What Is a Managed Service Provider?

An MSP provides all or part of an organization’s IT services, including monitoring and managing servers, networking, security, backup and disaster recovery—usually remotely. As a result, you don’t have to buy or manage your own equipment or hire full-time IT staff members. From network maintenance and data protection to complete business continuity planning—when an unexpected event occurs that threatens your organization’s critical functions, a managed service provider can help keep your business up and running 24/7/365 without having to pay large capital expenses upfront or incur expensive staffing costs over time. Their fees are typically based on a per-device or per-user basis, which can help you keep costs down as you grow.

What Are the Benefits of an MSP?

MSPs offer many advantages to small businesses that don’t want to be burdened with the cost and complexity of running their own IT infrastructure:

• No Capital Expense—When you use an MSP, they handle all the equipment purchases and maintenance. That means your business can start operating immediately without any upfront costs. Most MSPs even offer financing options so you can purchase services on credit.
• Lower operating expenses—An MSP typically provides better service at a lower cost than if you were in charge of managing your own IT infrastructure. For example, an IT company may charge $250 per hour for basic computer support services while an MSP charges $180 per month for a similar level of coverage. In addition, if something goes wrong with your technology, it’s one less thing for your staff to worry about
• Business Continuity Planning—Many MSPs provide Business Continuity Planning (BCP) services that can help minimize the disruption to your business if a disaster occurs. These specialists establish and maintain backups of your data, develop standard operating procedures and ensure that everyone in the company knows how to access critical information in an emergency.
• Security—Whether you have sensitive financial or customer information on your computers or servers, regular security assessments should be part of every business’s protection plan. An MSP offers comprehensive IT security services such as risk assessment, penetration testing and policy creation. This can keep up with new threats without requiring internal personnel to spend time on daily maintenance tasks.
• Better Service for Remote Employees—Many companies have workers who are out of the office most or all of the time. An MSP can help you set up your remote employees with secure access to your network and on-site support so they can get their work done no matter where they are.

How Do You Choose an MSP?

When searching for a managed service provider, keep these tips in mind:

• Seek recommendations from other business owners—Word-of-mouth referrals are one of the best ways to find a good MSP. Check with local small-business organizations and Chamber of Commerce chapters, as well as industry associations.
• Compare three or more providers—When you find an MSP that seems like a good fit for your company, ask them to give you pricing information on services such as security, disaster recovery planning and data protection. Make sure they can clearly explain what each service entails before signing any contracts.
• Trust your instincts—If something doesn’t feel right about the provider, keep looking until you find someone whose style is a better match for your company’s needs.

Key Takeaways

As you can see, a managed service provider is an excellent choice for any business. It allows you to focus on your core competencies while leaving the management of your IT infrastructure to the experts. Our team at is ready to provide you with all the benefits of a managed service provider at an affordable price. Contact us today—we look forward to hearing from you soon!

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to a type of Internet-based computing that relies on shared resources, virtualization and software as a service (SaaS) rather than dedicated hardware. Cloud computing is an incredibly flexible way for businesses to get the infrastructure they need without having to buy and maintain expensive hardware. It can help business owners save money in many different ways including buying only what’s needed, avoiding duplication of services or hardware, reducing security risks by eliminating sensitive data from being stored on servers in your office space and more.

Now that we’ve covered what cloud computing is, let’s talk about how it can benefit your business.

Benefits of Cloud Computing for Businesses

• Cost Savings—The most obvious benefit of cloud computing is the cost savings it offers over traditional hardware options. But that’s not where the benefits of this technology stop! Another great benefit is how easy it is to scale up or down based on your needs at any given time. This means you don’t have to worry about paying for a more expensive server if you suddenly need it.
• Greater Flexibility—Another great benefit is the flexibility of this technology. If you have workers who are constantly traveling or temporarily out of the office, cloud computing can make their jobs easier by providing them access to all the files and information they need from any device with an Internet connection.
• Reduced Security Risks—By storing data in the cloud rather than on your own servers, you’re also reducing security risks significantly since your sensitive data isn’t vulnerable to physical theft or damage like it would be in a traditional server room setting.
• Professional Management—In addition, having this service managed professionally means that you don’t have to worry about managing it yourself or finding someone else who can manage it effectively. This makes things simpler and allows your business to spend less time worrying about IT so employees can focus on what they do best: running your company!

