Managed IT Services, also known as Managed Service Providers or MSPs, can provide your business with cutting edge IT infrastructure plus the advantage of a dedicated team, external to your organisation, that handles the day-to-day logistics of keeping the digital side of your business safe, secure and efficient. This, of course, leaves you and your staff time and energy to focus on running your organisation and focussing on the roles and responsibilities you do best!
As an experienced Managed Service Provider, the team here at Aspgate have been in the IT industry for some time, and we know from experience that shifting your digital systems to a managed service can, if handled incorrectly, disrupt your workflow and delay projects. So here are our tips for ensuring your shift from in-house IT management to an external provider is smooth and stress-free!
Tip 1: Ensuring You Pick the Right Managed Service Provider
Before you start the process of transitioning to an MSP, ensure the MSP is right for your organisation. When comparing providers, consider:
- Reliability: does the MSP you’re considering have an excellent track record of compliance and sensitive handling of data? Do they have a variety of other clients proving their expertise?
- Scalability: as and when your business grows, can the MSP keep up and provide support for more staff, multiple locations or more users?
- Proactive approach: will the MSP provide 24/7 cyber security monitoring and alerts?
Tip 2: Check the MSP Has a Plan for Transitioning to Their Service
Transitioning to an MSP should be largely invisible to your customers and clients, and should minimise disruption to your team. A good MSP will do the following:
- Audit your current IT infrastructure, systems and workflow before planning the transition and the services they’ll provide.
- Create and provide a formal plan for transition, including risk mitigation strategies, ownership and accountability, timeline and milestones, and plans for ongoing communication between the MSP team and your team.
- Plan for a controlled shift from your in-house systems to the managed service. Instead of a ‘all in one go’ approach, there should be a staggered shift as your business begins to implement new systems and procedures such as multi-factor authentication and new wifi networks.
- Plan for onboarding your staff onto new procedures and systems. Regardless of the size of your company, all your staff should be fully trained on new systems and given ample time to familiarise themselves with them, and ask questions.
Remember that transitioning to an MSP isn’t an end goal: it’s the start of a long and fruitful partnership in which your organisation’s IT systems will improve. With that in mind…
Tip 3: Establish a Partnership with Your MSP
When you begin working with a managed service provider, you need to ensure you’re on the same page regarding your business’s goals and values. Plan for regular reviews with your MSP to ensure they’re providing what you’ve asked for, and ensure your MSP is aware of your organisation’s key performance indicators so they can align their service with them. Ask how your provider will strategise to improve and optimise your digital systems over months and years of your partnership. Make sure the MSP you choose will function as an external branch of your organisation, as opposed to a far-away third party you only talk to once in a blue moon.
Ready to Make the Move?
We’re here to support you at every step! Browse our IT Management services here to find out exactly how we can support and grow your digital infrastructure so that you can focus on running your organisation. If you’re not sure what you need, or if you suspect your current systems need a complete overhaul, ring the team on 0330 390 6888, or email enquiries@aspgate.co.uk to arrange a phone call or video call. No question is too obvious and no business deserves subpar digital systems! We look forward to hearing from you.