When evaluating the types of managed services in the market, it's important to focus on managed infrastructure services. There are many different types of managed IT services that can be combined into a general package of managed services and offered as a 100% outsourced solution. Network security is one of the core elements of a company's cybersecurity strategy and is infrastructure-intensive, involving firewalls, routers, switches, Wi-Fi networks, and other components of an organization's network infrastructure. Network security is a core element of any fully managed MSP relationship and can also be outsourced as a co-managed IT service.
Many larger organizations will outsource day-to-day management of certain aspects of their network infrastructure, such as firewalls, retail networks, and Wi-Fi, or teleworker deployments. Backup and disaster recovery are key elements of a company's business continuity strategy. Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) services can be implemented as a co-managed service. Organizations with their own IT department often outsource the day-to-day monitoring and management of backup and disaster recovery services, as they require constant monitoring and periodic testing.
Cloud services are another form of managed service that have seen tremendous growth in recent years. While companies can create private cloud computing environments, the biggest growth in cloud services comes from “public cloud” or infrastructure as a service (IaaS) providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. It's very easy for inexperienced organizations to accumulate large bills for cloud services if their team doesn't know what they're doing. Certain managed IT service providers have developed specialized expertise in cloud service management and can provide larger organizations with consulting services and specialized services tailored to AWS, Azure or Google Cloud deployments. SaaS applications are another form of cloud service.
SaaS applications are unique because the consumption model is much easier than running cloud services on AWS or Azure. Mobile devices are a key part of today's managed services. With smartphones with almost 100% penetration in the workplace, mobile devices (mainly smartphones, but also tablets) are critical to employee productivity at work. Because most companies and their employees take advantage of the “bring your own device” (BYOD) approach, mobile devices, even when owned by employees, invariably contain critical company information, such as corporate email, customer data, and even intellectual property. For these reasons, companies cannot allow mobile devices to become their weakest link.
Expert MSPs offer their customers mobile device management (MDM) solutions. These services enable secure provisioning of email and corporate applications, along with remote wipe or selective remote wipe when devices are lost or stolen. For some organizations with even greater security requirements, MDM technology can be leveraged for more advanced control and monitoring of mobile devices. And, in some cases, companies will only allow corporate applications on company mobile devices. Backup as a Service focuses on backup and recovery.
With managed backups, all data stored in your infrastructure will be duplicated and stored on a secure external server. The frequency of backups depends on the recovery plan. Each managed services contract is different because these services are often à la carte - you choose which exact services to implement based on the technology and systems you have and which should be managed. In addition, not all managed service providers (MSPs) will offer all services. Because there is such a wide range, some MSPs specialize in some types of managed services or even just one.
A managed service provider (MSP) is a third-party company that remotely manages a customer's information technology (IT) infrastructure and end-user systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), nonprofits, and government agencies hire MSPs to provide a defined set of day-to-day management services. These services may include network and infrastructure management, security, and monitoring. The evolution of MSPs began in the 1990s with the emergence of application service providers (ASPs), which offered a service level for remote application hosting. ASPs helped pave the way for cloud computing and companies that would provide remote support for customers' IT infrastructure. MSPs initially focused on remote monitoring and management (RMM) of servers and networks.
Over time they have expanded the scope of their services as a way to differentiate themselves from other providers - maintenance, security, monitoring, reporting and other services are defined by an SLA that documents what the organization can expect from the MSP. Response times, performance and safety specifications are also included in the service agreement. Data analysis is undoubtedly one of the most important services an MSP can offer - it helps businesses stay competitive by providing insights into customer behavior patterns that can be used to improve products or services. Cloud-based managed services offer remote assistance with aspects such as IT troubleshooting, networking, cybersecurity, responsive support, and data monitoring. When deciding whether to outsource to an MSP or how much to outsource to an MSP it's important to know the types of managed service providers and the services they offer - Managed IT services or outsourced IT are third-party services that provide infrastructure IT and other technical support to organizations with a fixed monthly price so instead of worrying about unexpected costs every month you can easily budget for your IT needs. Managed IT services are far from a one-size-fits-all solution so it's essential to partner with an MSP who understands your business and is actively involved in helping you meet your goals - The OTELCO Cloud and Managed Services team can help you assess your current IT environment and future needs. It's also something that is asked a lot of managed service providers to have the generic answer they always use ready - it is the remote management and monitoring of technology which can lead to better IT stability cost savings budget predictability better security In this type of service relationship the provider manages certain infrastructure or service functions while you maintain control over your data.
