Top 5 Things Your Managed Services Provider Must Have

One of the best ways organizations can accomplish these goals is by partnering with a managed service provider (MSP). These partners take over a portion or all of the monitoring, management, and maintenance of your hardware and IT services, allowing your team to benefit from decreased downtime, boosted productivity, and increased operational efficiency. 

So what can a partnership with a managed service provider mean for your organization, and how do you find the right partner for your business?

 

Partnering with an MSP offers a wide range of benefits, with some of the most important including:

— 24/7 Monitoring and Support: MSPs provide round-the-clock monitoring and support for your on-premise, cloud, and other services, ensuring high uptimes, rapid response to issues or disruptions, and other performance monitoring. For example, Cipher’s Extended Managed Detection and Response platform (xMDR) offers advanced, proactive threat detection and response capabilities, enhancing enterprise security postures and minimizing potential downtime.

— Improved Security Posture and Compliance: Some MSPs offer specialized expertise and resources to help organizations navigate security challenges, ensuring their IT environments exceed compliance standards. This proactive approach to security and compliance reduces the risk of breaches and the associated financial and reputational damages

— Scalability: With an MSP, you enjoy the flexibility of scaling services and staffing up or down according to your business needs, paying only for what you require.

— Cost Sharing: By partnering with an MSP, you share the costs associated with maintenance, upgrades, and investments, allowing your organization to save costs while benefiting from continuous, proactive asset management.

— Access to Advanced Tools and Practices: MSPs help your organization maintain access to the latest security, management, and performance tools. Your team can also receive training and benefit from experienced, industry-certified staff with proven best practices.

— Implementation Support: MSPs assist in deploying new features, tools, and systems, including new network infrastructure, mobile apps, and other cloud platforms, without the burden of having to manage the implementation alone or make common mistakes.

Plenty of companies in the market offer managed services, but not all providers are created equal. Here are five must-haves that should be on your list to select your MSP partner:

An ideal MSP understands your unique needs, prioritizes security, and recognizes the critical role of technology in driving innovation and enhancing customer service. They should be adept at identifying and implementing strategies that eliminate redundancies, stay ahead of tomorrow’s security threats, and boost productivity across your organization.

Flexibility and scalability are paramount, especially when paired with unbiased expertise and guidance. An effective MSP offers vendor-neutral advice, tailoring solutions to meet your specific requirements and solving problems efficiently.

Your MSP should comprise a team of experienced, tested, and certified professionals who are well-versed in delivering the tools, accelerators, and processes your organization needs. This expertise helps avoid common mistakes and accelerates return on investment (ROI).

A true partner views themselves as an extension of your team, focusing on building lasting relationships. These trusted partners should continuously educate themselves, strive to learn more about your business and its culture, and seek ways to optimize your IT environment, ensuring your long-term success.

From assisting with technology implementations, upgrades, and migrations to integrating specialized features, your MSP should have experience managing the entire lifecycle of your technology stack, ensuring seamless transitions and optimal performance.

Choosing the right managed services partner is a key decision that can significantly impact your end-user experience, the operational efficiency and security of your IT infrastructure, and, ultimately, your bottom line. 

By selecting an MSP that delivers on the top five criteria outlined above, you position your organization to enjoy reliable, secure service and give your internal team more time to focus on strategic initiatives.

Ready to transform your IT operations? Get a free assessment today from the experts at Cipher and discover how the right managed services partner can elevate your business.

 

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