The year is quickly coming to a close, and it’s time for your business to evaluate how it did. This includes identifying aspects that worked well and those that need improvement. For instance, you may find that your current managed IT services provider (MSP) won’t be able to keep up with your anticipated business requirements or is currently failing to deliver their promised level of service to your company.
If so, then it might be time to look for a new MSP for the coming year. But how do you pick a good partner and avoid making the same mistakes as before? Here are the top five traits you must consider:
#1. Technical expertise
This is one of the most important qualities you should look for when searching for a new MSP. The provider should be well-versed in many fields of IT, from cybersecurity and corporate app development to virtualization and cloud computing.
Find a partner that customizes industry tools for your business, not one that just presents your company with out-of-the-box solutions. For example, your MSP should set up software such as Slack, Salesforce, and Mailchimp according to your organization’s needs so that employees will no longer need to go through steep learning curves and instead become more productive immediately.
Your new MSP should also be knowledgeable about the latest developments in technology. For instance, they should know how to deal with ransomware attacks, given that 2019 saw a 77% surge in such attacks. This is important because MSPs must not only know how to react to disasters, but also prevent any IT issues from occurring.
#2. Excellent track record
Choosing a new MSP to partner with is a lot like shopping online — you have to read the reviews carefully before checking out. Check if the MSP has an excellent history of satisfied clients, especially those that are in the same line of business as your own.
Look for client reviews on the MSP’s website and see if you can relate to their experiences. Online searches may also bring up helpful and unbiased reviews of the provider you are vetting. Identifying their industry partners can also be vital to your research.
#3. Curiosity
A good MSP should truly care about your business. They should ask questions about your company mission, business model, and employee count, among others.
An MSP’s inquisitiveness will indicate their level of commitment and how far they will go to help your business become more successful.
#4. Flexibility
An MSP’s goal should be to enable your business to realize its potential and enjoy success. That said, they have to tailor their services according to your needs.
Let’s say that your business already has an in-house IT staff and infrastructure. The MSP you’re vetting should be flexible enough to adjust to this scenario. They can, for example, work with your current team to maximize your resources to meet your company objectives.
#5. Accessibility
It’s important for your business to receive support at a moment’s notice. With cyberthreats becoming more dangerous these days, it’s only a matter of time before your business becomes a victim of an attack, be it malware, phishing, or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS).
This is why it’s important to choose an MSP that’s easily accessible. And in case something goes wrong and online tools are not enough, they must be able to visit you on-site to resolve any issues.
For instance, if your entire IT infrastructure goes offline because of a malware attack, an effective MSP will immediately spring into action and visit your office to sort out the problem and have your business up and running again.
Don’t settle for less when finding a new MSP in 2020. Binatech’s professional IT team will always look out for your business to reduce downtime, optimize your IT infrastructure, and improve office productivity and efficiency. Interested? Drop us a line today to get started.
