How much should you pay?

The #1 Secret to Managed IT Services 🤫

George Anderson
October 25, 2024
Managed IT Services

First published Oct 25, 2024. Updated March 10, 2025.

Whether you have a small IT team, or no technology staff at all, it’s a challenging time in IT.

That’s why so many companies turn to managed IT support services. But what all goes into these outsourced services? What should you look for in an MSP (managed IT services provider)?

Spoiler alert: The Holy Grail is a provider who offers 100% predictable monthly pricing. This keeps your budget on track and forces your MSP to act as true partner.

But not all MSPs are set up to work this way.

Here’s everything you need to know as you evaluate MSPs. Let’s dive in!

Key points:

1. What are managed IT services?

Managed IT services are outsourced services for business IT support and maintenance in which the service provider takes over some or all management of the relevant systems. These providers, called MSPs (managed IT service providers), help an organization meet its strategic goals through the appropriate use of technology.

MSPs are a dime a dozen—but they’re not created equal.

Depending on the MSP’s capabilities and specializations, they may provide IT service desk support, network support, cybersecurity services, cloud systems management, strategic consulting, and more. These services can be “fully managed,” if the organization has no IT resources on staff; or they can be “co-managed,” if the organization has some professional resources but needs to supplement their technology staff.

What’s included in managed IT services?

Different MSPs offer varying coverage when it comes to IT services. Some MSPs specialize in certain disciplines, while others aim to be a one-stop-shop for all your needs.

Here are the main types of managed IT support that a comprehensive MSP should cover. (Hint: If some of these terms are unfamiliar, check out our Technology Glossary.)

1. Managed network services

If you don’t have the IT experts on staff to manage your network, you’ll need your MSP to handle these responsibilities. Managed network services typically include management of network devices like firewalls, switches, wireless access points, and so on.

Your MSP should handle initial coordination with your ISP (internet service provider) to establish connectivity for your firewall(s), as well as configuring and maintaining any associated VPNs. Your MSP should also handle any future coordination with your ISP to resolve connectivity issues that may arise.

A good MSP will typically handle 24/7/365 monitoring, troubleshooting, and remediation for all network devices. This includes end user support for anyone who’s having difficulty connecting to the network.

Your MSP should also engage in preventative network maintenance and capacity planning. If your network will require any investment in new equipment, software, or systems, you want to know ahead of time so you can prepare. In particular, your MSP should stay ahead of updates to software, firmware, and warranty renewals. This way, you take a proactive approach that helps prevent emergencies.

2. Managed server services

Servers are the operational lifeblood of any organization. If one user’s computer goes down, the effects are limited. If an essential server goes down—and you don’t have backup and recovery systems in place—the effects can be catastrophic.

This is why managed IT service providers handle servers in addition to employee workstations. The best providers take a highly proactive approach to managing servers. They will regularly review, plan, and update the firmware on all servers under their care, ensuring that every device is running the latest stable code.

It pays to look at an MSP’s server capabilities in detail. Here at Corsica Technologies, we offer:

24×7 monitoring of servers for availability and performance.
Troubleshooting and remediation of events occurring on servers.
Ongoing virtualization management for supported versions of Hyper-V and VMware.
Ongoing management of supported Microsoft server operating systems in the AWS Cloud or Azure Cloud.
Best-effort support on current Linux-based server operating systems.

3. Cloud managed data center services

It’s a common misconception that cloud systems don’t need to be managed. Just like any other system, they need experts maintaining and troubleshooting them. A cloud data center is no different from on-premises in this regard. Both need to be managed.

But not every MSP is equipped to manage cloud systems well. This is especially true in terms of recommending the right cloud migration strategy or optimizing cloud costs regularly.

There’s a lot to learn here. Check out our deep dive for all the details: Cloud Managed Data Center Services.

4. Backup monitoring and remediation

It’s not enough to manage servers proactively and respond to issues quickly. When the unthinkable happens, how are you going to get that essential data back?

A good MSP should help you establish your goals for backup monitoring and remediation. At a high level, there are three options for how to approach this:

Restore the data
Restore the system
Restore both

You should also evaluate how fast your MSP can restore essential systems. A $50M company makes $136,000 per day—or $5,700 per hour. Even a brief outage will have a non-trivial impact on revenue. Learn more here: Backup and Disaster Recovery Services 101.

