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Guide to Managed Service Providers

How to use managed service providers to make your IT easier


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Managing your company’s website is far from easy. You have to juggle hardware, software, security, data storage, back-ups and much more. Add in the updates that seem to be needed every day and you have a full-fledged IT nightmare. That’s where a managed service provider (MSP) can instead make your IT a dream.

MSP providers offer a host of managed IT services that companies of virtually any size should consider. Managed services aren’t just for large companies--they also can be extremely cost-effective for smaller businesses as well. Whether you need a managed hosting service for your web server, someone else ensuring that your IT security isn’t compromised, or even just someone making sure your information is backed up on time every time, an MSP could be the perfect solution for you.

When deciding whether a managed service provider is suitable for your IT needs, among the key IT trouble points to consider are:
  1. Management of web servers;
  2. Managed IT services for data storage;
  3. IT security managed service provider.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Turn over server headaches to a managed hosting service


Web servers can be some of the most intricate pieces of your IT puzzle. There are several key pieces of software that regularly need updating to function optimally. And let's be honest--knowing what kernel you're currently running tends to get lost in the day-to-day activities of running your business.

I recommend: There are several companies that offer managed hosting service for their hosting clients. Host Gator consistently ranks highly in many IT publications, and offers you a fully managed server. If you prefer to maintain your own server but allow someone else to feed you the updates, SilverBack supports a huge list of software programs and can feed your IT people the updates in a timely manner so that they determine when the updates happen.

Give managed service providers your storage woes


One of the most expensive portions of IT is in data storage. Between backing up your systems at appropriate intervals and storing information that you may not need but don't want to lose, it can take massive amounts of computing power. Instead, allow a managed service provider, MSP, to take over your data storage.

I recommend: When it comes to agent-less backups, Asigra Televaulting is considered to be among the best available. It’s a fully-scalable solution that can be right-sized for almost any business. If all you need is an ability to store and remotely access your data, Amazon.com offers Amazon S3, a data storage solution that can be easily customized for your business.

Secure your IT world using a managed service provider


"IT security" is one of those phrases that can strike fear in the hearts of even the most seasoned business professional. Security breaches can range from minor to catastrophic, but keeping up-to-date on the latest issues can seem impossible while trying to manage your business. Luckily, there are several IT managed service companies who are willing and able to assume these worries for you.

I recommend: Radware, a leading IT security managed service provider, offers its DefensePro software that can be used with or without its managed IT services. If you prefer an MSP with a more hands-on approach, Internet Security Systems offers Managed Security Services. This award-winning suite of IT managed services is flexible to business while being rigid against intruders.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • When you're considering hiring a managed service provider, also be sure to look for local options. Often, a local company may be able to come to your office to do the work that would require a remote MSP to access your systems otherwise at a higher cost.

The official source of Managed Service Providers is
the Managed Service Providers page at Business.com


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 Best Sites to Learn MoreBack to top 

The MSP Alliance is the world's largest managed service provider accreditation service. Its directory offers listings for more than 2,000 MSP organizations.


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