So you need a managed service provider? Nowadays, MSPs seem to be popping up all over the place. Unfortunately, a true MSP is as evasive as the new “social media expert:” many will claim these titles but few are actually seasoned authorities in their respective fields.  That is why you should take both the time and consideration while following this 8 step guide on selecting the best fit your company. 

Step 1: Learn  

If you are considering an MSP, you must first learn what that concept/what outsourcing your IT entails, and what the latest industry trends are. This sort of research will provide you with the basic foundational knowledge you will require in order to make an informed decision later.    

Step 2: Identify

Identify the MSPs in your area, their service offerings, your specific business objectives, what business technology solutions you require to meet said objectives, and whether or not these local MSPs provide the solutions that you will require.  

Step 3: Seek

Seek out more information on the local and relevant MSPs you have detected: their clientele, their relevant experience, their references, the scalability of their solutions, their infrastructure, their technical competence, certifications they may possess, number of years in the field, their areas of expertise, et cetera.

Step 4: Evaluate

Now that you have all of this information at your disposal, you need to proceed to evaluations.  Which company or companies seem to be the best fit, seem able to provide you with exactly the solutions, pricing, scalability and client service that you require?

Step 5: References

Always check references! You want to be certain that the company and their employees are only making the best of impressions: that all client testimonials are nothing but 100 percent positive. Ask management for a list of relevant references (where the service provided best matches what you are looking for) and be sure to follow up and call.    

Step 6: Select

It is now time to make your selection.  Be sure that you pick the MSP that best provides the solutions you require and that had the best references.  Ideally you want an MSP who will become your trusted business partner, ready to embark upon a long-term, reliable, quality relationship.

Step 7: Try

Your best way to test out a new MSP is to start small, with only one or a few solutions, and then expand if all goes well. This pilot is meant to help you determine whether or not the MSP you have selected is the best fit regarding suitability, commitment, and competence.  

Step 8: Scale-up  

Once you are certain that this is the MSP for you, then scale-up and integrate all of the available solutions that you require.

Resources

This list brought to you by Innominds Software: www.innominds.com   

Want to learn more?

Contact Bryley Systems today. Call us at 888.280.5799 or email us at Sales@Bryley.com

When searching for a Managed Service Provider (MSP) be a smart shopper: find the best fit for you and your company.

You want Managed Services that are custom tailored to your company's specific needs and goals.  Be sure to keep yourself and your company in mind while in your consultations with potential MSPs: will their services be able to solve my problems and/or will they create new business opportunities?  

The following 10 questions, provided by Bryley's partner Cisco, will help you figure out which MSP is the right fit for you and your company.

1. Are you prepared to offer only the features and functions that my business needs, instead of the ones that you include in your one-size-fits-all service bundle?

You want a service plan that is custom-tailored to your company's specific wants and needs, so be sure to ask what items come in the standard coverage and what services are optional and can be either added or subtracted from the base package.  Be sure to check out the managed technology packages Bryley Systems offers under Solutions on our site.  At Bryley, we offer flexible agreements and service options to match client preferences.

2. Can you describe the services that you offer-and their business benefits-in terms that I, and the other members of my executive team, will understand?

Do not make an uninformed decision!  If you do not understand what the sales person is saying, ask them to describe it in other ways until you do.  Have them address how their company's services will directly benefit your company and make certain you have them explain any terms that you do not understand. Our sales personnel at Bryley Systems are both personable and relatable.  You can email us anytime at sales@bryley.com or call at 888.280.5799.

3. Will you provide case study materials to demonstrate how you delivered a managed service solution that solved a business challenge similar to mine?

Customer success stories, especially customers that parallel your business - your industry, your size, your needs, your business goals - will help you to better understand the benefits of managed services.  They are also excellent reference checks. Finding an MSP with years of experience under their belt, that can explain their methodology to you in terms you understand, and that have many loyal customers willing to give testimony is what this is all about.  Bryley Systems, now 23 years in business, will offer you case studies and references during your consultation and you can check out client testimonials on our site's home page anytime.

4. What is the depth and breadth of your current managed service portfolio? 

Can the MSP explain to you their service migration path?  Should your company's managed service needs expand, is this MSP prepared to expand with you? And if there comes a time when there is a service that the MSP simply is not equipped to handle, do they have Partners they work with that will take over?  Our service team at Bryley is ready to grow with you: comprised of certified technicians, we are constantly learning about, certifying in, and deploying the latest in proven services and brand-name and cost effective technology. Be sure to check out our service team as well as an all-inclusive list of our partners on our site under About Bryley.

5. How can I be sure you will apply the best people, processes, and tools? Is your company certified by a leading vendor, and are your offerings delivered using industry-leading technologies to meet the highest quality of service?

MSPs should provide you with data on how they are qualified to meet your company's needs.  MSPs are often required to obtain "qualification levels" that are tiered from their vendors and partners.  Be sure to ask!  You can check out Bryley's qualifications at About Bryley under Service Team and Partners.

6. Where are your network management facilities located, and what are the hours of operation? Describe your escalation process, in the event of an outage.

Is the MSP only available to you Monday through Friday, 9 to 5?  Or will they be on call for any IT emergency your company may have?  Where are they located?  Are they close enough to you that you can rely on them to be there for you on site when needed?  Bryley Systems is located at 12 Main Street, Hudson MA 01749.  Our hours of operation are the standard Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5, but we are on call for our contracted clients.  Check out our managed technology contracts under Solutions or email us at sales@bryley.com or call at 888.280.5799 to learn more about our after hours availability.

7. What are the assurances for levels of availability, serviceability, performance, and operation? What is the process for remedy if and when levels aren't maintained? 

You want to be assured that the level of coverage you are paying for in your contract is met, and when it is not for some reason or another, how it will be rectified. At Bryley, our service contracts will detail the metrics for you, and our references will provide you with their own testimonials and data, proving our efficiency. 

8. What are the type and scope of management capabilities that you routinely offer?

Examples of typical basic management tools include a service desk and management of various activities including assets, configuration, change, release/update, performance, capacity reporting and planning, and trend reporting complete with recommendations for the future.  Call or email Bryley today to learn about the type and scope of our management capabilities.

9. If required, how will you support existing or acquired IT/networking infrastructure?

Service providers could have policies that limit the device types they support or they only support devices that they install and configure themselves. If you are like many managed service users, then you have an environment where a combination of self-managed and out-tasked infrastructure will need to coexist. Service providers should be able to explain how their responsibilities start and end in this case. They should explain their role in the event that they are asked to operate in a multi-vendor or multi-service provider environment. Call or email Bryley today to learn how we will support your company's existing IT infrastructure.  

10. How do you price and deliver professional services, beyond the scope of the managed service contract?

Be sure to ask for examples of non-contracted services that have been provided by the MSP in the past and the associated fees attached. Call or email Bryley today for such examples.

Call or email Bryley Systems today for a consultation.  Learn about our flexible service packages, our capable, certified technicians, our seasoned management, and our strong relationships with our clients, partners, and vendors. 

Want to learn more about Managed Service Providers and finding the right fit for you and your company?  Check out the full article from Cisco. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns341/ns121/ns852/qa_c67-508933.html