Managed It Services – Questions & Answers

Thanks to the innovations in technology; large, small, and medium-sized business can now access the same levels of IT support. These levels of support were not existent a few years ago and were only available to the largest of businesses. But, thanks to the latest innovation in managed IT services, more businesses are moving forward and expanding in the rapidly growing financial market. Below, we have all of the answers to your managed IT services questions. 

What Is A Managed Service Provider?

A managed service provider (MSP) is an Information Technology Service Provider that manages, and is responsible for providing, a defined set of services to its clients. It does this either proactively or through a system that determines which services are needed. They are third-party technology experts who are hired to help to monitor and update various aspects of the organization’s IT systems.

Service providers include companies such as Active Computer Technologies who have teams of experts that are dedicated to remotely managing their customers’ entire IT infrastructure. They can allow companies to expand by offering to host operations and external data centers.

What Is Managed IT Services? And, What Is Included In A Managed Services Offering?

Managed IT services are networks that are put in place to keep companies from being overwhelmed due to the limits on IT resources. Managed service providers have first priority when it comes to identify threats and fix potential problems as warning signs arise. They do updates and network management and help to keep the company’s system operational when it is at risk of an outage or breach.

Services offered include:

• Identifying hardware, users, vendors, and services that are covered as well as those that are not.
• Documenting the customer’s and MSP’s roles and responsibilities.
• Representing the customer’s existing environment and defining environmental prerequisites for service.
• Establishing an environment that includes creating a framework to ensure the MSP’s profitability.
• Establish the entire service agreement between the parties.

What Is Remote Managed Services?

Remotely managed services (RMS) are IT services that monitor applications in order to helps companies to simplify the implementation and management of technologies, as well as to identify and resolve issues in a more expedient manner. The use of RMS services increases profitability and productivity while delivering complete visibility in managing assets.

What Is An Enterprise Managed Service?

Enterprise managed services is the practice of proactively outsourcing specific processes and functions within your company’s IT department. You will be able to improve your operations, free up your IT team’s resources, and reduce expenses.

What Is The Difference Between Managed Services And Outsourcing?

• Managed Services Offer You More Control:
  Loss of control over service quality is one of the biggest fears of outsourcing. The risk of near-shoring and off-shoring IT services depends primarily on the laws governing commerce in the service provider’s country and the terms of the contract you strike with the provider.
• Outsourcing Is Short-Term Management:
  Outsourcing is usually a short-term help when your team cannot manage to do something on their own. People usually rely on managed services as a permanent solution to a particular minor problem; however, the management is a continuous approach to solutions.
• Fixed Payment With Management Systems:
  With managed service providers (MSP), you are always aware what the total cost of the given service will be. Most times it includes a payment up-front and then a monthly fee and an exact figure that your business will be required to use. This makes managing your business finances much easier, whereas outsourcing depends on the company or individuals you work with.

Who Needs Managed IT Services?

• Companies That Need A Dedicated IT Professional On Staff:
  Most unqualified IT employees do not have the time or tech knowledge to plan for the future of your IT. If you do not have a dedicated IT person, managed services are the perfect substitute. Rather than paying the salary and benefits for another employee, you could pay a reduced amount for managed services.
• Companies That Have Emergency Problems, Which Could’ve Been Detected And Prevented Earlier:
  Is your server going down repeatedly? Does anyone in your office fail to detect your IT problems? Continuous remote monitoring and maintenance can detect problems, notify IT professionals, and have issues fixed before they become the source of bigger problems.
• Businesses That Use Old Technology Or Need To Keep Up With Technological Advancements:
  Outdated technology is the greatest enemy of a growing business. Working with an MSP offers scalable cloud services, cost efficiency, and reduces the need to continually retrain employees.

What Are The Benefits Of Managed IT Services

• Reduces Risk:
  The market changes at a rapid and unpredictable rate. When you utilize an outsourcing provider, they manage a lot of this risk for you because of their industry knowledge in areas such as compliance and security issues.
• Helps With The Competition:
  Small to medium-sized businesses often can’t afford IT services on their own. Some of the benefits of managed IT services are that it helps to gain the expertise and the insight that larger companies have, and it helps companies to compete on the same playing field.
• One Set Payment That Saves Costs:
  There is usually one set payment which helps companies prevent worrying over the services that are covered and the work that is offered on various pricing options.
• Better Security And Compliance:
  Managed systems minimize the risk related to credit card numbers, client data or any other sensitive information. This provides overall good protection of your companies data.
• The Best And Latest Technology Systems:
  A top advantage of managed services is how quickly new technology can be implemented into your business so that you are able to start projects right away. This saves your business time and money.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Managed Service?

