An MSP is a managed service provider, and it is a company that you hire to manage your IT infrastructure, as well as your systems. Many small and medium-sized businesses hire an MSP because it is more cost-effective than hiring an IT department to do the job. They are able to focus on their products, services, and customer satisfaction without having to worry about IT.
What Exactly Is IT Infrastructure?
Your IT infrastructure refers to the hardware, software, networks, and services that you use for your operations. Your hardware includes the physical devices, such as servers, computers, hubs, routers, and more.
Software is all of your applications used internally and used to provide services. This includes web servers, CRM tools, productivity applications, operating systems, and more.
Your network connects the devices in your company. It includes internet connections, network connections, security, firewalls, and more.
Your IT infrastructure can be traditional, where everything is done through a physical server, or it can be cloud based. Cloud-based services are a network of servers used online, and they are scalable and easy to use. Many businesses are transitioning to this type of infrastructure.
What Does an MSP Do?
When you use an MSP, they take care of all of your IT infrastructure needs. They can monitor, maintain, and manage your networks, hardware, software, backups, restorations, security, patching, and more. They monitor your systems remotely, and they update as necessary. They also report to you on the quality and availability of your services. They can advise you and help you buy new hardware or software as well.
When you hire an MSP to manage your IT infrastructure, you don’t have to worry about any of your IT. You get access to an IT staff with experience, and they will make sure that your systems are always up and running. They can help you adopt new technology and keep your data and other information secure.
Benefits of Hiring an MSP for Your IT Infrastructure
When you hire an MSP, they manage, monitor, and maintain all aspects of your IT infrastructure. Take a look at some of the benefits to your business.
1. You Can Avoid Downtime
Downtime is a bad thing for any business. It kills productivity, annoys customers, and prevents you from getting your work done. An MSP will constantly monitor all of your systems and they can resolve any problems before they become a major concern. Then they will find the root cause and make changes to your system so that it doesn’t happen again. This is very important because downtime can cost you thousands of dollars per minute in losses.
2. You Have Access to IT Experts
An MSP has experts in IT on staff. They know what they are doing, and they are up to date on the current trends. Your employees may have a basic working knowledge of various parts of IT, but it is very costly to have an IT expert on staff. If you get new technology, you may find that your team isn’t using it as efficiently as they could. You may have trouble getting different teams in your company to use it, and the software might not work the way it should.
When you have an MSP, they will help you implement the new technology. They have the experience to advise you on how you can improve the processes in your business, and they can teach people how to use technology that you have. Since their sole focus is on your IT infrastructure, they can help make sure that you have the technology that you need.
3. They Are Experts in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of your IT infrastructure. As more processes are taking place online and in the cloud, there are more cyberthreats than ever before. Hiring a full-time employee to ward off these threats isn’t necessarily the answer because threats are present 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When you hire an MSP, they will monitor your systems 24 hours a day. They will always be familiar with the latest threats, including malware and more. They can make sure that your antivirus software is always up to date and that your data is protected from breaches. They are able to anticipate what hackers will do and stop them before they get into your system.
Your cybersecurity is so important for many reasons. Malware can freeze your systems and be very expensive. If you have a data breach, it can harm your reputation, and you may lose customers. When you use an MSP, you don’t have to worry about your cybersecurity because they will handle it for you.
4. You Get Access to the Newest Technology
Another reason why an MSP is important to your IT infrastructure is that they help you gain access to the newest technology. They are aware of the current industry trends, and they can help you decide which software is worth it for your company. There are so many different options out there, and you will have your own expert consultant who can help you make sure that you have the best software for your company.
5. Your Teams Can Focus on What They Do Best
When you have an MSP handling your IT infrastructure, you and your teams can focus on your products, services, and customers. You can spend time staying current in your industry so that you can outpace your competitors. You can focus on customer feedback and implement changes to your products and services to give your customers what they want.
It is important to keep your customers happy and satisfied, and you can focus on this. You can take the time to show your customers that you value them, and you can help them understand your products and services. This is a much better use of time for you and your teams, which is possible when an MSP is handling your IT needs.
6. An MSP Is Cost-Efficient
It can be more affordable to use an MSP than it is to hire an in-house IT team. When you hire your own IT team, you need to pay salaries, benefits, and office costs. You have to train them and their staff, and this occurs every time you get a new employee. Your in-house team is unlikely to manage your systems 24 hours a day, so you may need to supplement with an MSP anyway.
When you use an MSP, your costs are predictable. Normally, they have an SLA that outlines what services you can expect and what the cost is. This makes it much easier to plan, and it keeps your costs down.
Final Words
There are many reasons to use an MSP for your IT infrastructure, as it improves the efficiency and productivity of your business. It ensures that you have access to the latest technology, and they keep your systems up and running all the time.