When considering outsourcing IT, you will hear the term “Managed Service Provider” quite often. But what exactly does it mean? And why should you use a managed service provider instead of going the route of in-house IT? Here’s how to get started with choosing the right provider and why IT outsourcing makes sense.
Managed service providers refers to an outsourcing agreement where an outside service provider leases or procures hardware and software to perform specific functions for your company. The primary advantage is cost savings, though there are also many other advantages. A primary advantage of managed service provider is that IT contracts tend to be much more tailor-made to the individual needs of your organization. In other words, your hardware and software can be scheduled for maintenance based on your own goals and not just scheduled around your workload.
One of the primary advantages of a managed service provider is proactive monitoring. For instance, a data loss caused by a virus can occur during normal business hours. You probably don’t want your IT guy fixing the problem after it happened. By letting the provider keep track of the entire outage and even issue alerts when problems arise, you avoid the hassle of dealing with the issue and can save money and time down the road. If you have any questions about your outage or data loss issues, you can even reach the service provider directly through the phone or Internet.
Another key advantage of an onsite managed service provider is better onsite staff availability. Many companies have a few onsite technicians who can take care of day to day issues such as data loss and minor hardware issues. However, many businesses also rely on remote or SAS based monitoring and maintenance. If the IT guy has to leave work to deal with an “out of area” client, the cost of his pay raise, and potential problems with his own personal productivity may outweigh the savings from remote monitoring.
Another advantage of engagement with a database managed service provider, as opposed to an onsite technician, is that the managed service providers often have the IT team on site when needed. In addition to having the staff on hand, these service providers can provide backup power, networks, and other components when needed as well, which allows for more efficient usage of resources. Some providers have even developed applications that automate the monitoring and maintenance of a business’s data. The only thing lacking in many database managed service providers is the ability to speak over the phone.
Database monitoring is made easier by the fact that many providers offer hosted software products. These software products give the end-user the ability to monitor their data and troubleshoot issues remotely. For businesses with more than one location, this remote monitoring feature makes for significant cost savings. In addition to monitoring services, many of these hosting solutions also provide video and voice network monitoring capabilities. Businesses that have invested in these hosting solutions are now able to monitor key areas like inventory levels and supply chain activity remotely.
By engaging with a database managed service provider, businesses also benefit by taking full advantage of technical support services when needed as well as training opportunities when necessary. Many technical support services include training options for management and staff members alike. In addition to these training opportunities, many IT departments find that by engaging with a database service level service provider, they are able to save money in the form of reduced staffing costs and operational expenses. These savings are usually passed along to the customer by way of lower prices and/or discounts on products and services.
Database services have become extremely popular over the past decade. In fact, most businesses that engage in proactive monitoring of their information find that the amount of time and resources spent on mundane tasks is greatly reduced when utilizing an MSPS solution. By engaging with a managed services provider, businesses are now taking full advantage of an IT department’s most important resource: its people. Businesses that want to ensure that they are meeting their business goals will no doubt want to consider an msps solution.