When unemployment is high, there is dramatic increase in startup businesses selling IT services. To compete many existing IT shops are forced to start offering managed IT services they previously felt unqualified to offer before.
As more new and existing shops rush to offer Managed IT Services to grow their businesses; the more there is a need to establish good criteria for selection. Picking the wrong Managed Service Provider (MSP) can spell disaster for a business.
With so many layoffs, many unemployed people are opening up shop as Managed Service Providers. And now, a whole lucrative industry has spawned just to help inexperienced people market MSP services. So regardless of size, anyone can have very slick websites, post cards, and fliers. It is getting harder and harder to tell who has the requisite experience and who does not.
I recommend companies take important steps to protect their business when selecting an MSP.
Here are some suggestions:
1) Look well beyond the websites. There are so many boiler plate websites and they all extol the benefits of the managed services. However the provider must be investigated.
2) Ask how long has the company been in business. They may be great at IT but inexperienced at running a successful business.
3) Ask what services they do and do not provide. Pick a company that offers the right mix of services that provides the most bang for the buck.
4) Ask for customer references for the company and for their services.
5) Do not sign any agreement under pressure. Ask them to leave a copy of their Service Level Agreement (SLA). Read it carefully and then ask them to come back.
Successful businesses have enjoyed the financial benefits of outsourcing a large portion of their IT maintenance for years. Now, there are more MSP choices than ever.
Asking these and other important questions can save your company from the disaster of choosing the wrong managed services provider.
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