What is a Managed Service Provider & What Do They Do?
What is a Managed Service Provider & What Do They Do?
While managing the day-to-day operations of business, employees and business owners may neglect IT systems. However, the security of data and efficiency of networks cannot be left to last minute in our digital age. That’s why many businesses, especially those that are growing, rely on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offload some IT services and responsibility.
The assistance of MSPs free up employees to focus on business operations and growth. With a reliable MSP partner, a business can grow with the confidence that their IT systems will be supported, maintained, and secure. As digital transformation becomes an unavoidable fate for businesses, MSPs offer support and guidance.
What is A Managed Service Provider?
MSPs are third-party businesses that deliver a full range of service for clients’ IT systems and infrastructure, including support, hosting, maintenance, security and more. As the ‘managed’ aspect of the name suggests, MSPs are on-hand experts that deliver high level of understanding and proactive services to relieve clients of IT management themselves. The always-on nature of MSPs and their managed IT services means MSPs are responsible for constant uptime and availability 24/7, 365 days a year.
See more: Managed IT Services – Everything You Need to Know About Managed IT Services
The MSP usually works with other providers to form holistic IT management for clients; encompassing, for example, ongoing IT system maintenance from the MSP on software from third-party providers. Therefore, some MSPs specialise in one particular platform or providers of infrastructure – for example Office 365. Others may offer a more general range of IT services with less specific expertise.
At CAB IT we specialise in Office 365, providing our business clients with comprehensive management services to keep their business running efficiently at all times and on all devices.
What Do Managed Service Providers Do?
The exact service offering of MSPs can depend on the platforms and software they cover, as well as the experience they have, and the size of clients they take on.
In general, MSPs offer an always-online support service covering all essential IT systems and devices. Each day, MSPs keep systems running effectively, managing updates and system uptime, as well as offering consultancy and advice. In the event of an IT emergency, MSPs help keep systems online and secure, implementing disaster recovery plans.
MSPs tend to function using a subscription-based model, offering a set amount of hours or support on a monthly basis. The step away from ad hoc support and payment streamlines processes and facilitates constant uptime for IT systems. Guaranteed support and consistency delivery safeguards businesses and their IT solution.
See more: The Importance of Business IT Support – Why IT Support is Important for Businesses in the UK
In regard to clients, MSPs usually work most with small to medium sized businesses. For smaller clients, MSPs deliver all essential services to keep IT systems efficient and secure, without the financial demand of full-time, in-house teams. Larger organisations are more likely to have in-house IT teams who perform the responsibilities of MSPs. However, MSPs can also work alongside these teams, as experts, offering advice and consultancy for more technical questions or issues.
What is Included in Managed Service Providers’ Offering?
As above, the exact terms of an MSPs’ service offering depend on the MSP, the clients, and the expertise. The IT services should be tailored to individual clients, and adjusted to suit the business size, IT system demands, and predicted future requirements. At CAB IT, we take an individual approach, learning about a business and its systems, before creating a managed IT plan that best aligns with the business systems, budget, and expectations. Check out our range of managed IT services.
Example MSP offerings:
- IT Support – providing IT support 24/7 including disaster recovery, general maintenance, and call-outs.
- Cloud Services – assisting businesses in the implementation and use of cloud platforms – reducing infrastructure demands and is ideal for remote working – to unleash the full benefit for businesses.
- Cyber Security – monitoring IT systems security and teaching employees about the dangers and signs of a cyberattack. View some of the top cyber security threats.
- GDPR Compliance – receiving and deleting data in line with GDPR compliance, including personal data.
- Networks – achieving combined voice and data networks to optimise control and management as well as productivity for network users.
- Business Continuity – ensuring critical data is stored and received in the event of server failure to safeguard the continuation of business processes. See our top tips for creating an IT disaster recovery plan.
- Asset Management – caring for existing hard- and software including audits, wipes, and updates.
- Procurement – facilitating the speedy and cost-effective purchase of IT equipment, hardware, and software.
Benefits of Managed Service Providers
MSPs offer a full range of benefits to businesses, whatever their size. Managed IT services can help in-house teams, facilitate business growth, and keep costs down. Where businesses do not have the resources to dedicate people and time to IT, MSPs can be saviours.
Facilitate Business Growth
One of the main benefits of MSPs are how they help businesses to grow sustainably. Instead of using precious time to manage IT operations, employees can focus on day-to-day business. MSPs alleviate stress and time strains to help employees focus on their own service delivery.
Industry Experts
MSPs are always IT experts, and know all there is about IT software and devices to help clients. This expertise saves time and money when it comes to supporting businesses.
Contracted
An SLA ensures the level of service businesses receive from MSPs is equal to their expectation and requirements. Additionally, as MSPs are outsourced experts, businesses save on hiring and training their own teams.
Cost Effective
Instead of hiring multiple full-time staff, businesses can look to their MSP to provide all the IT management services they need. With varying contracts and service offerings, businesses can pay a price that best suits them.
Security
MSPs help secure IT systems by assuring they are healthy and monitored, reducing the risk or severity of a cyber attack. A security breach is not only costly, but possibly catastrophic for business!
Business Continuity
IT problems can grind business processes to a halt. But with MSP support, expert disaster recovery, and 24/7 monitoring, uptime can be maximised.
See more: Importance of a Business Continuity Plan for Businesses in the UK
Expert IT Managed Service Providers Bristol
Looking for a reliable MSP for your business? We can help! CAB IT are industry leaders in the South West, providing the highest quality management service to businesses across Bristol and beyond.
We offer more than just managed IT services, providing cyber security consultancy, disaster recovery, IT procurement, managed networks and numerous support services. For a comprehensive service offering from an experience team of MSPs, get in touch!
Telephones / VoIP
CAB IT Connect is a VoIP telephone system hosted within your own private cloud and designed to integrated.
Business Continuity
Recover critical data quickly Should you experience a server failure. Yhe SIRIS can have your Windows or Linux environment and data recreated in minutes from the local device or the Datto Cloud.
Office 365 / Cloud
Office 365 is a cloud-based service hosted by Microsoft that brings together familiar Microsoft Office desktop applications with business-class email, shared calendars, instant messaging (IM), video conferencing and file sharing.
Cyber Security
According to over 1,700 IT service providers, the lack of cybersecurity awareness amongst employees is a leading cause of a successful ransomware attack against an SMB.
Secure Destruction
Most businesses think GDPR only refers to personal data used for marketing and sales purposes, but…
The GDPR definition of data processing is wide, and a major part of the GDPR includes the erasure and destruction of personal data.
Procurement
Expert IT procurement plays an important role within the provision of IT services, especially as IT budgets are constantly under scrutiny and purchase decisions need to be justified.
Managed Networks
Modern offices seek a network infrastructure solution that intelligently combines voice and data networks. In order to optimize the performance of their converged network, it requires visibility, control and manageability…maximizing the productivity of users across the network.
Asset Management
As a key requirement of GDPR compliance for every business, it is important that the management of your IT Assets isn’t an admin task that is overlooked.
Web Design
We work with you to design and build a professional website that will truly represent your brand.
IT Support
We provide very flexible IT Support working effectively through one of our completely customised IT Support Packages.
Internet
Through a variety of connectivity partners CAB IT Services can offer a huge range of business connectivity services.
Wifi
Our Wi-Fi System is a scalable enterprise grade access point solution designed to be deployed and managed within any environment.
Network Infrastructure
In partnership with carefully selected third parties we provide network infrastructure data cabling installations in Bristol and throughout the South West.
