7 common misconceptions surrounding managed services
There is an increasing reliance on technology in modern business. As a result, more and more companies are turning to Managed Services to help alleviate the stress on their internal IT team and to help align their IT adoption more effectively with their core goals.
In general terms, a Managed Service is known as when a third party contractor provides a customer with an IT task for a monthly fee. The third-party contractor is more widely known as a Managed Service Provider (MSP). It is now believed that more than two-thirds of businesses have already partnered with at least one managed service provider to handle their IT infrastructure.
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Despite the fast-growing rollout of Managed Services around the globe, several myths still remain that prevent people from considering this as a choice for their business. In an attempt to set your mind at ease, we have put together 7 of the most common myths about Managed Services.
Myth #1: Managed Services are more expensive than ‘doing it yourself’
Businesses have traditionally relied on internal IT resources, such as servers, workstations and networking infrastructure to run their IT. Deploying, maintaining and upgrading all of the hardware and software came at large, and sometimes unpredictable costs, particularly when you consider the cost of recruiting enough of the right experts to keep things running smoothly.
A Managed Service will reduce, if not eliminate the need to invest in costly hardware and other IT systems up-front. Alternatively, many of the services are located in off-site data centres, where they are managed and kept safe through the cloud. Internal IT has once again proven to be one of the largest and most unreliable expenditures; according to a 2017 Cisco study, MSPs reduce reoccurring, in-house costs by 40%.
Myth #2: You lose control of your operations
An MSP is there to provide your business with one or more IT tasks, not to take control of the operations. The control given up depends on what you need from them. The relationship is more of a close partnership, where they are there to assist your business in anything you need.
An effective partnership is one where both parties are clear of the expectations as well as the aims and objectives of the business. These after often set out in a Service Level Agreement (SLA). The goal of a document in this form is so that the working relationship between both parties is clear and so that expectations are set and documented for elements such as resolution times, support response and escalation procedures.
Myth #3: You risk losing your in-house IT department
Many think you risk losing your in-house IT department if you partner with an MSP. This is not true. In fact, research has shown that only 6% of companies that hired an MSP eliminated their in-house IT team, while another 15% of companies simply had no internal IT staff to begin with so using an MSP was a way to bring IT expertise into the operation.
Forming a partnership with an MSP will provide opportunities for your in-house IT department to gain new skills as well as develop current ones. It would also free them up to focus on strategic initiatives that move the company forward – something they wouldn’t be able to do if they were bogged down by common IT issues such as an employee losing their password. MSPs are not there to replace e your in-house IT team, they are there as a support system for them.
Myth #4: All MSPs are the same
Although Managed Services’ core offerings are essentially the same, each MSP typically has its own area of expertise. Choosing the right MSP for your business requires research and planning to ensure that they meet your specific needs. Below are some questions we recommended asking when going through the process of finding one to partner with.
– Do they have deep skills and experience?
– Do they follow industry best practises?
– Do they commit to Service Level Agreements?
– Do they offer a board portfolio of services?
– Are they reliable (and can prove it)?
– Will they support your business goals and expectations?
– Are they familiar with security standards and are compliant in them?
Myth #5: Your company data is less secure
Understandably, many organisations feel concerned about losing control of confidential company data and fear that if it is stored in an off-site data centre, then it is less secure. In a world where cyber threats are so prevalent, MSPs are aware of the importance of security and privacy to businesses. Since their core business is technology, MSPs will have access to specialised resources and employees with industry-specific knowledge which will help protect your business. This is will also mean they are aware of how to comply with industry security standards.
Myth #6: Only large corporate enterprises use MSPs
Surprisingly, one of the most common reasons businesses don’t engage in Managed Services is because they think they will only benefit large corporate enterprises. However, the reality is that small-medium businesses can actually benefit from them the most.
For example, if you are a small business, you may have a limited amount of IT equipment and staff, so fall behind on updates and network management, causing you to be at risk of a breach of security or an attack. Partnership with an MSP places this responsibility in their hands, giving you peace of mind that this is taken care of and that your business is safe.
Myth #7: MSPs are unavailable to resolve issues
Another concern for businesses considering a Managed Service is that the MSP will not be available when IT issues arise. This is normally due to the fact they aren’t based in-house. Thanks to the cloud, most IT issues can be resolved remotely. Furthermore, most MSPs operate on a 24/7 basis and can guarantee 99.99% uptime.
Serval IT Systems have been committed to working as a proactive partner to a number of businesses over the past decade. We strive to resolve issues before they become serious problems, in order to ensure your employees can work at maximum productivity.
To be successful in the modern business environment, companies have to rely on technology, else they risk being left behind. Don’t let these Managed Service misconceptions cause you to hesitate to take advantage of everything that they can offer.
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