What Does an IT Managed Service Provider Do?

“What does an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) do?” you might ask. Well, for a general overview you can read all about managed IT services in our article, Everything you need to know about managed IT services.

We also had a little look at some of the more frequent IT issues businesses face in our blog, Common Issues that Managed IT Services can help with.

However, in this article, we’re going to dive a little deeper into what an MSP actually does and the tasks they undertake that help introduce structure and improve workflow, communication and productivity for businesses.

So without any further adieu, let’s find out exactly what a Managed IT Service Provider actually does!

Maintain Overall Health

Making sure the general computer systems and network are running optimally is crucial for success in any business.

An MSP provides general maintenance and monitoring, including software subscription and renewal, anti virus protection, patches and upgrades, and other services to ensure the IT systems are supporting the business most effectively and resolving issues quickly, ideally before the user even detects them.

MSPs install software agents on your devices that constantly monitor the health of your system and allow overnight updates and immediate detection of threats at any hour.

This proactive method of operation comes with the benefits of increased productivity and lowered downtime for businesses.

MSPs will also provide generally monthly reports for overall system health, meaning you can be assured everything is operating up to standard.

If you’re a business owner in need of general computer maintenance, get in touch with us today.

Support Your Operations

Your business operations and processes rely on a critical balance of human resources and technology.

Operating issues affect the whole business, and can have an impact on productivity, efficiency, performance, employee satisfaction, workplace culture, client satisfaction, quality of output, delivery timelines, and more.

While managed IT services support the daily operations of your business, they can also tailor their tasks and advice to suit specific projects and business or industry-specific events, such as EOFY, Christmas, or lockdown restrictions.

Monthly meetings with a dedicated IT manager ensure you can discuss business efficiency, employee onboarding and offboarding and systems management, as well as voice any questions or concerns you may have.

If you have larger points for discussion, the executive is available for meetings too.

A Managed Service Provider can help identify projects that are in need of recalibration or improvement, and work with you to help resolve and optimise performance.

The same goes for assisting businesses with managing and servicing clients and suppliers. A skilled MSP can help you to manage storage, backup data, maintain security, and implement and manage processes.

If you’re a business owner in need of a supportive and knowledgeable Managed Services Provider, contact us today.

Analyse and Optimise

To ensure your business isn’t flying blind, MSPs provide you with IT reports to help you with planning and goal setting.

As previously mentioned, there are monthly reports for overall system health which give you insight into the performance of your various systems.

Besides this standard monthly report, a reliable MSP will also provide more detailed reports, which include information from every desktop, server, update, and security patch, as well as internet availability.

If you are a larger business, a multi business unit company, franchise, work closely with other businesses, or have a flexible work model, your job just got a little easier!

At your request, your MSP can give you a summary or specific breakdown of information pertaining to your query, saving you the hassle of coordinating with and relying upon various departments and work groups.

These reports not only give you insight into how your IT systems are tracking, but they also provide invaluable data for analysing business performance and implementing more effective business strategies.

A business also needs a disaster recovery plan (DCP) and business continuity plan (BCP) (discussed further in 6 examples of managed IT services) to ensure that you can survive and thrive in times of crisis, which can be included in your service plan with your managed service provider.

Business Development and Growth

When you engage a Managed Services Provider, you not only have access to a team of experts working on your business, but you also receive guidance and support in the functioning and growth of your business.

Whether you are a growing business looking to scale or your goals centre around performance and other milestones, an experienced MSP will partner with you to overcome obstacles and meet your objectives.

Because of this partnership basis, an MSP will provide you with guidance, expertise and consulting not only with your IT infrastructure, but also with your business as a whole, to ensure your IT needs are met today, while also facilitating progress towards your future goals.

For example, at IT for Business, our technicians and management team have long standing experience with a wide range of businesses, from an array of industries, all in various stages of their business journey.

This allows us to provide insight and guidance to help you make the smartest decisions for your company and avoid errors and setbacks. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense to include an IT expert in strategic discussions. Afterall, IT is one very important ingredient in the recipe for business success.

If you’re a business owner in need of a supportive and knowledgeable MSP, contact us today.

Want to learn more about Managed IT Services?

At IT for Business, we are not just experts in IT, but we’re also experts in business.

For a Managed Service Provider who goes the extra mile, get in touch with us today to talk about your business IT needs.

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