Managed Services Provider Insights: Recognizing Your Business’s IT Needs

Modern-day businesses rely on technology to a greater degree than ever before. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, or even how big your business is. There is bound to be an array of tech tools, apps, and solutions that you need each day to get things done and keep up with your competitors. But you might not have enough know-how, resources, or manpower to manage all those tech tools correctly or get the most out of them. A managed services provider can help, and this guide will explore some common signs that it’s time to hire one.

What Is a Managed Services Provider?

Let’s start with a quick definition of what a managed services provider, sometimes also known as an IT service provider, actually is. If you’ve not worked with one before, you might not be entirely sure of how these providers operate or what they’ve got to offer.

Put simply, a managed services provider (MSP) is a company that helps businesses – usually small or medium-sized ones – with their IT. They’re basically like an outsourced IT department, taking on a range of responsibilities related to their clients’ IT networks, software, and systems.

It’s the MSP’s job to help out with all things IT-related. If something breaks, they’ll fix it. If you need to set up a new system, they’ll handle it. If you want to invest in cloud storage, they’ll guide you through the process, and so on.

As you might be able to imagine, there are lots of benefits to working with a managed services provider. In brief, they can save you money, time, and hassle, easing the burden on your existing IT staff and keeping your IT systems secure, optimized, and operational around the clock.

5 Signs You Could Benefit From an MSP

We’ve seen what a managed services provider is. Now, let’s explore five of the common signs or situations that show your business is crying out for an MSP’s assistance.

You Experience a Lot of Downtime

One of the clearest and most common signs your business needs a managed services provider is if you experience downtime on a regular, recurring basis.

Downtime is described as any time during which part or all of your IT systems are out of action and cannot be used. An example would be if one or more of your computers fail to function as intended, or your whole office network suddenly goes offline.

There’s always an explanation for downtime, and it’s often related to some sort of underlying issues with your network admin, update schedule, or cybersecurity. A managed services provider can help you eliminate downtime and avoid its costly, negative effects.

Your IT Team Is Overworked (Or You Don’t Have One)

You might already have an IT team. In that case, it’s easy to say, “Why do I need an MSP, when my in-house IT staff should be able to take care of everything?”

Well, in reality, even highly-trained and experienced IT pros will struggle if there’s too much on their plate. Many in-house IT teams end up feeling overworked and unable to keep up with their many tasks, especially as the companies they work for start to expand.

Bringing in an MSP to supplement your existing IT staff helps to ease their burden.

Or perhaps you don’t even have an IT team at the moment and rely on untrained workers to handle tech matters themselves. That could cause chaos in the long run with aspects like your cybersecurity and network admin.

You Repeatedly Face Tech-Related Problems

Does it feel like your workplace is dealing with one IT issue after another? Hardware breaks down. Random network issues occur. Software seems impossible to install and configure, and so on, over and over.

If so, that’s a surefire sign that your IT infrastructure and management just isn’t good enough in its existing state. What’s more, you could be losing out on serious profits and productivity as a result of all those errors, bugs, and glitches.

An MSP can resolve them for you, reducing the frequency and severity of problems you encounter.

Your IT Expenses Are Out of Control

These days, it’s almost impossible to run any sort of small or mid-sized business without a certain IT budget. You have to invest in tech – both hardware and software – to support your workers and get things done.

However, if your IT spending is out of control, and you find your business blowing huge amounts of cash to fix issues, replace faulty hardware, and so on, you won’t want to continue down that path.

Hiring the right managed services provider should help you get back on track. They generally charge flat monthly or annual rates, making it much easier to manage your budget and predict your future spending.

You Handle a Lot of Sensitive Data

A lot of companies have to handle large amounts of user data. Even the likes of simple e-commerce stores, for instance, will have customer addresses, contact details, and other personal info stored away somewhere. Other companies, meanwhile, may have much more sensitive, delicate data that needs to be kept safe.

Imagine that information were to be leaked and fall into the wrong hands. It could be disastrous for your business. There would undoubtedly be ramifications affecting your reputation and finances and even raise the risk of litigation against your company that could bring it all crashing down.

Again, MSPs are there to help. They can update, upgrade, and monitor your networks to address weaknesses, secure files, and strengthen your defenses against costly data breaches.

Find the Right Managed Services Provider to Help Your Business Thrive

If you find yourself facing any of the signs or situations listed above – or if your company is facing other IT-related issues – it might be time to find a managed services provider. The best MSPs will help you streamline and secure your IT systems, fueling future growth, boosting productivity, and much more.

If you’re looking for a trusted MSP in and around Bloomington, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, DTS is here to help. Contact our team today to learn more.