Key characteristics of a quality managed IT services provider

Key characteristics of a quality managed IT services provider

In today’s climate, more and more companies, especially small- and medium-sized businesses, are turning to managed IT services providers (MSPs) for solutions to their IT problems. MSPs prove cost-effective and are often quicker than by-the-hour IT services providers, which send agents physically on-site in the event of an issue.

As hiring MSPs has become more popular, so too has the number of providers. However, not all of these providers are made equal, and it can often be difficult for managers to parse between the wheat and the chaff when looking for a potential IT provider to engage. Luckily for those in the Long Island and Metro NY areas, Healthy IT is there to provide a wide range of IT solutions.

Here are some of the characteristics of a high-quality managed IT services provider that you should look for:

1. Bottom line-focused

A key aspect of managed IT services providers’ appeal is enhancing your business’s profitability. As such, a provider you engage should be as similarly focused as you are on keeping your costs low. This means not offering extra services that they know aren’t needed while offering tune-ups, retrofits, and others that will ensure you’ll need them less often. Ultimately, minimizing your costs should be just as much a goal as solving your problems.

2. Quick response times

The other major benefit is the faster turnaround for issues. An effective provider would offer on-call support to help your team navigate issues as quickly and easily as possible. When that proves insufficient, they will be ready to deploy a team to provide hands-on support at any time. Look for an MSP that’s willing to provide as close to around-the-clock responsiveness, with as little downtime as possible.

3. Attention to network security

An effective provider should also focus on protecting your network from external threats. This includes being able to identify risks well in advance, and taking the appropriate measures to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your secure data and files. In the event of a cyberattack, an MSP will have measures in place to mitigate consequences, while providing immediate backup and disaster recovery support.

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4. Scalability

Growth prospects play a part in most businesses’ strategies, especially those in the small-to-medium range. As such, your provider should be prepared to cope with the increased load from expanded operations. Thus, if your company ever experiences periods of explosive growth, you know your provider will be able to provide the same level of service to you, regardless of how many workstations fall under your scope.

5. Cloud migration services

More companies are becoming reliant on cloud services due to the convenience and flexibility they offer. Partnering with a provider with a cloud-hosted service enables you to enjoy these advantages while eliminating the need for bulky server equipment. As with scalability, it’s best to get ahead of potential developments, and ensuring that your provider is cloud-adept ensures you’re equipped for the future.

6. Reliability

At the end of the day, you need to partner with a provider that will stay on top of your issues until they’re resolved. They must also be personable and willing to explain IT issues and solutions without using highly technical jargon, or “geek speak,” so you can make informed decisions. Moreover, you need to have experts who can map out innovations and roll out enhancements to improve your IT infrastructure.

That said, it’s not always easy to gauge reliability at a glance. Any provider worth their salt must have accreditations and licenses, while tenure is always indicative of consistency, though not always a comprehensive measure.

Choosing a managed services provider is a major decision that will have enormous consequences on your business. Conduct due diligence to find out whether a potential provider will be able to deliver quality customer experience, from word-of-mouth to customer reviews and case studies.

Healthy IT has gained the trust of many business owners throughout Long Island and Metro New York. One such entrepreneur is Dr. Anthony Gentile from the Sachem Dental Group. He says that:

“The best benefit of working with Healthy IT is their fast response time and the confidence we have knowing that any tech issue will be resolved in a timely manner, and without excuses. If you’re even thinking about switching IT companies, then it’s time to change… Choosing Healthy IT will allay concerns because they are attentive, timely, and they know the value of keeping you in business and running smoothly all day!”

So if you’re looking for a reliable MSP, get in touch with the Healthy IT’s technology specialists and benefit from fast, friendly, and highly responsive IT services today. Call us at 631-224-9450.

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