Interested in the idea of partnering with a Managed Service Provider, but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! Here is our list of the pros and cons of your business working with a Managed Service Provider. Straightforward: these are the honest advantages and disadvantages of working with an MSP, written by a current MSP.
Pros:
- Expertise. Replicating the resources and expertise you gain with an MSP would be very expensive. Hiring a dedicated cybersecurity specialist, multiple network administrators, professional services team, provisioning team, and help desk is cost prohibitive for most small businesses. A quality managed IT services provider allows you to have the full team for a fraction of a single FTE in many cases.
- The suite of tools they utilize is specialized and expensive. Due to the economies of scale of the computers and networks they support, they can manage and monitor your network at a higher level than internal IT (usually) at a lower cost.
- They have vast knowledge of technology at hundreds of different locations. They see what works and does not work in different settings. They are not “siloed” and can introduce you to new and better technology to improve your business operation.
- Robust processes and documentation ensure tickets are completely in a timely fashion. Both parties have incentive to fix problems quickly. Tickets are minimized, and things get fixed correctly the first time!
- Allows scaling up and down easily. Pricing is often based on a per endpoint or per user. As you grow, your technology spending is easy to predict, rather than having to hire an additional IT team member that may not be working at full capacity or even close to it.
Cons:
- You have access to the resources, but that amount of dedicated time you get can be much less than if you had an internal team.
- They will not know the ins and outs of your business specific applications or vendor nuances like an internal IT person could.
- Massive variation in the quality and responsiveness of MSPs. It can be difficult to determine which MSP to choose. Support and pricing can vary greatly! To help more with this, check out (16 questions to ask a potential Managed IT Provider). The responses to these questions will tell you a lot and help you choose the right provider.
- Employees don’t have contracts usually… Even if you’re unhappy with a provider. Oftentimes, there is a minimum of a one-year contract in place.
- Less direct management of your IT systems – Your provider will likely have a standard set of tools they implement. If you or your internal IT prefer a different set of tools, there will often be a mishmash. This is rarely an issue because most organizations hire a Managed Service Provider, so they do not have to consider these things. However, in rare cases, if they do want to stray away from the recommendations, it could be considered a con for both parties.
Conclusion
After review, is working with a Managed Service Provider the right fit for your business? Still need a bit more convincing? Reach out today for a free consultation to identify your technology and goals!
Photo by Florian Schmetz on Unsplash
