With the latest trends in business pivoting towards the incorporation of technology for just about every task, automation has greatly revamped the playing field. Technology has come a long way and it aids your business in so many ways ranging from enterprise resource modules to digital accounting journals. All this tech runs on a combination of software and hardware, and with each advancement, you will be upgrading your tech too which means you will need someone to govern this domain. The solution most small businesses come up with is having an IT department comprising of one individual. This isn’t the best way to go about this at all because while an IT person can help you with troubleshooting simple software or figure out why your keyboard won’t connect; they can’t oversee and execute complex tasks such as data management and server maintenance. To answer this problem, one of the ways to handle all technology related aspects in an office space is to hire an MSP.

An MPS – Managed Service Provider, works to manage and centralize all the IT for a small business and their duties would entail technical tasks such as managing your company’s networking, server upkeep, helpdesk queries and desktop support revolving around a lot of problems that may surface in the office and would give your resident IT employee a lot of trouble. MSPs also help you in setting up specialized software to help run your business better and handle their upkeep. Therefore, an MSP has a lot more to offer in the skills department and more often than not have a team of very qualified personnel to handle jobs around an office space. But you can’t always consider opting for an MSP to manage your IT because there are several factors that need to be considered when employing one such as whether your technology is complex enough to hire a specialized professional or whether you need an on-site person as opposed to virtual tech assistance. Below are the pros and cons that come with MSPs.

Pros

1) A Newer more Effective Model

An MSP functions by constantly monitoring the status of your technology as well as also considering all the tech-related queries they get from your staff. The semantics coupled with their knowledge of your software, hardware, and network keep the MSP updated and prepared in case of any anomaly or issue.

2) Embedded Tech

MSP provides small businesses with automation solutions by incorporating business-friendly software on the office systems as well as provide most of the technology for your set up too such as workstations and servers. This saves you quite a lot of space and investment in tech so you can focus on your business plan first and foremost.

3) Skills

MSPs are exceptionally skilled and have a variety of expertise under their belt so they’re a complete arsenal when compared to a singular computer guy in the office.

Cons

1) Remote Access

An MSP operates remotely and virtually so in case of any on-site issues like printer connectivity or a hardware failure inside the office, you will need to get involved yourself as the MSP guides you remotely.

2) Cost

Given their skillset and technology, you can already guess that employing an MSP would be an expensive venture. However, if your business cannot sustain one then it is a much wiser move to opt out.

For a business that has IT as a key component to their business plan, an MSP could be a very useful asset and since it liberates you completely of all IT related issue resolving, you can use that energy and time elsewhere for your business.

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