5 Flaws to Avoid When Hiring a Managed IT Service Provider

The IT department is vital to any business to take care of any technical issues and cloud applications. Getting a managed IT service provider can introduce a lot of advantages for your employees and help you take care of those complications so that the company can focus on its regular duties.

However, it can take some time to find the right MSP who will fit the company well. There are some service providers that end to upsell what they can offer, or there’s a simple case of miscommunication.

Here are some flaws you’ll want to avoid when picking and hiring an MSP:

Holding No Responsibilities

It’s a common misconception that getting an MSP means that a company no longer has responsibilities for its regular applications and software. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re working with the MSP to improve and regulate its use, meaning there’s still some shared responsibility involved.

MSPs may have all the knowledge about everything IT-related, but your company’s position and nature of business may be more unique. Communicate your needs to the service provider, so they take that into account when creating IT solutions and integrating programs.

Delegating Full Control

Another mistake is giving complete control to an MSP because they are knowledgeable about everything tech-related. Some prominent cloud providers are public and handle so many clients that you will be asking for too much when making them take charge.

Instead of seeing an MSP as an organic part of your business, keep in mind that they are an outsourced team chosen to partner with the company. Seek a provider that can be transparent about what they can deliver and have control over.

Choosing an Unresponsive MSP

It’s a complete red flag when an MSP isn’t responding, especially when the system is down, and people are unable to finish their tasks. Workflow can depend on the MSP’s ability to troubleshoot these issues, decreasing daily productivity when that isn’t met.

Downtime should be attended to as soon as possible. Perhaps an MSP made a claim that support is available at every hour of the day. If it sounds too good to be true, check their references and reviews online about what they have to say about that.

Believing All MSPs Are the Same

It isn’t fair to say all service providers are the same, considering there’s a wide variety to choose from. Each MSP also offers a range of resources and tools different from fellow competitors to help attract clients and cater to a company.

There isn’t one MSP that will be able to offer all. Each one has its specialty that can match a company’s nature of business and needed IT solutions. This is why it’s important to screen the relevant and experienced MSPs that can help your business.

Creating an Unclear SLA

When a company has decided to hire an MSP, a service level agreement is created. This contract usually has all the conditions and duties lined out to reduce any complications. However, there might be a few blunders that you can make with your SLA.

A company should be able to spot faulty SLAs and report them. One common issue with MSPs is proper data security and handling of confidential data. A non-disclosure agreement should always be created and signed in conjunction with the SLA.

Conclusion

By keeping these points in mind, it’ll be much smoother to choose and employ an MSP. Just remember to communicate the services they offer and smooth the details out before finally closing the deal with a contract.

Looking for managed IT services? Bracer Systems Inc offers enterprise-quality IT service solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses in Alberta, Canada. Get in touch with us today!