How Are Managed IT Services Delivered?

Managed IT Services Delivery

In the last section of our buyer’s guide, we reviewed how managed IT services are delivered. If you missed it, an MSP will provide a selection of services wherein you don’t have to worry about large surprise invoices as you only pay a flat-rate monthly fee. Plus, you benefit from proactive monitoring, maintenance, and support that gives you peace of mind. In this section, we’re looking at exactly how managed IT services are delivered. First, let’s look at why an organization might opt for managed IT services rather than hiring an internal person or leveraging break/fix support.

Why Do Organizations Choose Managed IT Services?

There are a multitude of reasons behind the decision to choose managed IT services. For some organizations, keeping up with the latest technologies is far too difficult and stressful. That’s why they choose to have a strategic technology partner manage their infrastructure for them. For other organizations, industry-specific regulations require them to have a higher level of data protection and network security. They want peace of mind knowing they’re fully compliant at all times.

Aside from the need for innovative technology or enhanced protection, some businesses simply grow beyond having an in-house IT person or a break/fix support company. As they add more staff and integrate more hardware/software into their environment, they need a more strategic approach wherein everything is managed in a holistic manner. An MSP is able to provide a well-trained team of technology experts at a fraction of the cost of hiring an entire team. Plus, these technology experts are trained on a regular basis to stay up-to-date.

How Does an MSP Deliver Managed IT Services?

A good MSP will start with a comprehensive assessment wherein they gather insight into the following:

• Your network
• Your hardware
• Your software
• Any existing vulnerabilities
• Policies and procedures
• Documentation

They’ll speak with you and your executive team to understand what’s working and what’s not working, as well as any goals and/or challenges you have. This will help them develop a managed IT service plan that reflects your unique requirements. Next, they’ll provide managed IT services in the form of:

• Monitoring on-premises networks and applications using an RMM (remote monitoring and management) platform.
• Cloud-based infrastructure and applications via their own data centre or an outsourced data centre.
• A unique combination of both on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure and applications.

Once they’ve installed an RMM to keep an eye on networks, computers, and endpoints, they will start to gather important insight into your network, including:

•     Machine health
•     Machine status
•     And much more

They’re also able to remotely apply patches and updates, as well as install and configure any software required.

Will I Be Able to Receive On-Site Support?

If remote support isn’t able to resolve an issue, an MSP will send a technician out to provide on-site support wherein they troubleshoot the problem. This may or may not be included in your managed IT services plan. It’s best to ask your MSP about any on-site support limitations or added fees before signing a contract.

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