Whether you are starting a new business or trying to run an existing business more efficiently, getting the back-office operations right will be key to your success. Choosing the right IT solution is particularly important, and managed service providers give business owners the peace of mind they need — and one less thing to worry about.
By choosing a quality MSP, small business owners can improve the efficiency of their operations, increase the security of their customer data and serve their customers in a more cost-effective manner. Managed service provides companies an enormous amount of value, especially if those business partners take the time to break down the process and create a step-by-step timeline for implementation.
Having a roadmap to work from will make the entire process easier, giving business owners the confidence they need to move forward. Moving from an in-house IT staff to the managed service provider model carries a number of important benefits, from enhanced security to lower costs. Setting up a new business through the MSP model is just as beneficial, and having a solid process in place will make the startup or transition that much easier. Here are the four essential steps to getting the managed service provider model up and running.
Step 1 – Assess
Conducting a thorough assessment is the first step in the four-step managed service provider process. During the all-important assessment step, the MSP will identify the strengths and weaknesses of their new client. The MSP will look at the things the company is doing well in regards to its technology, and at the areas where it could do better.
The assessment step also gives the MSP the opportunity to conduct an exhaustive risk analysis. The purpose of this risk analysis is to look for technological liabilities, from flaws in the software to weaknesses in the hardware and software firewall. The assessment step concludes with a complete documentation of the current state of the firm’s technology. This allows the MSP to properly plan and manage the next steps.
Step 2 – Remediate
The next step is the remediation process. During this step, the MSP will seek to mitigate the technological risks to the business, reducing the dangers posed by hackers, disgruntled employees and other individuals with bad intentions.
The remediation process also allows the MSP the chance to thoroughly document the current IT environment in an effort to improve its efficiency. The goal of this step is to create a managed service environment that is efficient and as cost-effective as it can be.
Step 3 – Management
The next step in the process of working with a new MSP client is the management. This is perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle for the small business owner, and it is critical for the managed service provider as well.
During this step, the MSP will use its state-of-the-art technology to keep its business partner running at peak efficiency, day in and day out. The MSP will carefully monitor the health and status of the network around the clock. This allows the MSP to find and fix small issues before they have a chance to grow into larger and potentially dangerous ones.
As part of the management process, the MSP will also perform preventative maintenance on an ongoing basis. These preventative maintenance tasks are aimed at eliminating downtime, keeping the network and its data safe and maintaining response rates and network speed at an optimal level.
Step 4 – Plan
Planning is the final step in the four-step process, and it is an important part of what a quality MSP does every day. During the planning process, the MSP works with its clients to develop an annual technology plan, one that will enhance security, cut costs and provide a road map for the future operation of the business and its network resources.
During the annual technology-planning process, the MSP will look at things like the cycling and retirement of old and outdated equipment, upgrades to old operating systems and the development of new and more robust back-office systems. The MSP will work with each client to create a realistic technology budget, helping each company make the most of its limited resources without putting their security or data integrity at risk.
Managed service providers give companies an excellent alternative to in-house IT operation, allowing them to lower their costs, reduce their overhead and keep their customers and their data safe. By implementing a four-step process, managed service providers help their clients develop a smart strategy, improving the efficiency of their operations and giving the business owners involved one less thing to worry about.
