Embarking on a journey to collaborate with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can be both exciting and daunting, especially if you’re uncertain about where to begin. Fret not, as we’re here to guide you through the intricacies of this decision-making process. As a current MSP, we understand the nuances involved and aim to provide you with an authentic and transparent perspective on the pros and cons of forging a partnership with an MSP for your business needs. Our experienced team has successfully navigated numerous collaborations, and we recognize the importance of tailoring our services to meet the unique requirements of each client, ensuring a seamless and beneficial partnership from the outset. As you embark on this exploration, carefully weighing the pros and cons will empower you to make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and sets the stage for a mutually advantageous collaboration.

Pros:

1. Replicating the resources and expertise you gain with an MSP would be very expensive. Often having a dedicated cybersecurity specialist, multiple network administrators, professional services team, provisioning team, and help desk.
2. The suite of tools they have access to are oftentimes specialized and expensive. Due to the economies of scale of the computers and networks they support, they can manage and monitor your network at a higher level than internal IT (usually) at a lower cost.
3. They have vast knowledge of technology at hundreds of different locations. They see what works and does not work in different settings. They are not “siloed” and can introduce you to new and better technology to improve your business operation.
4. Robust processes and documentation to ensure tickets are completely in a timely fashion. There is a mutual incentive to fix problems quickly and ensure service tickets are minimized, which requires doing things right the first time!
5. Allows scaling up and down easily. Pricing is often based on a per endpoint or per user. As you grow, your technology spending is easy to predict, rather than having to hire an additional IT team member that may not be working at full capacity or even close to it.

Cons:

1. You have access to the resources, but that amount of time you get is much less than if you had an internal team.
2. They will not know the ins and outs of your business specific applications or vendor nuances like an internal IT person could.
3. Massive variation in the quality and responsiveness of MSPs. It can be difficult to determine which MSP to choose. Support and pricing can vary greatly! To help more with this, check out (16 questions to as a potential Managed IT Provider). The responses to these questions will tell you a lot and help you choose the right provider.
4. Employees don’t have contracts usually… Even if you’re unhappy with a provider. Oftentimes, there is a minimum of a one-year contract in place.
5. Less direct management of your IT systems – Your provider will likely have a standard set of tools they implement. If you or your internal IT prefer a different set of tools, there will often be a mishmash. This is rarely an issue because most organizations hire a Managed Service Provider, so they do not have to consider these things. However, in rare cases, if they do want to stray away from the recommendations, it could be considered a con for both parties.

Read through our list and decide that working with a Managed Service Provider may be the right fit for your business? Still need a bit more convincing? Reach out today for a free consultation to identify your technology and goals! Contact us for more information.