Outsourcing IT can be defined as a third-party contracted service which provides infrastructure, software, and other technological support to companies. You may also hear this kind of business referred to as an MSP, short for managed service provider. An MSP offers basic IT support services to their clients, under their specific contract. These services are generally offered to organizations on an on-demand basis.
When businesses outsource their IT support needs, they usually do so through an in-house msp. An in-house managed service provider is similar to a small company within a larger corporation. It is usually run by the company’s management team and is led by a senior level manager.
The benefits of using an in-house management services provider are that there are more advantages and benefits to the owner of the company who uses the managed services providers instead. Businesses who use an in-house managed services provider may not have access to the same level of technical expertise as those companies that chose to outsource their IT support needs. Furthermore, businesses that utilize an in-house managed services provider may not have the technical skills to effectively plan for disaster recovery should a disaster recovery plan occur. Businesses may find it helpful to consider the disaster recovery strategy that would work best for their organization. If a disaster recovery plan is implemented correctly, then businesses should not encounter any difficulties when recovering data or systems following a disastrous event.
On the flip side, an MSP is able to provide highly skilled IT professionals to companies who may not have the budget in place to hire a full-time in-house IT professional. An MSP can provide similar or better IT support services than an in-house IT professional. One of the benefits of using an outsourced MSP is the ability to work with a network of hundreds or thousands of customers at one time. With a managed service provider, companies are able to get their business up and running again in a timely manner.
One reason why companies choose to outsource IT management services is because it can save a company money. Companies that do not engage in IT management services providers can potentially spend thousands of dollars each month on IT expenses. Furthermore, organizations that do not use the services of an MSP can potentially experience a loss of customer and employee relationships. Organizations that utilize an in-house IT professional may also face a loss of training time and a loss of employee morale.
An additional benefit of utilizing an MSP is the speed in which an IT manager can respond to a large demand. When an MSP is called in to handle a large request, they will typically be able to establish an efficient time frame for the completion of the request. This means that there is not necessarily a wait period before a client gets his/her problem solved. This allows small businesses to get back to doing what they do best, which is making products and providing services to customers. Many small businesses that utilize an in-house MSP are able to reduce the number of service calls made to them by as much as 40% when compared to when they were managing their own IT infrastructure. In addition to reducing service calls, companies are also able to avoid a large loss of equipment when an IT manager has to respond to a large call center traffic.
On the other hand, using an in-house MSP also requires an organization to take on the risk of hiring and training new technicians. This is because an organization must assume responsibility for all of the employees that are employed in an MSP position. For companies that do not employ their own technicians in-house, they are required to hire third-party technicians who are often unable to maintain the same level of expertise as in-house technicians. On top of this, an organization must also pay for the training of new employees who have no business experience whatsoever in an MSP position. Finally, an organization may be required to reimburse any expenses associated with using an in-house MSP.
In short, using an in-house MSP can be advantageous for small businesses but it comes with a number of disadvantages. First, hiring and training personnel to manage your IT infrastructure is a significant expense. Second, while an in-house technician can be more efficient than an outsourcing technician, an MSP is not guaranteed to stay on the job. Last, an MSP may not have the knowledge or skills necessary to ensure the completion of your requested services. For these reasons, we recommend that before you decide whether or not to use an M SP, you contact a managed services provider who can provide you with both the advantages of an in-house solution and the guarantee of a high level of customer service.