You can’t run a business these days without technological backup.

You also can’t expect all of your employees to be 100% tech savvy. Every office-run business needs some form of IT support. But for smaller businesses like yours, an in-house team may not be a viable option.

This is where a managed service provider comes in handy. What is a managed service provider, you ask? Read on for more information on MSPs and the value they can add to your business.

What is a Managed Service Provider?

A managed service provider (MSP) is a third-party company that works remotely to manage your business’ IT infrastructure or user-systems. MSPs tend to serve small to mid-sized businesses. Since they generally perform the functions of an in-house IT staff, they will form a long-term relationship with your business.

What Services does an MSP provide?

MSPs typically have specialized skills in technology and knowledge from software deployment to solutions. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Helpdesk support
  • Network application management
  • Evaluation of potential IT solutions
  • IT policy and program creation
  • Payroll
  • Software installation and updating
  • Hardware repair
  • Storage
  • Business continuity and disaster repair
  • E-mail
  • Solution implementation
  • Configuration management 
  • It security
  • Contract management and compliance

Managed service providers can be hired for singular or broad tasks. For more specialized cybersecurity tasks, There are MSSps (Managed security service providers).

How are MSPs Different?

One of the many benefits of hiring an MSP is that they offer subscription-based pricing models for a variety of services.

They offer a per-device fee or a flat fee per customer, which can accommodate businesses with multiple systems. Another option typically offered is an all-inclusive package that will cover all of the IT infrastructure support and management.

Conventional IT support prices their services on the “break/fix” model. In other words, they will charge an hourly rate for fixing equipment or providing solutions. They will also charge fees on top of their hourly rate if they have to install extra parts or replace something.

Another benefit of a managed service provider is that they will start at the beginning. They will review and analyze your system from payroll to storage, and they will find ways to maximize company efficiency.

This means saving you time, money, and possible liabilities within your system that you didn’t know you had. They will build the right solutions to your problems and provide the on-going maintenance needed to keep your business operations running smoothly.

It also saves you office space since these service providers work remotely. Not to mention they will save you money in the long run since they offer different subscriptions to fit your budget. 

Is Hiring an MSP Worth it?

At the end of the day, you should be focusing less on administrative work and more on business growth and how to motivate your employees.

So what is a managed service provider? Think of an MSP as a part of your team who will handle all of the time-consuming tech work from the inside out.

If you’re in the Franklin, Tennesse area and in the market for an MSP to help with your business, have us contact you. We can help you reduce complexity and add functionality to your business.