5. Managed services for Microsoft 365 and Active Directory

Microsoft 365 isn’t a “set it and forget it” system. The larger the organization, the more complex Microsoft 365 becomes. It’s helpful to perform optimization on a regular basis, including synchronization with Active Directory. Adding or removing users as needed ensures that all permissions are set up appropriately—and that there are no inactive accounts sitting out there, inviting hackers to try and compromise them.

6. Managed IT support, workstations and IT service desk

Ultimately, technology has to work for your people. They’re the ones who use it day in and day out. That’s why many MSPs provide end user IT support, also known as help desk services or managed workstation services. A well-equipped MSP can access computers remotely through specialized software, making it easy for them to address desktop issues. (Of course, more tricky problems may require an onsite visit.)

Here’s what MSPs typically cover in these services:

24×7 end user managed IT support.
User adds, removes, or changes.
Standard information requests and reports (e.g., account and ticket information).
Communication via email or phone call regarding any open service tickets until they are resolved.
First hour application support for users who have issues with specific applications.

7. IT consulting and managed services

Day-to-day business IT support happens at the tactical level. But how do you ensure you have a good IT strategy? What do you need to do to support the organization’s overall strategic goals through technology?

When you only operate in “react” mode, you can’t lay the groundwork for strategic transformation. This is why a good MSP should go far beyond tactical execution or break/fix duties. You need a provider who can help you at the strategic level too.

Typically, this takes the form of IT strategy consulting through a vCIO (virtual chief information officer). vCIO services are a key piece of the puzzle—especially for midmarket companies. Even if you have a CIO, vCIO consulting can bring in a broader perspective, making your CIO and your team more successful.

If you’re working with a vCIO through your MSP, at the very least, you should be getting:

Quarterly business reviews.
Ad-hoc meetings to discuss strategic opportunities and new business IT support and challenges.
Detailed technology planning that results in cost predictability and organizational stability.

8. A 3-year technology roadmap for budgetary planning

It’s a stressful time when a critical system becomes EOL (end of life). Depending on how things are going, you may have to find a replacement quickly. Rushing can lead to less-than-optimal decisions and overspending.

It’s better to get a clear line of sight to any technology investments that you’ll need in the future.

This is why the best MSPs provide a three-year technology roadmap. Here at Corsica Technologies, our vCIOs work with you align your organization’s strategic priorities with any required technology investments—so you can prepare now for successful transformation. When you work with a Corsica vCIO, you get:

A collaborative roadmap that outlines your strategic technology initiatives.
Help in communicating the value of significant IT initiatives to other stakeholders within your organization.
Assistance in planning and budgeting for license renewals to properly allocate dollars to extend the life of current hardware.
Assistance in planning and budgeting for hardware replacements.

9. Managed cyber security services

Not every MSP offers managed cyber security services. Yet IT and cybersecurity are so deeply interwoven, you should prioritize MSPs who specialize in both. Even if you find an MSP who claims to offer security services, make sure to read the fine print. Many MSPs outsource the “security” portion of their offering to a third party. Ideally, you want an MSP who really does handle both—and doesn’t outsource.

Hint: That’s our model here at Corsica Technologies. We are both an MSP (managed IT services provider) and an MSSP (managed cybersecurity services provider). And we integrate both disciplines deeply for every client.

10. vCISO consulting

For midmarket companies, a vCISO (virtual chief information security officer) is a key component in managed cyber security services. This is especially true for companies that lack a seasoned, C-level executive in cybersecurity. This is why our CISO, Ross Filipek, assists clients with comprehensive cybersecurity consulting, while our cybersecurity team handles the day-to-day protection of our clients.

So what’s included in vCISO consulting?

Here at Corsica, our vCISO services include one-on-one guidance for your strategic cybersecurity initiatives. These are open-ended engagements, typically covering initiatives such as IT security assessments, selection of a cybersecurity framework, planning for mitigation of identified cybersecurity risk, information security policy development, and incident response planning.

11. Self-service client portal

The best managed IT service providers offer total transparency. They let you see exactly what they’re seeing—and they’re happy to explain it to you. This way, you know you’re getting a great value from a trustworthy partner.