• Not Receiving The Best Service:
  If you use a good IT provider, you’ll receive the help your business needs to reach your business goals. Using a provider that isn’t competent or fits your company’s needs, however, might reduce system performance and processes. And as a result, it may reduce functionality and hinder your business.
• Limited Flexibility:
  Some providers may require you to use proprietary software that only works on particular networks, which may limit your choice of software. However, you can avoid this risk by selecting a quality managed IT provider that knows how to effectively deal with these solutions and by asking the right questions.
• Downtime:
  Your company could lose time on the work that needs to be done and completed if no technicians are available when required. This also happens when you choose the service providers that are not equipped to handle your team.

How To Implement Managed Services:

• Choose a good strategy. A good strategy document is used to focus efforts and activities. It should contain offers, sales, marketing, delivery, finance, sourcing, supplier management, and client management. It should contain the priorities and goals of your business.
• Ask yourself what services and goals your business needed in IT management and keep track of these goals.
• Choose a good IT management service provider to help out.

How Managed Services Save Companies Money

• Managed services allow businesses to use quality, hassle-free services which in the long term will save the company from a lot of expensives.
• Managed services often make use of the toolset along with the talent, so businesses get better tools, managed expertly at a worthwhile cost.
• Resource management is included in IT management. Managed services therefore covers the need for in-house management for employee development, training, reviews, and more.

What Is Managed Cloud Services?

Managed cloud services refer to outsourcing daily IT management for cloud-based services and technical support to automate and enhance your business operations. They manage not only the customers’ computing, storage, networks, and operating systems, but also the complex tools and application stacks that run on top of that infrastructure.

What Do Customers Want From Managed Cloud Services?

A company or customer may hire a third party to manage its cloud and cloudware applications. This allows the company to focus on its main areas of expertise, rather than delving into tasks that are of secondary importance and that are not directly related to their skills. The advantage is professional expertise, administration, and system monitoring and architecture guidance by an expert in the field of cloud services.

What Is The Difference Between Managed Services And Cloud Computing?

• Management Often Varies:
  Managed service provider refers to the outsourcing of enterprise processes such as networking services handled by a third party. Public cloud, on the other hand, describes the use of cloud architectures for public hosting and these cloud vendors maintain information and services for multiple clients on the same infrastructure.
• Costs:
  Cloud providers allows employees to collaborate remotely and in real-time. They allow you to pay only for services required. Managed services providers use a monthly pricing structure that could fluctuates according to the services required and the amount of servers managed.

How To Measure Managed Services:

There are 3 metrics involved to manage these services:

1. Knowledge Value:
   Thinking about the cost of working with an MSP, requires that you understand the cost of not working with an MSP.

2. Check The Costs:
   Compare the convenience of a full-time employee vs. a managed service provider.

3. Estimate Return On Investment:
   By estimating the revenue generated and strategic IT outcomes and comparing it to the cost of managed services, IT leaders can generate reasonable metrics that can be used to make the case for MSPs.

How To Choose A Value Managed Services Provider:

• When looking for a business partner, choose one that:
• Delivers relevant services with transparency,
• Enables system user productivity,
• Provides value through responsive, timely service delivery, and
• Understands the relationship between IT and the rest of the business and encourages system users to share best practice.

What Should Be Included In A Managed Services Agreement?

• Services
• Priorities
• Responsibilities
• Guarantees
• Availability
• Serviceability
• Performance
• Operation
• Response
• Resolution

The MSP should also make certain to have their legal team or attorney review each and every form and document they utilize in their business to make certain that their rights are protected.

Questions To Ask Managed Service Providers:

1. What happens if/when my infrastructure goes down?
2. What services are covered under my contract, and what lies outside of it?
3. How will you ensure that we are a part of our IT experience?
4. How will your services help support the growth of our business?
5. How often do you update, or perform maintenance on your infrastructure?

Why Active Computer Technologies Should Be Your Managed Services Provider

The technology industry continues to grow exponentially. Small business owners who embrace technology will thrive – as long as you can keep the environment safe.

Secure, accessible technology, is the reason Active Computer Technologies created managed services that all small businesses in Dallas can rely on. It is tragic the number of businesses that fail due to cyber-attacks (as many as 60%). Our small business IT supports and provides services to keep your systems safe and your business successful. For effective managed IT services, contact us today.