in-house can cost time and money if it was not budgeted for, and to hire new staff or train workers. Even if you have your own internal IT department, using the services of MSPs will give you access to new technologies as they become available.

• Your company is better able to manage its risks as the MSP will take on part of these risks

Incorporating Managed IT Services with Managed Cloud

A professional managed IT service provider realizes that the best way to serve their clients is to start including the benefits of cloud computing into their offerings. This means that they will enable smaller businesses to better enable their staff to work from wherever they are. Since cloud computing service manages and store data using the Internet, small businesses can cut down significantly on office space cost as workers can work from anywhere there is internet connectivity. With managed cloud computing, the managed IT service provider can also reduce the cost of server space that is normally needed to store and backup data.

Many managed IT service providers today are providing cloud storage for clients. These companies make it a priority to offer the best services at the best prices to keep client’s operations effective and profitable.