Some examples of managed services include application and infrastructure management to provide connectivity, network monitoring, security, virtualization, and disaster recovery. In addition, managed services can also include storage, desktop and communications, mobility, help desk, and technical support. Here are some examples of managed services and how they are useful. Managed services also differ from traditional IT consulting agreements in that consulting is usually project-based, while managed services are ongoing subscriptions.
A managed service provider usually offers its service offering by virtue of an SLA, that is, a contractual agreement between the MSP and its customer. Either way, managed services can be a highly efficient and cost-effective IT strategy for businesses of any size. Every company has different IT needs, so some may use one managed service provider for many services, while others may use just a couple. Managed service providers structure their businesses to offer technological services cheaper than it would cost a company to do it on its own, with a higher level of quality and with more flexibility and scalability.
Managed hosting is also a great way to seamlessly expand your existing IT infrastructure, if you already have one. After initially focusing on remote monitoring and management of servers and networks, the scope of an MSP's services expanded to include mobile device management, managed security, remote administration of firewalls and security as a service, and managed printing services. In the new economy, IT manufacturers are moving from full-machine resale to a more personalized managed service offering. Managing daily transportation processes and reducing related costs are significant burdens that require the expertise of providers of managed transportation services (or managed transportation services).
As part of managed services, your provider can protect devices to protect them against data breaches and manage rights as part of an identity and access management system. Managed service providers hire IT professionals with a wide variety of experience and skill levels, although individual companies may focus on specific industries or technologies. According to a Kaseva survey, 54 percent of managed service providers reported an increase in their revenues from cloud management last year, and 65% increased their revenue from cybersecurity services, even during the global economic depression. As the community of value-added distributors (VAR) evolved towards a higher level of services, it adapted the managed services model and adapted it to small and medium-sized businesses.
What differentiates managed service providers from traditional outsourcing companies is that, when a company outsources an IT department or function, the outsourcing company picks up those employees or replaces them with an approximately equivalent number of employees elsewhere. Having a next-generation firewall (NGFW) as part of your managed services protects your IT network against unauthorized access, intrusions, and data loss. MSPs handle the complex, tiring, or repetitive work involved in managing IT infrastructure or end user systems.
