In our last article, we explained the difference between outsourcing and managed services. So now you know that the managed services provider goes further than the outsourcing provider.
In this article, we’re going to focus more on the role of the service provider, who has an important responsibility.
Today, a company’s productivity relies heavily on its IT infrastructure, making the MSP a key player in the company’s success and development.
Managed services or IT outsourcing
While some companies can afford a dedicated IT department, not all can.
Nor is it always the most appropriate solution.
The managed service provider takes on the role of the company’s IT department.
As such, it is responsible for managing and maintaining the IT department.
The mission of the MSP(Managed Service Provider) includes an element of monitoring, designed to detect problems before they arise.
Indeed, to ensure the long-term viability of the infrastructure, the MSP must constantly maintain the level of service required to meet the company’s needs.
This means updating applications, checking hardware regularly and changing software when necessary.
Time-saving remote service provider
The MSP therefore works externally and mainly remotely, via cloud computing.
The managed service provider has a team of experienced people at its disposal, as well as highly sophisticated tools.
It is therefore able to operate remotely, and benefits from regular automated reports that enable it to detect potential problems.
This enables them to resolve problems before they cause any damage.
As a result, MSP technicians rarely need to visit site, although they may do so in the event of a hardware failure.
Thanks to its sophisticated tools, the MSP automatically updates software before the expiration date.
This avoids wasted time due to bugs and breakdowns caused by out-of-date software.
It also ensures that you benefit from the latest versions, thus limiting system security vulnerabilities.
An offer tailored to your company’s needs
As the managed services provider is not an employee of the company, it is able to tailor its offer to the real needs of the organization.
Often, the offer depends on the number of workstations or infrastructure users to be managed.
As a result, the contract can evolve in line with the company’s needs.
This approach is far more flexible than having your own IT department.
It also reduces the administrative and personnel management burden . It’s a win/win formula, because the MSP generally doesn’t have to intervene for breakdowns, but if he does, it’s included in his package.
As a result, the higher the quality of the MSP’s monitoring, the more profitable it will be, since interventions will be less frequent.
For the company, this approach provides the assurance of quality monitoring to ensure that the system runs smoothly.
To conclude
The definition of managed services and the role of the MSP now hold no secrets for you.
Compared with outsourcing, managed services offer a more in-depth approach, freeing you from all the concerns associated with IT infrastructure.
This allows you to concentrate on your core business, without the risk of failures that could impact on your company’s development.