The best way to provide this transparency is a self-service client portal.

Here at Corsica Technologies, every client gets their own portal experience. You can log in at any time, on any device, and understand the real-time state of your technology environment. You get:

On-demand reports, interactive views, and dashboards.
Real-time information for service tickets, managed devices, employees, cybersecurity, and network activity.
Tiered permissions (end users can see their own tickets, while administrators can see all tickets).

Why choose managed IT support?

Midmarket companies face unique challenges in IT—particularly as teams expand and requirements change quickly.

Companies that already have IT staff may be able to hire more people to fill out their team. However, even enterprises benefit from managed IT services. For companies of any size, hiring is often not an option due to budgetary restrictions, whether they currently have IT staff or not.

Yet midmarket companies encounter significant roadblocks due to the difficulty of hiring and retaining IT staff. Here’s what we discovered in a recent study of outsourcing in managed services.

42% of companies cited IT staffing availability as a top pain point.
Solving the IT staffing problem correlates with 125% higher profit growth.
Remote infrastructure management is the #1 IT function that’s outsourced today.

For these reasons and more, companies with and without IT staff can find themselves needing help in the realm of IT services. Organizations with some IT staff will look for “co-managed services,” while those without IT staff will look for “fully-managed services.” (More on this distinction below.)

Whether a company has IT staff or not, outsourcing managed IT support offers numerous benefits:

Access to experienced specialists. Even if you have IT generalists on staff, it’s tough to justify hiring more advanced or specialized professionals—even though you need their skills. Outsourcing to a managed service provider solves this problem.
Cheaper than staff hiring. If you choose an MSP with comprehensive expertise, you can get a full IT and cybersecurity team for roughly the cost of one staff hire.
24/7/365 availability. Even if you have IT staff, it’s tough to find people who want to work the night shift—and covering your needs 24/7 is even harder. The right MSP can either provide fully managed services, or they can fill out your gaps as needed—including 24/7/365 coverage for the hours when your team isn’t working.
Strategic consulting and leadership. Not every midmarket company has an IT leader on staff. Even those that do may find themselves overwhelmed. A comprehensive MSP offers vCIO (virtual CIO) consulting alongside managed IT solutions. Here at Corsica, we help our clients develop a 3-year technology roadmap to support the business with required technology investments. The goal is to keep technology in step with the organization’s needs—so no one gets blindsided by required transformation projects.
Bundled cybersecurity (if your MSP provides it). While IT and cybersecurity were once considered separate disciplines, that has changed. Things have converged so much that IT and cybersecurity are now two sides of the same coin. This means your MSP should also be an MSSP (managed cybersecurity services provider). You want IT experts working hand-in-hand with cybersecurity professionals. This ensures that you take an integrated approach and leave no stone unturned.

What should you look for in a provider?

MSPs are everywhere. You literally have thousands of options to choose from.

But how do you tell which MSPs rise above the rest? What does true excellence look like?

Every MSP should be able to provide the basics that we’ve already listed. But you can expect more from a top-tier MSP. Here are the “above and beyond” things to look for. (Hint: We offer all this and more here at Corsica Technologies.)

Data integration services. Traditional MSPs can’t help you with data integration, which is usually covered by product companies. These product companies tack on “services” to gain more wallet share, but these companies aren’t actually equipped to deliver managed services. The result is a lackluster customer experience. Corsica solves this problem by connecting the service delivery infrastructure of an MSP with our own powerful, flexible cloud integration platform and the professional services required to support it.

EDI integration and management. EDI is another area where most MSPs can’t help you. The technology is specialized, and most EDI companies only handle EDI. Corsica Technologies brings EDI capabilities under one roof with managed IT services, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The result is a single, cohesive team managing all your business-critical technology.

Unlimited service for one predictable monthly price. Unfortunately, managed IT service providers have developed a reputation for nickel-and-diming their customers. They claim that everything is included, but when you read the fine print in the contract, what’s “in scope” is actually pretty limited. The result? Many requests generate additional ad hoc bills. This makes it hard to budget for your technology needs. Corsica solves this with unlimited managed support for one predictable monthly price. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it, and you won’t get any surprises at the end of the month.

