The Complete Guide to Hiring the Right Managed IT Service Provider

Outsourcing offers a multitude of business opportunities. It's a great alternative for businesses that can't afford the hefty cost of hiring an in-house team. 

Many businesses of all industries and sizes hire Managed IT Service Providers (MSPs) because they can provide extensive IT services.

That sounded like a pitch, right?

Yes, but that only comes if you hire the right Managed IT Service Provider.

And let me tell you, there are a lot out there.

If you’re looking to hire a Managed IT Support Provider but have no idea where to start, this article is for you.

This guide will lay out the best tips to help you pick the right Managed IT Service Provider for your business.

Why it’s critical to hire the right Managed IT Service Provider

Most, if not all, businesses require some level of IT to run their business.

And we all know that IT doesn’t come cheap since you will usually need a skilled set of people with specific expertise to manage it effectively.

When your business is on a tight budget, it’s critical that your IT spending is as on-point as it can be.

One of the best ways to achieve that goal is to outsource your IT to a Managed Service Provider.

How?

Managed IT Service Providers offer a plethora of services that can accommodate businesses of all sizes in managing their IT.

MSPs typically provide services, such as cyber security, cloud computing, helpdesk and support, tech consulting, etc.

Once you partner with an MSP, you’ll have access to these services anytime you require them without the hassle and hefty cost.

What to look for when hiring the right Managed IT Service Provider

Looking for the right MSP for your business is a huge task.

There are various things to consider, which we will cover in this section.

Remember that the MSP should help you focus on running your business and take advantage of new opportunities.

Helpdesk and Support Availability

When you’re considering Managed IT Service Providers, one of the most important things to look at is the effectiveness of their IT Support.

Think about this: you’re working on a critical report in the middle of the night, and your Microsoft 365 licensing suddenly encountered some problems.

So, what do you do?

Of course, you reach out to your IT support team so you can finish that report ASAP.

When your IT doesn’t have round-the-clock IT support, you might have to wait until morning to have an issue fixed, which ultimately delays your work progress. And any tech-related delay is not a good thing for a growing business.

Ask these questions to your prospective MSPs:

• What is your response time? How about during non-office times?
• How do you typically do support? Phone, video call, or chat?
• How often do you do (on-site or remote) maintenance?
• What is the easiest/fastest way to contact you?

These questions might be rather basic, but it is essential to lay these out in the open before moving forward.

Proven Track Records & Success Stories

Customer reputation and track records are important factors to look at when you’re hiring a Managed IT Service Provider. These factors will let you see how credible they are and if they’re a company that you can trust.

To start, you can check their websites for case studies and client testimonials. You can also check their social media and business directory platforms for reviews.

If you want to go above and beyond, you can reach out to their existing clients to ask about their experience with the company.

You can also ask how the MSP helped them with their business, especially in sticky IT situations. 

Employee Qualifications

One of the main reasons businesses work with MSPs is because they lack the resources to manage an all-around IT department.

So, when you’re with the right Managed IT Service Provider, you expect that you’re in the hands of skilled and experienced individuals ready to provide the best IT support.

If you find that your prospect MSP doesn't have this quality, scratch them off your list immediately!

Of course, you only want the best people handling your IT to ensure quality service. Some of the criteria you should look out for are:

• years of experience
• certifications
• expertise
• problem-solving skills

On top of that, you should have a general idea of the MSP’s available support technicians, their average response time, how they conduct support, and the IT services they provide.

Industry-Specific Experience

Although going for a broad-ranged MSP is not necessarily a bad thing, hiring one who is an expert in your industry would be a better choice considering they know the ins and outs of your enterprise in terms of IT.

They understand the standard operations in your industry and how they could incorporate them with technology, and they have helped other companies excel in that same area as well.

Industries such as mining, accounting, and healthcare require higher-level IT management and execution responsibilities. And that will require an experienced MSP to implement solutions more seamlessly.

Hiring the right Managed IT Service Provider doesn’t only mean keeping up with the latest IT trends and collecting certificates. It’s also about being an expert in an industry to provide the most beneficial solutions to their technical problems and help them reach their objectives.

Result Delivery and Proactivity

Reaching your business objectives should be the end goal when hiring a Managed IT Service Provider.

So aside from experience and qualifications, flexibility and adaptability should also be a factor in effectively managing the business as it grows.

The MSP must provide proactive solutions that will not only fix a problem but prevent that problem from happening again in the future.

The focus should be on your overall business results, not on trivial IT issues. When you’re in talks with an MSP, take note if they ever discuss business results or how they could get your business in the direction you want.

Summed Up Wisdom

Hiring an MSP can do wonders for small and large businesses alike, but only if you hire the right one.

You will have to look at multiple factors such as support availability, experience, qualifications, track record, and proactiveness. Sticking to these factors will help you decide whether they could provide you with the business results you want or not.

If you are considering hiring a Managed IT Service Provider or want to transfer to a new one, reach out to us for a free consultation, and we can discuss how your business can flourish with IT.