How To Select A Managed Services Provider

You have a growing business that relies on computer based technology. What do I mean?… well, computers, operating systems, servers, networks, internet connections, cloud infrastructure, and data sharing applications. Yeah it all sounds overwhelming and jargon filled but you need these things to run your business.

You have been getting by with support from an internal resource or two that have a little information technology experience but maintain other full time responsibilities within the business. You might also as well utilize an outside resource at your internet service provider or local computer store.  You know its not efficient, it’s a drain on your internal resources and problems seem to fester.  Its time for a change but what’s next? 

This article is intended to help guide you towards a solution, that will free internal resources from ad-hoc IT tasks and enable your employees to focus on their intended functions, as well help you to have a problem management process and secure technology infrastructure that most effectively supports your business.

Introducing the Managed Services Provider, or maybe you already have one, but it doesn’t seem to be working out. Hopefully these steps will set you on a path towards solving the dilemma and keeping your IT systems and information secure and in top shape.  

  1. Identify your infrastructure. Identify what internal and external infrastructure exists that supports your business. What I’m talking about are computers, servers, network connections and applications. If you’re not quite sure how to gather this information, many Managed Services Providers will assist in the process through an information technology assessment. An information technology assessment should be routine to an MSP and some will credit the cost of the assessment if you decide to sign up for their ongoing services.
  2. Identify your service needs. Decide what elements of the overall internal and external infrastructure need oversight. For example if you host an internal email server, or database server, is this something a third party could take on the management of? Do you require proactive management of network connections, servers, and applications, or do you just wait until they fail and scramble to identify where the problem is? Perhaps our IT problems page, or evaluation checklists can help you come up to speed and refine your approach.
  3. Assemble your business requirements. Now that you have a clear understanding of the components in your infrastructure and service requirements, such as proactive monitoring of critical systems, problem management support, support hours and response times, document these items as they will be critical in moving forward towards a decision on a new Managed Services Provider.  
  4. Interview potential Managed Services Providers. Find out what services each company provides and how they map to your business requirements. Do they have the staff, experience, and hours of coverage to support the business requirements; can they respond in the required timeframes; do they provide ongoing updates on service outages, or operating systems updates and patches?  Is there a standard service level agreement that defines how issues are managed and can it be customized to support your specific requirements?  Identify the cost of services for supporting your current requirements as well as the costs as your business and infrastructure grows.
  5. Select a Managed Services Provider. Establish clear service level agreements defining services provided, operating procedures, response time agreements, as well as key contacts and escalation procedures. Also establish the ongoing reporting provided by the Managed Services Provider and have the reports customized to meet your specific needs.
  6. Review ongoing performance. Review reports provided by your Managed Services Provider and compare them to your service level agreement. Most importantly maintain an open and honest dialogue with your Managed Services Provider. Clear open communications will foster the results you are looking for while strengthening the partnership and mutual respect and trust in the business arrangement.

Network Management Solutions has been providing custom information technology solutions since 1996 for large, mid-sized and small business.  All of our services, including our Managed Service Provider solutions are customized to support our client’s business needs. For more information please call us at 908-232-0100, also reference our online questionnaires and toolbox.

Network Management Solutions  www.nmscorp.com. Please reach out we want to assist you in making your business better.

Network Management Solutions Continues Growth

Network Management Solutions continues to expand its service delivery through the addition of new clients in a variety of businesses and areas throughout New Jersey and New York.  This includes the addition of new financial services, investigations, security, manufacturing, healthcare, and non-profit organizations, among others.

“We continue to expand our services with new and existing clients, add new verticals and expand areas within New York and New Jersey”, said Donald Seisz, President Network Management Solutions.  This includes expansion in Manhattan and Queens New York, Union, Mercer, Burlington, Essex and Hudson County in New Jersey.

There is a growing market for Network Management Solutions’ services.  Our processes improvement, 24×7 monitoring and management, and expert professional services team deliver exceptional service, technical expertise, and value.  Our many years of experience in the Fortune 500 enable NMS to bring unheard of value to the small to medium business.

For further information please contact us.