How to Ensure Your Managed Services Provider has Your Back
What is a Managed Service Provider?
A managed service provider (MSP) is a third-party company that provides a range of IT services. Working with an MSP can help reduce some of your in-house IT staff’s workload. MSPs can handle more mundane day-to-day operations while your employees can focus on big picture projects. MSPs can also help with application development and enhance your current programs and security.
Most MSPs provide 24/7 support, so you can access their expertise anytime. This round-the-clock support also guarantees that your web hosting is always running efficiently. If anything goes wrong, your MSP should be able to address the problem in a timely manner and scale your site accordingly if need be.
Roles of a Managed Service Provider
Working with a managed service provider should be a collaborative partnership. You want to be able to trust the provider to offer proactive solutions to IT issues. Whether you’re seeking an MSP for application development or other IT support, the company should be knowledgeable and credible.
Managed service providers can offer a range of services, depending on what you’re looking for. Most often, MSPs work on application development, application support, additional IT knowledge and support, implement new technologies, enhance security features, and manage day-to-day IT operations. But a good MSP will customize their services to your company’s specific needs.
Questions to Evaluate Your Managed Service Provider
Use these questions to determine whether a managed service provider is right for you. Some of these questions are things you can consider yourself when shopping around for the right company while others are questions you can directly ask MSPs to learn more about their company and how they run the business.
- How long has this MSP been in business? Does the company use its own services and products?
- What specific value does this company provide?
- How do previous customers feel about their relationship with this MSP?
- Is this service provider partnered with Amazon Web Services? If not, what kind of certificates does this MSP have?
- How does this MSP communicate with their clients? Do they offer 24/7 support? How easy is it to get in touch with this provider? Do they resolve issues in a timely manner?
- Review the MSP’s service level agreement (SLA).
- Check the company’s professional credibility. Has this MSP passed the Standards for Attestation Engagements 18 Type II audit? Are they truly offer an expert-level of knowledge?
- Does your partnership improve your IT services and needs?
NearShore as a MSP
As a managed services provider, NearShore Technology understands what our clients look for in a partnership. We use customer identified KPIs (key performance indicators) to ensure that we’re helping you meet your goals and providing the best possible service. Our managed services are guaranteed Service Level Agreements (SLA), and we work directly with our clients to create technology solutions that are specifically tailored for your company. Your success is our success.