Downsides of hiring a managed service provider.
Maybe an MSP isn't right for you.
What are the Downsides of an MSP?
When deciding on in-house IT staff versus using a Managed Service Provider (MSP), control, security and cost are key considerations. Here’s a breakdown:
Control: Relinquishing some freedom in making system changes.
If you are used to doing things when you want to, then adhering to standard security policies may not be for you. Most professional MSP adhere to uniform policies to maintain the level of security and minimize the “attack surface” of your systems. While this is a plus for most companies, most internal IT people see it as a loss of control.
Finding a the right MSP comes down to their philosophy.
Several MSPs believe in the “everything is lock-down” approach, falsely believing that would provide maximum control and security. Most of these MSPs are led by people that get their experience from large corporations.
TechBldrs believe that the “PC” is a “Personal” computer, and we strive to minimize the resistance that security procedures often bring. This relies on constant vigilance from our team to allow freedoms for your employees while providing the safety nets so people can operate without hinderance.
Immediacy: Loss of immediate task delegation.
Having an internal IT staff usually means that any foible, problem, or issue can get worked on by interrupting the IT person to help fix it… NOW. Usually, this leads to immediate gratification for the person who needs the help, but it also disrupts the more important projects that need to get done.
All MSPs service a variety of clients. To service their clients, they require a queue system, along with a phone menu tree or ticket submission system, to request help. The good ones will maintain a knowledgebase of your company’s specific needs to minimize their IT support person from starting from scratch.
TechBldrs has a policy that ALL IT consultants must physically go to your site to see and understand your environment. We enforce live answering of all calls without a phone menu tree, because we hate it as much as you do.
Fast response from reliable experts doesn’t just happen. It needs to be planned, designed and refined and baked into a repeatable process.
Security: Keeping up with the changing Security Landscape
Security is a constantly evolving beast. Today’s defenses will not work for tomorrow. Anyone performing IT security must spend their personal time in keeping up with security threats and the latest protections requires constant focus on the news, new learnings and the latest improvements in the tools. And sole reliance on a toolset is the downfall of many IT technicians.
Unless you have dedicated resources (no one can know it all) for this function, you are blindly hoping for the best. Imagine a fire alarm service that doesn’t check to see if the alarms work. Consistency over a period of time is what you want.
Most in-house IT personnel have little experience in security configurations, consistent deployments and constant monitoring that is required to provide a secure system. Like most humans, they are prone to be lax about repetitive tasks that are required… daily.
To provide REAL security, an MSP must commit to training their staff, providing hands on experience, understanding emergency responses (like an EMT) and do the daily repetitive work.
It’s not about tools. It’s about the response of the IT team. At TechBldrs, everyone is required to learn, experience and get new certifications every year.
Cost: Is the cost too high, or are you not counting all the time you spend?
After you buy the computers, the software, and purchase the monthly services, it is not uncommon for companies to be oblivious to what they spend on keeping their IT running. Most don’t count all the time an IT person (or worse, a highly paid staff person) works on fixing the annoying issues that crop up. The nights, the weekends, the emergencies, the new employee setup, and handling terminations, etc. The list is endless and uncounted. Not to mention, the constant training on cyber security and learning new technologies.
For a discussion on Cost of an MSP, see How Much Does IT Support Cost?
Ultimately, the level of control and security you experience with an MSP depends on their service philosophy and responsiveness.
Look for an MSP whose approach aligns with your needs and offers a balance between control, security, and freedom. And they better be designed for fast responses from reliable experts. That’s the only reason you call.
For TechBldrs, in all our decades of being in business no one has called me to chit-chat. (Maybe you’ll be the first!)
If you want to explore whether it is right for you, click the “Book a Call NOW!” Button.
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