Cybersecurity service guarantee. Not every MSP handles cybersecurity. Yet even among those who do, it’s rare to find an MSP who offers a cybersecurity service guarantee. Here at Corsica, we cover the cost of our services to remediate a cybersecurity incident, with limitations. Read more here: Cybersecurity Service Guarantee.

Clearly, managed IT services provide many benefits—but not all MSPs are created equal. The biggest benefit of all is only available from top-tier providers. It’s the peace of mind you get when you know that your systems, data, and users are proactively managed and secured.

Specialized IT services

Cloud management

In the age of cloud hosting, IT management has gotten more complicated. Not only do they need to maintain expertise in on-premises systems, but they need cloud expertise too.

Unfortunately, some MSPs like to cut corners when it comes to cloud expertise. It pays to be fully educated on managed cloud services as you approach an IT provider. Here are some questions to consider.

Is your IT service provider hosting the right systems in the cloud?

Cloud hosting is all the rage. Yet the cloud isn’t right for every system. In fact, cloud hosting can actually cost more than on-premises hosting in some scenarios. It all depends on whether you need the system running 24/7.

Unfortunately, not all managed IT service providers take the same approach to the cloud. Some really want to push customers to the cloud because of their own interests. They may have partnerships with cloud providers, or their services delivery may be optimized for greater profit on cloud systems.

Other managed IT providers may take a consultative approach, advising their clients that some systems will work best in the cloud—while others should stay on premises.

The key here is to talk to your managed IT service provider about cloud cost optimization. If they’re not willing to have that discussion, that’s a red flag.

Does this provider excel at hybrid IT managed services?

Most organizations aren’t 100% on-premises or 100% cloud. Rather, it’s common to use a mix of both types of hosting in today’s complex IT environments.

This means a good managed service provider should excel at hybrid managed services. They should have strong competency in your on-premises systems, and they should know your cloud systems inside and out.

Does this provider excel at Microsoft 365 (or Google Workspace, or…)?

Whether you use Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or another office suite, these critical systems can’t stay static. They need experts maintaining them, keeping them secure, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

If you’re a Google shop, you want an MSP with deep expertise in Google Workspace.

If you’re a Microsoft shop, you should look for a managed service provider who specializes in Microsoft 365 (especially if you’re considering a Microsoft Teams VoIP solution for calling).

If you’re looking to migrate to one of the major office suites, make sure your cloud managed services provider has expertise with such migrations.

Does this provider specialize in cloud managed data center services?

It’s one thing to work with common cloud systems. But is your managed IT services provider equipped to handle your cloud data center needs? There’s a lot to consider here.

Your cloud data center strategy
Choosing the right migration strategy
Cloud security services
Cloud cost optimization

Managed IT security services

IT security has become a top priority in every industry. Cyber attacks have grown 38% since 2022, while the average budget to prevent such attacks has grown 34.9% since 2020.

Clearly, it’s the age of cybersecurity anxiety—and for good reason.

Yet most midmarket organizations don’t have the staff resources to handle IT security in-house. They need managed IT service providers who also handle security. And they need more than monitoring alone. They need a true partner who’s embedded in their team, their processes, and their strategic execution.

This type of partner is called an MSSP (managed cybersecurity services provider). Yet not all MSSPs are created equal. Here’s what you should look for:

Experience in your industry
Excellent reputation and customer reviews
Comprehensive managed IT security services
Offers incident remediation, not just monitoring
Respects your budget with predictable monthly pricing
Maintains noteworthy IT security certifications
Can help you implement Zero Trust controls
Offers a vCIO/vCISO (virtual chief information officer and/or chief information security officer)
Can fill your gaps in IT staffing with managed security services

What services are typically included?

That depends on your MSSP. Some specialize in certain services, while others offer comprehensive coverage.

Here’s what we offer at Corsica Technologies.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Security Alerting and Containment
Dark Web Monitoring
Phish Testing and Security Awareness Training
Blocking Phish Emails
Managed Patching (Windows and Third-Party)
Preventative Maintenance
Threat Hunting

Get the full picture here: Managed IT Security 101.

Let’s explore those benefits.

2. How much do managed IT services cost?

Unfortunately, a quote for managed services is only as accurate as the provider’s pricing model is simple.

