Tag Archives: #IT

Avoid Common Mistakes When Choosing A Managed Service Provider (MSP)

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Shot of a young attractive businesswoman working late at night in a modern office

Hiring a Managed Service Provider? Here’s what you need to know.

One of the biggest myths or misconceptions about partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is the idea that your entire IT department will be replaced. However, this is not the truth. Generally, businesses and organizations like yours will use Managed Service Providers to provide assistance to the current members of the IT team.

Small businesses and mid-sized businesses will often hire a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to provide the support they would receive if they make high-powered advances to their IT department, but the MSP can come at a lower cost. There are several benefits to hiring a Managed Service Provider (MSP). One of the key benefits is that an MSP will handle the application and network security issues so members of the IT department will not have to.

Your business or organization wants to grow, but what happens when the growth comes at a rapid rate? If a business or organization is growing extremely fast and there are no resources in place to keep up with the growth, this can cause a variety of problems. However, how can you choose a Managed Service Provider that can fulfill your needs?

Sometimes business leaders do not consider every important detail or factor when it comes to choosing an MSP that can be the right fit for them. Here are some mistakes that we hope you can avoid when hiring an MSP.

Mistake 1: Giving Up Control

Some Managed Service Providers are well-known in the industry because they are large. However, does the popularity or size of the business mean the provider is right for you? If the MSP is so popular and well-known, how often would you be able to contact the MSP when you needed assistance? Would you have the customer support you really need?

Some Managed Service Providers will not have the time or patience to cater to your needs because there are so many other businesses or organizations receiving their services as well. Your Managed Service Provider should be a bonus or extension of your business or organization. You should still have control over your business, but you will need an MSP that is easy to reach when you need help.

Mistake 2: Choosing A Managed Service Provider That Is Not Responsive

No business or organization ever wants to experience an extensive period of downtime. However, what happens when you choose an MSP that is not able to help you right away during your downtime?

If the MSP provider you choose fails to respond to your request when you are experiencing downtime, it can result in a very challenging period of time. Your business or organization needs an MSP that has an effective system that can alert them when there is an emergency or a period of downtime. If your business is down for a prolonged period of time, this can result in an outstanding loss in profits and revenue.

Mistake 3: Believing That Each MSP Will Provide The Same Services

When it comes to Managed Service Providers, there will not be a one-size-fits-all model. We do not want you to choose the first MSP you find because you believe they are all the same. It is important to ask the right questions before making a decision so you can find the MSP that offers the services and features you need.

With so many Managed Service Providers stating they can offer the best services for your needs, we understand how difficult it can be to make a final decision. If you want to learn more about the services we provide at SystemsNet, please do not hesitate to reach out to us today. You can complete the online form or call us at 888-676-1228.

How Small Businesses Can Outsource All Your IT Needs

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Small business owner on the phone with outsourced IT company with questions holding a tablet

Are you spending too much time in IT and not enough time on your other business needs?

The business world has changed significantly in the last twenty years, especially when it comes to your business IT management. Never has it been more expensive to keep an in-house IT expert, or more accessible to outsource. With unemployment at an all-time low and demand for technical skills at an all-time high, startups and small businesses don’t stand a chance in the hiring frenzy for IT technicians of any kind. Salaries and benefits packages are on the rise and competition is fierce even among tech giants who could once have hired anyone they pleased.

IT Outsourcing for Small Businesses

So how does a small business stay cutting-edge and tech-savvy (or just keep your website and office computers functional) in this environment? It’s easy, you outsource! The thing about the current tech-industry environment is that the technicians know they’re in high demand and like any healthy market, that demand is being met!

There are now many types of outsourceable IT services available to serve small-business needs at small-business prices. As long as you’re willing to share. And hey, you don’t need full-time IT anyway. Just someone to help keep your website afloat and fix the computers when they get mischievous.

Full-Service Website Hosting & Maintenance

The best place to start is with your website. Every business needs a website, and you certainly don’t need an in-house developer to get one, then host and maintain it with all the necessary considerations. All you need is a full-service web hosting provider. Start by hiring a web developer contractor to build you an awesome website that can be managed with standard controls, ensuring that it has all the necessary security measures and features and is not made in WordPress, which is hacker-bait.

Next, host that website with a reputable hosting service like Azure, AWS, or Digital Ocean who also provide managed security hosting and website maintenance packages. Website IT solved until you decide to hire another temporary web-dev for an update.

On-Site Computer Repair Services

You don’t need an IT employee for your on-site office equipment support either. In most small businesses, the computers need direct physical servicing once in a blue moon. If you are leasing or renting your equipment, the leasing company often has a repair service available who will help you keep your computer, tablets, printers, and such in good condition in addition to installation and setup. Most cities also feature more than a few on-site computer repair services who would be glad to count you as their occasional clients.

So if a computer starts doing something you don’t understand and needs direct support, a local repair service can help over the phone or send a technician right over to fix it. So that’s in-house device IT covered as well.

Managed IT Service Provider(MSP) & Cybersecurity Team

Finally, there’s your network setup and business data security to consider. Your company’s network security is critical to everyday functions from managing inventory to keeping customer information safe from hackers. And you don’t need an in-house IT employee to take care of that either. There’s already an entire industry of service IT known as MSP for Managed Service Providers. Yes, the name is vague, but it’s definitely IT.

MSPs specialize in network, server, and software stack IT services from installation to ongoing maintenance and upgrades. And, of course, they’re prepared to take care of all your cybersecurity needs for these aspects of your business tech as well. With your cybersecurity and network management covered, that’s all your business’ IT needs neatly outsourced without a single recruiting competition for a high-priced in-house IT staff member.

Whether you’re a new startup trying to protect your cash flow or a practical small business looking to keep up-to-date on today’s complex IT business demands, there’s no need to join the War for Talent for in-house IT. Not when there are such convenient and reasonably priced outsourcing options made precisely for your small business needs. If you are putting together your outsourced IT stack for services as you need them, when you need them, contact us today! Our MSP team would be proud to help your small business manage your IT expertly from your software stack to your network security.