Know How Managed IT Services are Changing the IT Landscape

If you have a strong IT department full of talented and creative whizzes who can do wonders with codes, would the best utilization of their time be to maintain or fix run-of-the-mill glitches? By breaking free from this cycle, you would be surprised to know that an IT team can be a revenue churner through innovation, expertise, and brainpower.

Transitioning from the 90’s break/fix system

To remedy this, organizations can now outsource their IT systems to external providers to manage daily IT processes, overall security, and infrastructure. The managed IT Services Delivery model is a great way to address day-to-day maintenance issues and improve business operations while leaving ample time for the organization to focus on its core issues and development path.

Through this model, Managed Service Providers can manage the daily functioning and responsibility of a business’s IT process from a remote location through the Cloud. From network monitoring to combating cybersecurity threats, MSPs offer various packages that can be customized according to business needs.

What makes Managed IT Services a popular choice?

Stay on top of your game. Hiring a managed IT service provider provides expert IT staff without the need to invest in hiring or training resources.
Keeping it central – An organization can run the servers and applications centrally from a managed data center, ensuring higher employee performance and access to virtual services.
Strategy-ready—Managed services make it easy to think in advance, as the MSP offers advice on any new infrastructure required, upgrades to be made, and systems to combat viruses and crashes.
Outsourced team—Another benefit of managed services is complete access to a fully up-and-running IT department. It comprises an IT manager and a virtual CIO who develops a game plan and roadmap to determine how the IT wing complements your organization.

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Things to consider while leveraging Managed IT Services

While making a move to a managed services arrangement, here are a few things to keep at the top of your mind:

Accountability – The prime reason to opt for Managed IT Service is to improve operational efficiency and minimize the IT issues hamper your organization’s progress. Hence, it is vital to ensure that the MSPs are accountable and deliver consistently on improvements. A great idea to track progress would be asking for regular reports and analytics to understand how their work is bringing about change and causing progress.
Track record—Before signing a contract with an MSP, it is essential to run a background or record check to ensure they can deliver quality outcomes and offer proactive services. Check their references, learn about their clientele, and learn about their journey with these companies.
Pricing—Choose an MSP that offers flexible pricing options and transparency in dealings. Whether implementing or migrating applications, choose an MSP that offers end-to-end services in customized packages.

How to choose the right MSP?

Did you know that the managed service providers market will be worth USD 257.84 billion by 2020? Suppose you want to participate in this scenario after considering the pros and cons of Managed IT Services and are contemplating finding the right MSP. In that case, it is crucial to consider the MSP model’s size and decide upon the appropriate pricing model.

Here are a few types of MSPs you could opt for:

Low-Level—These service providers offer minimal services, ranging from managing the client’s network infrastructure via an IP network to collecting data from the client’s site through a physical server. These MSPs generally cater to organizations with a small employee strength of 50 to 300.
Mid-Level –These MSPs offer a broader set of services, including software installation, upgrades, patching, and handling of broad aspects of the client’s network. These providers target Fortune 500 or 1000 companies.
High Level—The most high-end service providers offer the entire gamut of IT services and are responsible for the overall health and functioning of IT processes and workflows.

Pick a Pricing Model

Here are some of the standard pricing models offered by MSPs:

Per User: Best suitable for companies where employees work on numerous devices
Per Device: Works well for companies that are interested in a flat fee per each device the MSP supports
Tiered: Subscription fee is compiled based on the bundles/certain services covered under a package
Value: Pricing is determined on the basis that a single fee is applicable for managed services offered to the organization
A La Carte: Clients/organizations can pick a variety of services offered by MSP and club them as one package, which is priced accordingly

Useful Link: Why Managed Services? A Glance At Emergence, Present And Future!

Managed Services Engagement Model

When you are ready to select a qualified MSP for your business, you must sign a service agreement with the provider. This is where a Managed Services Engagement Model comes into play—it captures the client’s specifications and requirements, manages the level of services provided, and mentions the pricing structure.

Here are a few MSP Engagement Models which are available and commonly used:

Hybrid Support Model: This model employs a ‘mix and match’ approach, combining various services to meet the organization’s requirements. For example, a managed IT services client could probably need both application support and development work. These support teams could be split between off-shore and on-site.
Managed Service Model—This model attributes the highest roles and responsibilities to MSPs in charge of the organization’s entire IT infrastructure. Hence, the organization can feature few or no IT resources in this model, and the MSP is solely responsible for all the services.
Application Support Model—This model offers technical service to rectify application issues and employs either basic help desk service or an in-depth tech help model. It could also extend to staff augmentation services, which involves adding on-site IT staff purely based on the technical expertise/skill set needed and pay calculated for hours put in at work.
Flexible Model—Suitable for small businesses, this model offers a package that involves selecting a smaller IT support aspect at reasonable rates. It doesn’t feature any dedicated resources for issue resolution. The pricing model offers support based on a fixed number of hours monthly or yearly.

Useful Link: How Managed IT Services Help Industries ‘Scale-up’ Performance?

Being futuristic through Managed services

While companies prepare themselves for long-term success by charting a roadmap for success and sound vision, the question arises: How can companies safeguard their future business prospects via managed services?

1) Staying at the top of tech and market trends

Managed IT service providers (MSPs) must continuously stay updated on technology trends. They must also plan the software they will use now and in the future, as they offer high-grade project management support and outsourcing models for large organizations.

Since MSPs are also prepared to handle multiple time zones, they must stay informed about the various technologies used worldwide.

2) Knowing the services with the highest value add

To be future-ready, MSPs must figure out those services constantly in client demand and offer the most value added. Since big data and analytics are the future of businesses, MSPs should develop technical expertise in their areas to help clients collate and analyze their data for apt business insights.

Another area in which MSPs should expand is the Cloud, which handles analyzable client data. Look for an MSP who excels in these areas to ensure your business is prepared for the future.

3) The right methodology

Organizations should focus on quality and improvement methodologies to enhance the managed service provider (MSP) business model. This approach can help MSPs devise quality improvement goals, establish values and a quality-based culture, analyze data, communicate outcomes, and improve risk management.

Pros and Cons – Managed Services Engagement Model

Pros
Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Managed Services Engagement Model is its flexibility in terms of solution offerings and service packages. Organizations can use the various support tiers for small—to high-level issues and make strategic system changes.

Organizations can select suitable packages to meet their goals and business requirements through the various engagement models.

Cons
Perhaps this model’s two biggest challenges are Project Management and overall pricing control. Therefore, organizations must balance time, cost, and objectives while leveraging the engagement model.

Avail Managed IT Services

Veritis is a North American IT infrastructure Services provider with decades of experience handling various IT requirements, from infrastructure, security, and maintenance to application management. It has been a strategic partner in various industries, including BFSI, government, health care, manufacturing, and retail.

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Security

Infrastructure

Know How Managed Services are Changing the IT Landscape