If your IT operations seem too heavy to bear for your internal IT department, you know it’s time to up your game by investing in a third-party managed service provider. They’re fully equipped with all the tools, advanced innovations, techniques, and expertise in IT tasks. While you may need to pay upfront costs for their services, there are surely numerous benefits that can affect your bottom line.
However, like any other business decision, it’s better to observe and keenly understand the other side of the coin. For you to make careful decisions as to whether hiring MSP is the best solution for your IT needs, it’s paramount to reflect on their advantages and downsides, if there are any.
Having said that, take a look at both the pros and cons of hiring IT-managed service providers.
Pros:
Cost Savings
If you’re considering hiring more manpower for your internal IT department, expect additional costs like their salaries, insurance, and allowances. To invest in training new employees and expanding your office will also require additional resources. When computed in total, you’ll realize how costly this can be. And there’s no guarantee that the additional manpower you hire is enough to sustain all the IT tasks.
When you hire a managed service provider, these impractical costs can be saved. For instance, going for Caltech’s cyber security services in Dallas or other reputable IT service companies will save you from spending monthly salaries on employees. Their services are charged at fixed project rates. There is no need to worry about unforeseen costs because the service provider communicates their fees in advance. You can set a budget for their service and be able to stick strictly to it.
Typically, MSPs charge monthly fees for their services. The ongoing server support and maintenance fee will be charged every month. There is no need to hire full-time IT staff. Imagine how much savings this will be on your end. Not to mention, you won’t have to expand your office for your internal IT department. By paying monthly for MSP, you know your expenses well in advance.
Unparalleled Expertise
One of the obvious reasons most businesses rely on managed service providers like the one on this site: https://www.itsco.com/managed-it-services-raleigh/ is because of their unparalleled expertise in the IT sector. While hiring the best candidates for your IT department is possible, it’s safe to say that their expertise and skills come with limitations.
They can’t compare with the expertise and skills that MSP members usually have. There could be a lot of technical and complex IT issues that only expert professionals from IT service companies can be able to resolve. In MSP companies, chances are they’re equipped with diverse talents that are well-versed in all areas of IT.
Smooth Transitioning Of New Systems Or Software
As a business, you aim to grow and expand your business gradually. Therefore, the time will come when you need to upgrade and update your tech systems and software. Unfortunately, your limited resources will make it difficult for you to implement new technology quickly when you manage your IT operations yourself.
Incorporating a new software application into your business requires hiring and training new employees and takes time and effort for your team. It can even add more pressure and take a toll on your internal IT department. They can make your system transition more successful and expedited without hurdles.
Performs Data Backups
In the event of a network outage, regularly scheduled data backups ensure that your business doesn’t suffer severe downtime. An attack by ransomware may force you to restore your network to its most recent backup if your network goes down. This may be a disaster if your in-house IT staff fails to perform data backups successfully.
MSPs can save you from a lot of trouble in situations like this. Imagine how your company would suffer if all of the past week’s work and files were lost. Needless to say, your business should move forward by backing up.
Furthermore, downtime can quickly add up in terms of costs. The longer you are offline, the more likely you will lose data. Backups can be automated by an MSP so that they are completed as frequently as possible. They ensure that all your data are safe and secure and have been backed up regularly. Whatever accident, disaster, or incident happens, you can rest easy knowing that your business can restart operations seamlessly.
Protects Your Network
Business accounts need to be protected from cyber risks. But cybersecurity is a common concern for most businesses worldwide. This is where an MSP is crucial. Your network can be protected with the latest cybersecurity hardware and software that only these professionals may gain access to. Some of these protective equipment and tools can add to a hefty investment. When working with an MSP, you’ll have them for free as part of their service. Doing this ensures that your network is protected from various types of threats, including phishing, malware, and ransomware.
Managed Service Providers can also conduct dark web scans to determine whether personal information has been leaked onto the dark web. You can sometimes see where information was stolen from a third-party provider your company works with via dark web scans. Therefore, when there are breaches, they can work on them right away to track down cybercriminals.
Cons:
Remote Operations
An MSP’s biggest drawback is that many of them aren’t located close to your business. Most of these companies operate remotely. Managing your technology remotely may mean you have to take charge of resolving issues such as hardware damages and malfunctions. However, if your hired MSP is based within your parameters, it’s still possible to get their on-site support. But you need to ask ahead whether this service is included in their package offering.
Limited Scope
Another disadvantage of MSP is the limitation of scope. Your contract will not cover nearly all technology areas. You are responsible for third-party software if your contract doesn’t support it. Creating a contract and checking which services are included in your subscription are vital. There will typically be a list of applications that an MSP supports. So in an event that you need them to work on something that is not covered in the deal, your in-house IT team should be the ones to fix them.
Conclusion
Before investing in hiring an MSP, any business owner should be able to weigh their pros and cons. Using an MSP may be a good idea if you frequently need technical support or have to spend too much time fixing technical issues yourself. Hopefully, by understanding the two sides of the fence, you’ll realize how helpful MSPs can be in your business.
