Managed service providers (MSPs) are businesses that provide more than one
managed information technology (IT) service to other businesses. Today, MSPs
offer their services largely remotely over a network, although they can sustain
other revenue streams that require on-site support.
Historically, managed IT service providers serve small and medium-sized
businesses, but today's environment is changing to include employees with
medium-sized companies and businesses. This means that the services MSPs provide depend on the customers
they serve. For example, SMBs can collaborate with managed service providers
for basic IT needs such as email
solutions, data storage, hardware repair, software updates, or special offers
such as data protection . For growing or
larger businesses, MSPs can help increase or leverage internal expertise, from
reviewing and implementing niche solutions to reassessing an in-house IT needs
and capacity as a company scales.
Benefits of Using MSP
Dealing with an MSP provides many
benefits, including:
·
In
case of need,24/7 IT support throughout the world,
·
Temporary
or permanent IT staff reinforcement when
needed for special or urgent projects,
·
Access
to IT professionals in different technical disciplines,
·
The
ability to easily scale technical resources as required by business conditions,
·
Eliminating
the need to hire internal IT specialists,
·
Helping
the IT team focus on the core business instead of troubleshooting IT issues,
·
Improve
business continuitythrough service level agreements (SLAs) that document MSP obligations,
·
Reduce data loss with managed backup and
disaster recovery services,
·
It provides
important advantages such as better budget management with pay-as-you-go
service.
MSPs Challenges
Despite the benefits, managed service providers can also face challenges.
For example:
·
Most
MSPs offer only partial data security services, such as firewalls and
anti-malware. If you are looking for a cybersecurity service provider, you will
need to negotiate with a managed security service provider (MSSP),
·
If
the MSP fails to meet the requirements, the dependence on the SLA can put a
business at risk.
·
Because
most MSPs are not local to work, they remotely manage their customers' IT
infrastructure. The customer pays extra if they need on-site support.
·
Some
MSPs use proprietary technology/tools that may make it difficult for the
customer to access their data if they decide to terminate the contract.
·
Starting
a relationship with an MSP can be expensive, but the rate of return on
investment (ROI) can be good when you consider that the customer doesn't need
to purchase new technologies.
·
Not
every MSP can support all technologies and applications, so you'll need an
alternative solution or service to support out-of-scope services.
What Types of Services Does an MSP Offer?
The types of services that MSPs can offer include:
·
Help
Desk,
·
Endpoint
management,
·
Managed
infrastructure,
·
Managed
backup,
·
Managed
applications,
·
Upoint
security,
·
Managed
Microsoft 365,
·
Business
VoIP,
·
Managed
printing,
·
Database
optimization/management,
·
Managed
cloud services,
·
Increase
IT staff,
·
IT
strategy services,
·
Partial
data security services, such as firewalls and anti-malware.
What is the Managed Service Provider (MSP)
Business Model?
A good way to understand the concept of IT-managed services is to compare
it to fault/remediation services:
Instead of the failure/remediation model that results in a 'one-time'
pay-per-service approach, most MSPs today use a subscription model to create recurring
revenue streams and deepen customer relationships that help reduce customer
churn.
MSPs take responsibility for certain systems to continue to work with each
subscription service. MSPs engage with customers for a fixed fee and then
maintain ongoing IT services on a monthly basis, which is detailed in service
level agreements or SLAs. Monthly pricing is usually determined using one of
the following methods:
·
Per
Device: MSPs charge a
flat rate for each device they help manage.
·
Per
User: MSPs charge a flat
fee for each user they manage their IT needs.
·
All
Inclusive: MSPs charge a
flat fee for all services provided.
·
In
addition, SLAs can be attributed to fees. For example, MSP pricing for more
customized or hands-on services may be higher than for more core services under
a lower-tier SLA.
Three
Reasons MSPs Choose Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
Acronis
Cyber Protect Cloud combines backup and new AI-based anti-malware, antivirus,
and endpoint protection management in a single solution. Integration and
automation provide unparalleled convenience for service providers, reducing
complexity while increasing productivity and lowering operating costs .
1.Integrated
data protection and cybersecurity. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
provides the AI-based all-in-one data protection and cybersecurity that MSPs
need to ensure business continuity for their customers. It provides fast,
full-image, file-level, and Continuous Data Protection (CDP) backup and
recovery across the industry's broadest range of applications, databases,
workloads, and endpoints. AI-based, proactive anti-malware works
integrated with ransomware and crypto theft protection.
2.
Designed for MSPs fortheir customers. Integratedwith popular RMM, PSA
and marketplace solutions, the all-in-one data protection and cybersecurity
platform has a system that customers can eat as they go. Advanced services in data
protection, security, management, and file syncing and sharing can be added to
grow business.
3. Flexible pricing that leaves you
with more profit margin. With a single platform, console
and tool, it has an easy but powerful structure. Unlike other backup, recovery and
cybersecurity solutions, Acronis
Cyber Protect Cloud, which has a
large number of consoles, agents and licenses, also leaves
more profit margins for
MSPs with flexible
pricing.
