Marcus RichardsBusinesses continue to see the benefits of hiring managed service providers. They appreciate that they do not have to go through a rigorous hiring process to enjoy the services of professional IT support. Furthermore, the cost of an external team is lower. Managed service providers also come in handy in organizations with existing internal teams looking to enhance their team’s ability without incurring high costs. Whichever the reason for hiring an MSP, there are several mistakes that an organization can avoid to help them reap the best from a managed service provider. Here are some of the mistakes that you should avoid:
Assuming that problems will never pop up again
MSPs do a neat job solving technical issues that would have drained revenue costs and productivity. However, just because an MSP has returned things to a sense of normalcy does not mean that things will remain that way forever. The reality is that tech-related issues will always crop up. You have to be ready to invest in reliable IT practices, set and implement favorable IT policies, and train employees. The IT service provider will sort the issue at hand, but it is upon you to take action to ensure things continue running seamlessly.
Settling for the lowest bid
Cost should not be the only element you consider when hiring a managed service provider. Choosing the cheapest company is not always the wisest decision. You may end up with an inexpensive option that will not suit your business needs. Be careful with offloading your IT duties to the lowest bidder. Hiring an MSP is an investment in your business livelihood. You can not afford to compromise on network security in the hope of spending less. Most of the cheap options tend to have a dangerous abandon to cybersecurity. They may not be thorough enough in offering business protection and employing the most robust cybersecurity measures. Having your business vulnerable to cyber-attacks could cost you more down the road. Assess the bids and look at all the options keenly. Settle for a provider that assures your comprehensive support and services, regardless of their cost. Look for someone that will not leave any wiggle room for malicious hackers and will offer solutions that can withstand changes in the long term.
Not hiring IT help
You cannot hand over all your technical needs to an MSP and expect to cut costs. Handing every technical issue to an MSP will be more expensive in the long run. As a decision-maker, you need to have a solid plan for engaging your staff and handling some things internally. Hire IT to help your organization increase productivity and reduce the money spent on IT support.
Not having a clear plan
To know the best MSP fit for your business, you need to start by defining the project scope. The scope should detail the goals, costs, expected obstacles, and alternative approaches. It is better to have it on paper before looking for an MSP. Also, plan how you will operate if the network issue causes an unexpected downtime in your business. The impact of an outage could be economically significant. You need to also keep in mind the implication that data mismanagement will have on your business. Failure to prioritize data could cause your IT to suffer and halt operations.
Downplaying the impact of business changes
Businesses have to evolve. And with the evolution comes newer IT needs. The service provider you settle for needs to account for those changes in their solutions. Go for an MSP that understands your goals, new products, and any other element that could interfere with how the MSP offers support in the future. Settle for an expert IT support that understands the impact of business changes and is capable enough to handle them. A good partner will help your business save lots of cash and money!
Not understanding different billing models
MSPs have different billing models. You need one whose model works best for your business. Understand various billing models. Select a provider that offers a model that is the best fit for your business. Look at the different models against the predicted IT support usage to prevent unexpected cost overruns.
Withholding crucial information
Be as transparent as possible to get the best solutions from your MSP. They need to know what they are dealing with to give the best IT solutions. You need to lay bare all the vital information about your business during the initial contract stage and even after using MSP services. Be clear about personnel changes, support needs for your different locations and any arising business issues.
Not understanding the terms of the contract
Your engagement with the MSP should be crystal clear in the contract with the MSP provider. The terms of agreements governing your relationship need to be direct. All your essential staff members should be aware of the terms of engagement. They need to know what services are under the MSP and what is outside their responsibilities. The contracts should also entail a non-disclosure agreement to ensure that the providers you work with take the privacy of the data on their hands seriously. The agreement should also stipulate the feedback channels you will use with the MSP. Your organization needs to have a way to air concerns and report any issues arising after working with an MSP.
Not doing enough research on the MSP
You have to do due diligence to get the best MSP for your business. Learn about the MSP and look at reviews from people who have used their services in the past. Do some research before signing the contract. Assess the business stability of the MSP and evaluate if their resources are enough to support your IT needs. If they do not have customers of the same size as your business, their ability to support your needs can be questionable. It is easier to select the best fitting MSP for your business when you have assessed their potential and done your research.
Final remarks
MSPs can be a significant lifesaver for a business. You can take it easy when you know that your business is in the hands of experienced IT support teams. However, you are more likely to reap the benefits and enjoy a significant return on investment when you avoid the mistakes above.