And simple pricing is rare in the world of IT services.

The “nickel and dime” approach to managed services pricing

Many MSPs promise “all-in” pricing, but they bill for numerous “exceptions” that create unpredictable costs for their customers. They say they offer unlimited services for one monthly price, but it’s just not true.

While these MSPs mean well, they’re just not set up to offer a smooth service and cost experience as their customers’ needs fluctuate. Their entire business model is built on ringing up the cash register, and they can’t get away from it.

Alternative pricing for truly unlimited support

Here at Corsica Technologies, we’re fixing the unpredictable pricing problem in managed IT services. We’re doing it with simple, predictable monthly pricing that your CFO will love.

For one unchanging monthly price, you get:

Unlimited managed IT support
Unlimited managed cybersecurity services
Unlimited service and support for data integration (as needed)
Expert vCIO consulting
And much more

How big is the difference between simple pricing and complex pricing in terms of actual bills?

You’ll be surprised. Play around with our Managed IT Services Pricing Calculator to see it for yourself.

Try the calculator →

3. Fully managed vs. co-managed

Every organization has two types of IT needs:

Strategic insight and planning
Day-to-day services and execution

An organization’s ability to meet these requirements “in house” can be defined in terms of their IT staffing capabilities. Midmarket organizations typically fall into two categories here:

Those who have a limited IT team and an IT leader
Those who don’t have an IT team (with or without an IT leader)

A company’s exact mix of internal resources will determine whether they need fully managed or co-managed IT services. Here’s what that looks like.

Fully managed IT services

Organizations with no IT staff will typically engage an MSP for fully managed IT services. In this type of relationship, the MSP acts as the company’s IT department, providing full coverage for all requirements. In the most literal sense, the MSP “fully manages” the client’s IT environment and needs.

If the client doesn’t have an IT leader, they may ask their MSP to cover strategic consulting duties as well as day-to-day tactical execution. In this scenario, the vCIO (virtual CIO, who works for the MSP) may participate in leadership meetings and strategic planning exercises with the client’s leadership team.

If the company has an IT leader but no IT staff, the vCIO on the MSP side will often act as a strategic consultant and advisor to the staff IT leader—while also managing the delivery of those outsourced IT services.

Here at Corsica, we’re equipped to provide fully managed or co-managed services, depending on your needs.

So how are co-managed services different from fully managed?

Let’s unpack that.

Co-managed IT services

Even organizations that have IT staff may not be able to cover all their support needs. Perhaps they have IT generalists on the team, but they don’t have the right experience to handle specialized challenges. Or maybe they have a few specialists on staff, but these resources are too occupied with their workload to handle more general duties.

This challenge is far more common than we might think. In our study of IT outsourcing trends, we found that 42% of companies experienced significant pain with IT staffing availability.

Whatever the reason, midmarket companies often need to supplement their existing IT team with additional professional resources.

This is where co-managed services come in. Rather than “taking over” your IT department, a co-managed provider comes in alongside your team to fill gaps, provide missing expertise, and make your team more successful.

Co-managed IT services look different at every company who uses them. Some organizations may have desktop support covered but need help with their network. Others may have no one covering cybersecurity duties. Still others may not be equipped to provide 24/7/365 IT support through staff resources.

Whatever the challenge, co-managed services are the answer.

Here at Corsica Technologies, we work alongside IT departments to ensure strategic success. Our team becomes part of your team, covering any holes you may have, advising on strategic decisions, and providing 24/7/365 coverage.

Get the full story here: Southern Michigan Bank Case Study.

4. Getting 24/7 support

Some midmarket organizations have no IT staff. Perhaps the budget just isn’t there, or they don’t want to deal with the additional HR overhead and challenge of staff churn.

Other midmarket companies have some IT staff, but they’re limited in what they can do—and it’s challenging to find people who want to work second and third shifts, not to mention weekends and holidays.

Whatever the reason, companies may find themselves needing 24/7/365 support but unable to maintain a round-the-clock team with internal staff.

In these scenarios, a 24/7/365 IT service provider can help. Whether they’re filling your gaps outside of normal business hours or handling everything all the time, the right MSP can provide this coverage. And they can do it without the cost and hassle of maintaining a 24/7/365 internal team.

