There are many reasons to consider partnering with a Managed Services Provider (MSP) for your business’s IT needs, but before signing a contract, there are several things to consider.
Organisations of every shape and size can benefit from managed IT, which allows leaders to focus their attention on growing and managing the business while ensuring IT is handled by experts. However, choosing an MSP that doesn't understand your needs or one that is unable to provide the level of service required can be an expensive mistake that takes time to fix. That’s why it’s important to carefully evaluate candidate MSPs before committing. Here are three questions to ask:
- Does the contract support your goals? At Numata, we believe that IT needs to support and enable your business goals. Your MSP needs to show you upfront how they intend to do this and that they’re not just interested in selling services or products that don't match your company's needs. Given the access and input that the MSP will have to your business and its systems, it’s critical to have someone on your side who is able and willing to create a package and price that reflects your needs and is not only concerned with their bottom line.
- How will the contract affect your budget? It’s important to weigh up the costs and the various IT support models before deciding on what will work for your company. Partnering with a managed IT services provider means you are agreeing to pay a set amount of money for their support and services every month. Many businesses worry about this set fee, but it often proves more cost-effective than paying an hourly rate for IT support or trying to manage IT in-house. Traditionally, companies that pay hourly rates think they’re saving on IT costs, but if you start to experience recurring IT problems and you must use ad hoc services every time these occur, the costs can spiral out of control very quickly. Break/fix service providers are also not incentivised to look at your IT holistically or to fix systemic issues. When you have an MSP relationship, however, you can feel confident all vital areas are being covered regardless of the number of hours needed to do so.
- Have I compared various providers to find the best one for my business? It is easy to get overwhelmed by IT jargon and to let this get in the way of doing a proper comparison of the options available to you. Research several companies and look beyond savvy marketing and IT buzzwords to find a company that is the right partner to help grow your business. This includes carefully reviewing what services are included in the contract, as well as customer service, availability, and the capacity to handle changes within the industry. If you don't understand something, ask questions or you might find yourself paying for services you don't really need.
Take control of your business's technology growth by signing a contract with Numata, a trusted Managed IT Services Provider. Regularly monitor your MSP's performance to ensure your business needs are met, and if necessary, refer to our list of signs to determine when it's time for a change or get in touch with us today.
