An IT Managed Services Provider, or MSP, is an organization providing strategic management and delivery of information technology (IT) services for a client.

Managed IT Service Providers proactively assist clients both strategically and tactically by overseeing and directing the management of your IT infrastructure, offering advice on improvements and taking a vested interest in your long-term success.

There are many benefits to hiring a Managed Services Provider for your IT needs. An organization should consider the following:

CompTia’s Trends in Managed Services study noted that 46% of firms using IT Managed Services cut their annual IT budget by 25% or more. And of those firms, 13% saved 50% or more.

The contract between you and the IT MSP specifies what services are included and any time considerations and/or limitations (e.g., 10 hours of IT education for employees per month).

Most of the time, organizations find their IT with an MSP is “set-it-and-forget-it.” That is, the MSP simply takes care of the IT services in the background with minimal involvement from the client.

If you need service that is a covered service, you simply let your Managed Services Provider Account Manager and/or the helpdesk know. The service charge is included under the contract. You can still request and receive uncovered services, however, they’ll just be billed to you outside of the IT MSP contract.

Your MSP Account Manager usually conducts monthly review and planning meetings to ensure the MSP is meeting your needs.

The actual cost of the contract will vary depending on the basket of services you and the Managed Services Provider agree to. Generally speaking, the per-hour charge is discounted as you are bundling services and agreeing to a longer contract duration.

Some MSPs may offer additional discounts if you pay annually versus monthly and/or if you pay via bank draft/check/cash versus credit card.

The benefit of the pricing model is that it’s a known cost on a known interval that is easily accommodated within your budget and plans.

In addition to considering the cost and types of services the IT Managed Services Provider provides, you should also consider:

Experience: How long have they been providing Managed Services? How many clients are they currently serving? What kinds of services are they well-versed on providing?

References: Ask the MSP to provide a list of references of existing clients, especially those in your industry.

Proximity: While most routine services can be conducted remotely, sometimes you need support onsite. A local MSP who can be at your physical locations on short notice is a big plus.

Compu-Gen Technologies has been providing IT services for over 30 years for hundreds of satisfied clients. We’ve worked in every industry and, for every client, staff a team of experts to deliver our best every day.

And, we offer an entire suite of solutions to create a holistic system for you including IT services; video, fire and other security systems; point of sale systems and merchant services, and business communications solutions.