In the area of managed IT services, there are three main components that require some type of mandatory and ongoing monitoring and management. These three elements are your infrastructure, your platform, and your software. As a managed service provider, we want to help consumers understand the different types of managed services that exist so that companies can make the most informed decisions when it comes to their IT infrastructure and processes. The types of managed IT services are extensive and can affect all components of an organization's technological environment.
Business and IT leaders also have the ability to combine services to meet their needs and often opt for a fully managed IT solution in which most IT functions are outsourced to a managed service provider. This blog will highlight six of the most common managed service offerings. End user services can cover a wide range of offerings, but they typically revolve around the IT support channels and methods that an organization has in place for its employees and customers. At the most basic level, end-user services include an IT support service or a technical support solution in which users can resolve technical issues through a team of trained agents. Problems can range from support for mobile devices and operating systems, installing and updating applications, connectivity errors, and other desktop IT services.
When evaluating the types of managed services in the market, focus on managed infrastructure services. Think of IT infrastructure as the heart of any company; as everyday business processes and critical functions are increasingly digitized, the infrastructure responsible for facilitating them must operate with maximum efficiency. Cloud services are becoming a necessity for companies that want to remain competitive in today's changing business and IT landscape. With cloud-based services, organizations can easily adapt to new business growth by scaling their services, creating a more predictable IT budget, and much more. Because the cloud is an on-demand, web-based service that offers file sharing, data storage, and secure remote access to a company's network, employees can be productive from virtually anywhere.
Organizations that partner with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) will receive validated alerts in real time in the event of a data breach or other security incident. However, the likelihood of a catastrophic security event occurring is dramatically reduced if you take advantage of the experience of an MSSP, as it will mitigate risk through proactive security measures such as Managed Detection and Response, Threat Detection, Email Security Services, and Security Awareness Training. However, another type of managed service is technology support. This support can take the form of a project such as a large SharePoint build or a Teams implementation, a technology evaluation, or ongoing technical support for business applications. If you're overwhelmed by the different types of managed IT services and you're not sure which ones are right for your business, Buchanan can help. Our team takes a consultative approach and spends time getting to know your IT environment, people, and processes.
The result is a personalized, holistic managed IT solution that will reduce your staff's workload, offer a higher level of service, and help you achieve your IT goals. Managed packages are full-service managed solutions designed to act like an in-house IT team. These packages combine multiple managed service solutions. At a minimum they should include some form of comprehensive security, backup, monitoring, and support services. On-site IT services often referred to as Managed Field Services involve a managed service provider sending technicians to a specific location to perform a variety of IT tasks which may include the installation or repair of equipment cabling or wireless projects site inspections and more. With so many versatile options and the business world's increasing dependence on technology it's no wonder that the managed services market is growing so fast.
Under this subscription model the customer is the entity that directly owns or oversees the organization or system being managed while the Managed Service Provider (MSP) is the service provider that provides the managed services. Alternatives to Managed Services include working with an MSP or purchasing delivery management solutions. OTELCO's cloud and managed services team can help you assess your current IT environment and future needs. Instead of replacing in-house IT with an MSP you can use managed services to take over and take care of daily tasks. If you're seriously considering a managed services solution it may be beneficial to schedule a free Managed Services Consultation. It's also something that Managed Service Providers get asked a lot so they always have their generic answer ready. Soon after signing a Managed IT Support Agreement with Kelser your Technical Alignment Manager (TAM) will visit your site to familiarize yourself.
If a company doesn't have the skill or bandwidth needed to complete a critical IT project it could benefit from partnering with an MSP for resource support and technical expertise.