Many SMBs (Small and Medium-sized Businesses) can find it difficult to establish a tightly secured IT network, all without having the larger spending or resource capabilities that their larger competitors possess. As an affordable, cost-effective and effective way to dramatically increase their IT capabilities, many choose to outsource to an experienced small business IT support provider.
MSPs (Managed Service Providers) provide small businesses with access to the latest hardware and software which their bigger competitors are currently using, effectively helping to level the playing field. They offer a range of IT services such as network security services, which is essential for protecting a business’s network against the threat of malware, viruses, hackers and other types of digital attacks.
IT managed service providers are a much more affordable and effective solution to hiring an in-house IT department full-time. However, there are many MSPs available on the market today. So, what are some of the most vital factors to consider to ensure you are choosing the best managed IT service provider?
Having your back 24/7
Your business might not operate around the clock, but hackers do. Do you have a plan in place in the event that your business is hit with a digital attack outside of operating hours with no one there?
It only requires a short amount of time for a digital threat to breach your IT network and start wreaking serious damage to your business. This can include defacing your website, hacking your systems and locking you out, stealing client and employee information, encrypting private company data and more.
When it comes to network security, prevention is better than the cure. This is why a leading managed IT service provider will offer 24/7 IT monitoring services. By constantly monitoring your network, they will detect and be alerted to any suspicious activity or potential threats. They will then quickly intercept the threat and correct the issue before it has time to progress any further and start causing damage.
Offering tailored IT solutions
Regardless of the sector or industry a small business is operating within, each company has unique needs that are specific to their business. When it comes to providing network security services, unfortunately, there is no one size fits all solution. This is why the small business IT support provider you decide to outsource to has to offer a comprehensive range of personalised IT solutions.
Before deciding, ask yourself some important questions such as:
- Can they offer various software and hardware solutions which are relevant to your specific IT needs and issues?
- Can they work closely with your business in order to fully understand what your exact IT needs are?
- Can they conduct a vulnerability review or risk assessment of your entire IT network and infrastructure to uncover any potential issues or areas for improvement?
Partnered with major well-known vendors
It is incredibly expensive to source, hire and train your own IT department to monitor and manage your IT infrastructure, especially for a small business. These costs include paying for staff salary, annual leave, superannuation and purchasing, installing and configuring all the IT equipment required.
As a much more affordable and cost-effective alternative, leading managed IT service providers are known for having exclusive relationships with a range of major vendors such as VMware, Microsoft and Dell EMC. This means that you can purchase and install the latest hardware and software that your larger competitors are already using to level the playing field.
This can include the latest virus protection software, cloud-based storage solutions, next-generation firewalls and more – all at exclusively discounted prices. They can also identify any cost-saving solutions such as automating various manual processes with software to increase productivity and efficiency while reducing overall spending.
Always on call
Do you have a current plan in place in the event that an IT emergency occurs? And if an IT emergency does happen, will the managed IT service provider you are considering be instantly available? When searching and comparing various managed service providers, apart from offering 24/7 IT monitoring services, make sure that the provider you are looking at can offer 24/7 on-call support.
It is crucial to have instant access to your IT managed service provider in the event that a network breach, hacking attempt or other IT emergencies occur. Whether it is during the weekend, during a public holiday or outside of typical business hours, your MSP needs to be available and offer IT support when you need it the most.
In summary
Whether you are wanting to outsource your IT needs or needing to increase the security of your IT network, working with a leading small business IT support provider will offer a range of cost-effective and effective IT solutions.
Consider these factors and ensure you are partnering with the right MSP for your IT needs.