Here’s what a good 24/7 MSP should offer.

Comprehensive system monitoring and support availability

It’s one thing to monitor your systems 24/7, but who’s going to respond if something goes wrong? A 24/7 MSP should deal with issues when they arise rather than just sending an alert to your day team.

Coverage for all three shifts (plus holidays and weekends)

This goes without saying. A true 24/7/365 MSP should provide full support and coverage for 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This is the only way to cover all your bases.

Deep cybersecurity expertise + SOC (security operations center)

Here’s a startling fact: A study found that 81% of all ransomware attacks occur outside of regular business hours.

Clearly, your 24/7 IT service provider had better be good at cybersecurity.

That’s why Corsica Technologies brings together experts in IT, cybersecurity, data integration, and more—to create one cohesive team that covers your needs 24/7/365. We also have our own SOC (security operations center), which means we don’t outsource our cybersecurity services. We handle everything in-house with our expert team.

5. Remote vs. local support

Before the cloud era, when most systems were hosted on-premises, it was important to have local IT help. You needed a partner with an office in your city—ideally right around the corner. If something went bump in the night, you could call them up and expect them to arrive on the scene quickly.

Things have changed with the rise of cloud hosting and remote work. Some organizations may still want that local partner who can drop in at the office for in-person help. Other companies may be just fine with remote IT services, in which your MSP can support your organization over the internet through specialized software.

Of course, the best MSPs are prepared to offer both types of service to the same client, assuming they have an office in your area.

So what’s right for you? Should you look for a local partner, or will a 100% remote partner be a better fit?

Here’s what you need to know about each option.

Remote managed IT services

A remote MSP can perform all the duties of a local MSP through specialized, remote-access software. From cybersecurity monitoring to desktop support to server maintenance, remote MSPs are fully equipped to support your company without the need to come onsite.

Benefits

Cost savings. Onsite visits are more expensive than remote interactions. If the remote model works for you, you can take advantage of cost savings in IT management.
Scalability and adaptability. Remote managed IT services are easier to scale up and adapt as your needs evolve. This is a great reason to choose remote if it works for your operations.
Convenience and immediacy of support. Remote MSPs offer clearly defined communication channels and expectations. You don’t have to wait for someone to drive across town in the midst of heavy traffic to address your issue.
Great fit for cloud cost optimization. A remote provider is more likely to have significant cloud expertise. This is good news if you’re using cloud systems, as cloud cost optimization is an essential recurring exercise to make sure you’re not paying too much.

Potential drawbacks

No onsite availability. If they’re not located nearby, your remote MSP won’t be able to come down to the office. (Note that local MSPs may offer remote services as well, combined with onsite visits when necessary, so this drawback doesn’t apply if you engage a local MSP for “mostly” remote services.)
No shared local culture. Your employees won’t be able to form a local connection with remote MSP team members. Whether that matters or not is up to you.

Local managed IT services

A local MSP offers benefits that you can’t get from a 100% remote partner. Whether they’re around the corner or across town, a local MSP can drop in for onsite help. They can handle the same systems and duties as a remote MSP, but they’re in your backyard.

Benefits

Onsite availability. Sometimes, you just need someone to come to the office and help in person. This is the biggest benefit of local IT support. Even if the same work can be performed remotely, your team may feel more confident in a partner who can help in a face-to-face setting.
Local cultural connection. There’s definitely something special about local culture. Shared sports teams, knowledge of your town, and so on can all contribute to a stronger relationship. Your team can enjoy these benefits if you choose a local managed IT service provider.

Potential drawbacks

Local limitations. When you look for a local MSP, the options and expertise available to you will be limited by which firms are nearby. If your city has lots of great MSPs to choose from, this may not be an issue. If you only have one or two MSPs to choose from, there’s less chance that you’ll find a truly excellent partner.
May be more expensive. Onsite visits cost more than remote assistance. A local IT partner may have to charge more for equivalent work than a fully remote partner.

Hybrid local/remote managed services

You don’t have to settle for one or the other. Here at Corsica Technologies, we maintain offices in the Midwest, Eastern, and Southern United States. Our local clients can take advantage of hybrid services (i.e. both local and remote availability), while our other clients around the country enjoy fully remote services.

