There are many thousands of managed service providers (MSPs) all over the world, and more than 1,300 of them are based in Australia or New Zealand. These numbers make it difficult to choose the right provider.
But partnering up with just one person won’t solve all your problems. When a long-term relationship fails, what happens? Does it lead to results that are different from what each side wanted? There is no guarantee that these bad things will end without costing a lot of money, time, and chances, as well as hurting people’s feelings.
The last thing anyone wants is to make costly and inconvenient mistakes. When choosing a managed services provider, it’s important to be clear about the goals of your business and the criteria you’ll use. A smooth partnership depends on having a good MSP partner.
Finding the Right Managed IT Service Provider
It is worth taking a little extra care to avoid problems. We’ve compiled a list of insider tips that will assist you in choosing the right managed service provider.
- In a number of aspects of your business, managed IT services can make a big difference. If you partner with the wrong MSP, you might get the opposite of what you want.
- Companies are choosing to run their businesses in an IT environment that is managed by someone else. That’s because a managed IT environment gives your team the conditions (protected networks, reliable connections/communications) and resources (hardware/software, applications, strategic insights) it needs to get better at what it does. Cybercrime is on the rise because there is more competition, working from home is becoming more common, and ransomware and data breaches are becoming more common.
- No two MSPs are the same. Some managed service providers (MSPs) are better equipped or know more about your type of business than others. MSPs that have worked well with companies like yours in terms of size, market, and type of business should be looked at. MSPs that have a strong presence in your area should be looked at, in case you need tech support on-site.
- Using industry standards, MSPs can be judged on how well they do their jobs.
These questions will help you figure out if a managed service provider is a good fit for your business in terms of their skills, commitment, and credentials. Most of the time, a service provider looks good when they give good answers to these practical screening questions. has a more in-depth question-based guide.
Very Important
- Do they care about what your business does and how it works? If they care more about what the provider has to offer than what you have to say, they won’t listen to you and probably won’t come up with a solution that works best for your business.
- Do they want to do something small? If you aren’t happy with the terms of your first engagement, you don’t have to sign a long-term contract.
- Who can believe them? (Takeaway): Choose service providers whose clients include many well-known brands and important business leaders. It’s a good idea to look at customer reviews and sites from third parties.
- Are they willing to send their customer service team to a place that isn’t Australia? (Takeaway: Because Australian engineers understand the language better, they can talk to each other and solve problems faster.
- Do they focus on fixing problems or on preventing system problems in the first place? Look for providers who proactively fix problems that keep coming up, with the goal of keeping a problem-free environment for a long time.
- Do they know how to make a solution less risky and take the time to explain it to customers? (Takeaway): Great providers actively protect their customers from threats and risks that could hurt their business and slow them down.
- Will they let you check out their facilities? (Takeaway: Choose service providers who are proud to do things right because they are doing things right.
- How fast can they get to your place? A person who you can count on whenever you need them is always better.
- How do you think their security looks? Every MSP works hard to make sure that their customers’ IT infrastructure is safe. They are very serious about security audits, patches, vulnerability testing, whitelists and security audits. If you don’t do this, your business could lose a lot.
- They can work with people who are already there. (This is not something that all MSPs can do. If they say they can’t, you should ask why.)
Moderately important
Are they willing to challenge you? (Takeaway: Providers with the expertise and experience to challenge your assumptions and suggest better-than-expected solutions should be at the top of your list.
Are they able to establish and maintain good relationships with third-party vendors (and are they resellers or accredited)? A good MSP will have many partnerships with top third-party vendors and solutions that have been approved. The more people, the better.
How does a monthly report work, and what is it? The best providers do more than just follow the rules for monthly reporting. They use the event as a way to show how they can improve processes, margins, profits, etc.
Are they industry experts? Takeaway: Look for companies that are similar in industry, size and business line to yours.
What is their skill set? (Takeaway: The more services a provider is able to offer competently, the better.
What kind of service guarantee do they offer? (Takeaway: A good MSP will guarantee the quality of their service without locking you into a long-term contract that could cost you a lot of money if you leave early.
Slightly Important
- How much do they cost? Takeaway: Managed Services have become essential business tools, much in the same way as utilities. When things need to be reliable and consistent, the price is secondary. Instead, high standards of quality and dependability are put first. There are MSPs who provide excellent services without charging a lot. Keep an eye out for the best.
Don’t get into a bad relationship. These qualities are evident from the beginning.
- High Net Promoter Score and an impressive list of clients (NPS).
- Several accreditations and certifications from third parties
- Service range and coverage in all industries
- Secure practices
- Verifiable reputation for commitment, quick responses and solutions, adaptability, strategic insight, and fair pricing.
Lastly, make sure to check the water before getting in. Look for services that let you try them out for free. A good MSP won’t force you to sign an agreement you don’t want. You’ll want to join a great MSP because you like the service they provide.
