Managed Service simply means fixed costsFalse
Numerous IT support companies claim to offer a managed services program, and yet in reality many merely re-label their existing low-value, reactive services.
The misconception is that a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is any IT service organization that provides remote monitoring capabilities alongside more traditional break/fix engagements at a fixed monthly cost. While remote monitoring and fixed costs are key pieces of the puzzle, true value-based managed services is much, much more. A true Managed Service supplier takes a proactive and preventative approach. They provide a collection of IT services designed to minimise the risks associated with IT, and do everything in their power to avoid and alleviate the business impacts arising from IT failure, instead of reacting to these problems once they have happened. The supplier effectively buys the risk associated with the network and becomes responsible for the ‘uptime’ through a Service Level Agreement. If there’s no SLA – there’s no guaranteed Managed Service.
Managed Services results in us losing control
False
A successful managed service relationship should provide a platform that keeps you in control and allows you to run your business the way you like to do things.
A Managed service provider should be able to offer your businesses choices to suit your specific requirements and budgets. In tough economic times it is also important that Managed Service providers can be flexible enough to help you realign IT and business strategies according to market conditions. The key here is that a Managed Service agreement is based on a true partnership; the MSP ensures that your IT always works and you get on with running your business
Managed Services are only for businesses without an IT department
False
One common fallacy is the belief that a company with an internal IT department does not need a Managed Service Provider. Most companies, including those with internal IT departments have a good working relationship, trust and communication with their MSP. A Managed Services arrangement can for one example, enable the IT department to do work on higher value projects while the MSP handles the things that are important, but take up too much time. A Managed Service arrangement is a way of ensuring maximum availability to users, whilst making best use of the resources and budget available.
To conclude...
These myths have often been brought about by false claims and categorisation of managed services. Now it becomes clear why so many IT service companies fail in their pursuit of true managed services. Selecting your MSP should not be a task undertaken lightly and references, as well as rigorous meetings (both on in your premises and those of the MSP) with the potential MSP’s full team including the technical team is essential.