An MSP (managed service provider) is a third-party firm that delivers a range of network solutions and support resources, and is able to act as an outsourced IT department for small and mid-sized businesses that need to scale technology management with their budget. From overseeing your digital infrastructure and assets to hardening your cybersecurity behind the scenes, engaging a managed services partner gives you the opportunity to secure consistent IT support and protect your data around the clock while freeing up your own staff to stay focused on your core business.
Here are the top ways that an MSP will help you acting as your outsourced IT department:
What Does an MSP Do for IT?
In technical terms, a managed service provider is any external firm that provides support for your technology systems, whether for local on-premise infrastructure, networked assets or for your cloud-hosted applications. However, it typically and has historically been used most often to designate a third-party IT service partner that can deliver a range of resources to businesses that require any number of potential network services and solutions on a contractual basis. What you get will vary by firm to firm in the end, but some of these can include:
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance of your network, servers and endpoints
- Helpdesk support to troubleshoot issues and answer software or hardware user questions
- Strategic planning to optimize your IT infrastructure and align your technology with your business goals
- Scheduling and managing system patches and other software updates
- Procurement consulting and assistance to ensure you get the best value on hardware and software
- License and vendor management to help you handle renewals, compliance and support
- Comprehensive documentation of IT-related processes and assets deployed
- Implementation of cybersecurity best practices and tools, including training
- Regular backups of critical data and implementing disaster recovery planning to restore files promptly
- Onsite IT support for addressing major incidents as well as regular maintenance and mapping out physical infrastructure
MSP Firm vs IT Department
Choosing between working with an MSP or building an in-house IT department (if you have to) is a tough decision to make, and you must carefully consider all of the options, advantages and disadvantages of either choice. Having a network support team onsite and on-hand ostensibly ensures that you have more consistent access to the resources you need as well as being able to see everything they are doing directly, but outsourcing to a reliable managed service provider will grant you many of the same benefits. Depending on the range and quality of the firm’s services, you will also capture these advantages:
- Cost savings compared to hiring and managing in-house IT staff
- Access to a wider range of expertise and specialized skills
- Consistent network monitoring to minimize downtime and disruptions
- Proactive maintenance and planning to optimize your IT infrastructure
- Scalability to accommodate growth and changing needs
- Enhanced security and compliance support
- Ability to focus on your core business while leaving IT to the experts
Outsourcing Your IT Services with SWK Technologies
SWK Technologies is an award-winning MSP with decades of experience delivering technology solutions to SMBs and midmarket companies. SWK provides a comprehensive suite of managed services for IT, security and cloud hosting tailored to the unique pain points of small and mid-sized businesses, from unlimited helpdesk support and asset management to around-the-clock monitoring of your network’s connected workstations, software and hardware components.
With SWK’s Network Assurance (NA) plan you gain access to:
- Network Visibility: The SWK managed support team monitors your network infrastructure around the clock, keeping an eye on anomalous activity and ensuring your data is sterile 24x7x365
- Scalable Co-Managed IT: Unlike other MSPs, with SWK you do not have to replace your current IT department, instead allowing for joint or alternative support with co-managed IT resources
- Business Continuity: Do more than back up your data – guarantee your business continuity with comprehensive disaster recovery planning that takes into account all of your potential points of failure and enforces redundancies
- IT License Discounts and Management: Consolidate the licensing for all of your IT assets and programs, and secure discounted pricing by leveraging SWK’s partnerships and expertise
- Traceability and Compliance: SWK maintains extensive and meticulous documentation for all of your network infrastructure, from topology maps of your physical hardware to recorded processes and actions in case of future audits
- Industry and ERP Experience: Consolidate your technology services and take advantage of SWK’s decades of experience with ERP and business management software, with solutions tailor-built for businesses in the manufacturing, distribution and services sectors
Managed Security Services and Cybersecurity Solutions
SWK Technologies is also a managed security services provider (MSSP), with a ready portfolio of cybersecurity solutions in addition to IT support resources, including:
- Advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) to identify and contain threats
- Next-generation firewalls and network security tools
- Email security solutions like spam filtering and phishing prevention
- Security awareness training to educate your employees on best practices
- Dark web monitoring to detect compromised credentials
- Vulnerability testing and network audits to identify and mitigate risks
NOC vs SOC
Part of the Network Assurance agreement includes comprehensive oversight of your networks, systems and infrastructure by SWK’s NOC and SOC teams:
- Network Operations Center (NOC): Team that continuously monitors your network and server infrastructure to identify and resolve issues before they impact your business
- Security Operations Center (SOC): Security operations team that oversees your application environment and connected systems for threats such as ransomware and other malware
Onsite IT Support Near You
SWK Technologies has local offices in multiple cities and states across the U.S. that provided managed IT support and services to these general locations:
Learn More About Outsourcing IT to an MSP
Outsourcing your IT support needs to an MSP such as SWK Technologies will give you the opportunity to save considerably on costs and access a greater range of expertise as well as resources to help improve your network optimization. Get in touch with the SWK team today to learn more about our unique managed services and solutions, and see for yourself how we can empower your business to get the most out of your technology investment.
Contact SWK here and learn more about what can offer as your outsourced IT department and managed service provider.