Are you thinking about switching to a new managed IT services provider? Perhaps your current MSP doesn’t meet all your IT needs, and you don’t see enough value in the partnership anymore. Whichever the case, don’t stick to an IT relationship that doesn’t work. You can always find a new managed partner that checks all your IT and business expectations.
However, switching IT providers may not be as easy as you might think. There are more than 40,000 unique IT providers in North America alone. It might seem like you’re spoilt for choice here, but the sheer number and diversity of the MSPs out there make it difficult to find the right one.
Having already worked with an unfulfilling IT provider, you probably have a rough picture of the ideal MSP for your business. But just to be sure you’re on the right track, here are four important criteria for selecting your next managed partner.
Focus on prevention
According to an overview of the MSP market, security is one of the most outsourced IT services. Pay close attention to how the new MSP plans to provide IT and data security. They should demonstrate a proactive approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes both preventative and responsive measures.
Besides digital security, the MSP must also identify and mitigate IT-related issues before they can cause serious problems. Remember, the IT provider is not there to fix systems after they break but rather keep everything operational to avoid downtime and unnecessary repairs.
Evaluate the provider’s processes
When switching IT providers, ensure you clearly understand what to expect from the new MSP. You can learn a lot about a service provider from their work process and how they interact with clients. Look up the provider’s website for a section or page detailing their work process. Find out what the MSP does from the first day you sign up. For instance, do they visit your site, conduct IT assessments, consult with you, install their own hardware or software, etc.?
The best IT providers have their processes worked down to a proven system. Although each MSP-business relationship is unique, there should still be an order to structured service delivery.
Determine the MSP’s key performance indicators
If you’re switching IT providers, you probably have some unmet IT goals. What are they, and can the new MSP help your business achieve them? You might expect your business to attain a certain level of security or compliance, reach new digitization heights, or cut IT costs below a specific limit by outsourcing IT.
To determine whether an MSP fits this bill, ask them about their key performance indicators or success metrics. How can you gauge the service provider’s performance against the expected results? Understanding this should give you a good idea of the value and impact an MSP can bring to your organization.
Consult reviews and references
Find out what other people or businesses say about each of your MSP candidates before taking your pick. You can get all the technical details about an IT provider from company profiles, SLA documents, and brochures, but only past clients can tell you what it’s really like working with the MSP.
Online reviews and testimonials paint the kind of experience you should expect working with a particular IT provider. Referrals from other entrepreneurs also come in handy when looking for a credible, trustworthy, and dependable MSP.
Pick the right MSP for your business
Choosing a managed services provider is a big decision. Your IT partner can make all the difference in achieving your business goals and objectives. So, you want to make sure you get this right. The ideal MSP should be more than just an IT support service. Go for a partner that can help your business flourish by utilizing digital resources efficiently and safely.
End your MSP search with KME Systems when switching IT providers. We give a damn about the pain points your business is dealing with and look to fix those issues. Our team is just a call away from helping you navigate IT challenges while improving performance and efficiency.
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