Whether you are evaluating your current MSP or searching for an MSP provider, there are many things you must take into consideration before deciding. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting weeks for tickets to be completed or having to constantly remind your outsourced IT support of the IT issues your organization is facing. Your MSP provider should be able to provide you with the proper technical knowledge for your IT infrastructure whenever you need it. They should also be able to understand your IT business goals and take steps to help your organization achieve them. We have compiled a list of 5 questions to ask your MSP to ensure they are the right fit for your organization:
1. Do they have the proper technical knowledge?
When looking for outsourced IT support for your organization, the most important thing is ensuring they have the proper technical knowledge to fully meet your IT needs. This means not only being able to solve all IT issues that arise, but also being able to provide this support quickly and efficiently. Long wait times or being on hold for hours for a simple fix can set your organization back days, weeks or even months. It is important that your MSP provider can provide proper technical knowledge and support whenever you need it.
2. Do they interact with all facets of the organization?
IT support staff work with every single department in your organization. Because of this, it is important that your MSP provider is helping everywhere in the company. Although some parts of the organization may work with more technical programs, or be more inclined to need tech support, it is essential that your MSP provider takes care of everyone. This includes employee IT security training for all departments and providing IT resources to anyone who needs them. Since IT support staff help everyone within the organization, trust between your outsourced IT support and your employees is vital for a successful IT infrastructure.
3. Do they understand your IT business goals?
Your MSP provider should be aware and willing to help your organization reach its IT business goals. Many small to mid-size businesses do not have the proper technical knowledge or expertise to have a technology leader, therefore it can be difficult for many organizations within this category to advance and develop within the ever-changing technological ecosystem. Your MSP provider should provide a technological roadmap to guide you in your IT decision making and help you reach your IT business goals.
4. Do they take a holistic approach to IT?
When providing IT support, viewing the company as a whole, instead of looking at each individual employee is essential to provide proper technical support and is useful to help organizations reach their IT business goals. Taking a holistic approach to IT not only supports the organization as a whole but it also allows the MSP to fully support your organization. By knowing the company IT infrastructure completely, they can understand what your IT business goals are and how to take steps to achieve them.
5. Do they actively help protect your organization from security threats?
Your MSP provider’s main role within the organization is to provide the outsourced IT support and back- end technical help, but their part within the company should not stop there. An MSP needs to do more, including taking steps to protect your organization. An MSP provider is a safety net that should protect your organization because they work directly with your IT infrastructure. They should be able to track and eliminate cyber threats as well as provide resources and information on how employees can help defend your organization.
An MSP provider can be a beneficial addition to your organization, but before choosing a provider, it is important to evaluate what they offer. Your MSP provider should have the proper technical knowledge to support your internal IT infrastructure and help you reach your IT business goals. The outsourced IT support an MSP offers can help any organization grow and advance successfully.
If you are interested in learning about what CompuData’s MSP services include and how we can help your organization’s IT infrastructure grow, email us.