Now that we’ve covered why cloud computing is best managed by professionals and how it can benefit your company, let’s go ahead and talk about why it’s important to find a service that’s reliable.

Why It’s Important to Find a Reliable Service

When you choose a cloud computing provider, finding one that is reliable is of the utmost importance. This means you need to choose a company who has been around for some time and has an excellent reputation. Your business may need access to your data at any given moment, so you don’t want to risk being left without it because the service went down unexpectedly or isn’t backed up properly. It also means choosing someone who can provide the level of support you need as quickly as possible in case something goes wrong with your technology. That’s why it’s best not just to look for a provider with an excellent reputation but also one that offers 24/7 support via phone, email or live chat if needed so they can help keep your business running smoothly when something unexpected happens.

Our Cloud Computing Services

With cloud computing services from our team of experts, you’ll never have to worry about choosing a company that will let you down. Our team is available around the clock to help you with any technical issues or concerns you may have and we’re happy to help provide support for your business no matter what time of day it is. Contact us today to get started!

Know What Your Provider Can Offer

When choosing a managed service provider, know what they can offer you. This means choosing a team that knows how to handle the types of problems you encounter and is flexible enough to deal with any situation. This will be the most important choice when it comes to protecting your business from outside dangers, so choose wisely!

Develop a Working Relationship

When choosing a managed service provider, you want to make sure that they are going to be able to support and protect your business. This doesn’t mean making sure they have the best technology or most certifications; it means discovering what kind of relationship they offer their clients. This is especially important when using an outsourced solution for security, as you will need someone who is willing to take on responsibility for protecting your business and data.

Look for Flexible Support Staffing

When choosing a managed service provider, look at how flexible their staff is. While some customers prefer long relationships with smaller teams of specialists, others would rather work with a more generalist team that can provide different solutions depending on the problem at hand. Either approach can be successful, but in general it’s better to go with a team that knows how to handle any situation than one that specializes in just one type of problem.

Contracts Are Crucial

Always read through contracts carefully before signing them. This is especially important when you’re working with an outsourced team, as the contract will likely outline how they can be paid, their level of access to your systems and data, and any other concerns that may arise over time.

Work Together to Create a Disaster Recovery Plan

Disasters happen. Businesses that have a disaster recovery (DR) plan in place are more likely to recover quickly and without too many complications. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to create a disaster recovery plan on your own, which is why you should work with an outsourced IT provider who can help you put together the best possible solution. A well-designed DR plan will account for all of the following:

• What kind of disasters are likely to occur in your area?
• How likely is each disaster to occur?
• What would be the biggest impacts of each type of disaster?
• What steps do you need to take if a disaster occurs?
• How much time does it take for you to get up and running after a disaster has occurred?
• How much data loss or downtime can you tolerate before needing to start over from scratch?

Answering these questions ahead of time will make the recovery process easier in the event that something goes wrong with your business continuity plan.

Clear Communication is Key

When working with a managed service provider, make sure that you’re both on the same page. This means making sure that you understand what they can do for your business and how their staff will interact with your employees.

Key Takeaway

While managed service providers can be a game changer for businesses of any size in any industry, the benefits you’ll see from working with one are only as good as the effort both parties put into the relationship. By following the suggestions listed above, you’ll be able to get more out of your relationship with an MSP and really see the value a service like this can bring. Schedule a free call with MJN Technology Services today, and we’ll discuss how we can work together to help you get the most out of our managed services!