5 Fundamental factors to consider when choosing a managed IT services provider

5 Fundamental factors to consider when choosing a managed IT services provider

A managed IT services provider (MSP) is a third-party organization to whom a business can outsource its IT services, solutions, and management. Partnering with the right MSP brings a suite of benefits, including more efficient workflows, optimized systems, and higher cost savings. It’s therefore critical for your organization to work only with a reliable MSP that can support your current needs and take you to the next level.

But how do you determine which MSP to partner with? Look for these crucial factors:

1. Quick response times

A good MSP shows that they care about your business by getting back to you as soon as they can. There is no need to follow up on a ticket in order to get an update; instead, a reliable MSP gives you a timeline of when they can address your concern.

While guaranteed response times may vary with every MSP, it’s important to ask how fast they can resolve low-, medium-, and high-priority issues. Ask them as well how quickly they can deploy personnel if your company needs on-site support. The right MSP will not only give you acceptable response times but can also explain the metrics and statistics used to calculate those estimated figures.

2. Proactive solutions

Your MSP should be more than just a company that repairs your IT. Great MSPs go beyond the break/fix service model and instead offer a wide range of proactive solutions that could prevent IT failure in the first place.

For instance, Kortek Solutions is a local MSP that provides custom hardware, email/spam protection, and 24/7/365 monitoring to ensure secure, optimized, and efficient systems. Because MSPs are paid a flat monthly rate and not according to the number of issues they fix, it is in their best interest to keep your IT in excellent condition.

3. Expert IT advice

Choose an MSP with an expertise in the industry you serve. If you run a healthcare practice, pick an MSP that specializes in health information privacy regulations and compliance. This way, you can guarantee that your technology partner can craft customized solutions for your unique business requirements.

An MSP that’s both a tech specialist and an industry expert will also be able to give critical insights regarding your overall technology strategy. They can break down in simple terms what IT investments or policies you must undertake and clearly explain how these tech decisions will impact your business.

4. Transparency

Good MSPs are honest. They provide a service level agreement (SLA) that sets a baseline for all the services they offer, ensuring that these services always meet your expectations. What’s more, this SLA is reviewed and adjusted regularly to guarantee that MSPs can continue to address their clients’ changing needs.

The right MSP will also never push for expensive solutions that you don’t really need. They will instead offer a customized package of services within your budget. In addition, they charge a flat monthly rate without hidden fees, making budgeting for IT expenses predictable and easy.

5. Interest in your business

Pick an MSP that shows interest in how you do business. They should ask questions pertinent to your goals, mission and vision, processes, and measures for success, and should be keen on solving IT problems together to achieve business targets. They may also talk about their success rates with organizations similar to yours, and how they have helped these businesses reach greater heights.

If you’re searching for an MSP for your Las Vegas business, look no further than Kortek Solutions. We have been providing world-class IT services and support to small- and medium-sized businesses for over 29 years. In a rapidly evolving and increasingly global market, we’ll arm you with the latest technologies so you can stay one step ahead. Get in touch with us today.