Finding local IT services in your area

If you’re searching for a managed service provider near you, chances are, we’ve got you covered. Here are our main locations.

6. Industry-specific support

Managed IT services may look a little different in various industries. Some processes and systems may be highly specialized, while others are more generic across the board.

If you’re evaluating an MSP, it’s worth looking at their track record in your industry. Have they worked with other clients who have similar processes, systems, and challenges? Can they assist with industry-specific regulatory IT compliance? Questions like these can help you find an MSP who will fit hand-in-glove with your unique requirements.

Broadly speaking, companies in these industries may want a specialized MSP.

Manufacturing

Process automation, warehouse management systems, ERPs, and EDI all contribute to the complexity of IT services in manufacturing. You need an MSP who has deep familiarity with the ins and outs of manufacturing processes in your industry. Learn more here: Managed IT Services for Manufacturing.

Healthcare and medical practices

Healthcare technology, HIPAA regulations, and uptime requirements create specific challenges in IT support for healthcare. MSPs who specialize in this space should have a strong history of helping medical clients achieve HIPAA compliance and meet their goals in terms of technology.

Banking

When it comes to IT services for banking, cybersecurity is the name of the game. An MSP who focuses on the banking industry should have deep expertise in the latest cybersecurity practices and solutions as they apply to the banking sector. They should also have a strong consultative background to help banks achieve regulatory compliance, protect customers and assets, and deliver profitability to shareholders. Learn more here: Managed IT Services for Banking.

Law firms

Law firms may have unique needs in terms of IT security and support for specialized legal software. MSPs with experience in the legal space can assist with proactive management in these areas as well as strategic consultation to ensure the firm has a smart roadmap in terms of technology.

Accounting, financial firms, and CPAs

Accounting and finance companies often have unique IT service requirements. With so much proprietary financial information on hand, cybersecurity is essential. Companies may also need assistance with PCI-DSS compliance or other regulatory requirements. In all these cases, it helps to have an IT provider who knows the world of accounting, CPAs, and finance. Learn more here: Managed IT Services for Finance and Accounting.

Nonprofit and education

Schools, universities, and nonprofits have their own needs in terms of IT management. Budget and rising costs may be factors that make it challenging to get the required IT help. The right MSP will find ways to deliver value while keeping costs manageable and protecting confidential information. Learn more here: Managed IT Services for Nonprofits and Schools and Education.

Government

The right MSP for government entities should have familiarity with any older systems still in use. They should also have a strong emphasis on cybersecurity—plus a local presence to assist with on-premises systems and workstation support.

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The #1 Secret to Managed IT Services 🤫

Key points:

1. What are managed IT services?

What’s included in managed IT services?

1. Managed network services

2. Managed server services

3. Cloud managed data center services

4. Backup monitoring and remediation

5. Managed services for Microsoft 365 and Active Directory

6. Managed IT support, workstations and IT service desk

7. IT consulting and managed services

8. A 3-year technology roadmap for budgetary planning

9. Managed cyber security services

10. vCISO consulting

11. Self-service client portal

Why choose managed IT support?

What should you look for in a provider?

Specialized IT services

Cloud management

Is your IT service provider hosting the right systems in the cloud?

Does this provider excel at hybrid IT managed services?

Does this provider excel at Microsoft 365 (or Google Workspace, or…)?

Does this provider specialize in cloud managed data center services?

Managed IT security services

2. How much do managed IT services cost?

The “nickel and dime” approach to managed services pricing

Alternative pricing for truly unlimited support

3. Fully managed vs. co-managed

Fully managed IT services

Co-managed IT services

4. Getting 24/7 support

Comprehensive system monitoring and support availability

Coverage for all three shifts (plus holidays and weekends)

Deep cybersecurity expertise + SOC (security operations center)

5. Remote vs. local support

Remote managed IT services

Benefits

Potential drawbacks

Local managed IT services

Benefits

Potential drawbacks

Hybrid local/remote managed services

Finding local IT services in your area

6. Industry-specific support

Manufacturing

Healthcare and medical practices

Banking

Law firms

Accounting, financial firms, and CPAs

Nonprofit and education

Government

Ready to get the IT support you need?

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How much should you pay?

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