What is an IT Service Provider?

An IT Service Provider (sometimes called a Managed Service Provider, or MSP) is a proactive IT firm that anticipates the needs of its clients and delivers a wide array of technology services.

The primary roles of an IT Service Provider include streamlining the day-to-day technical operations of a company and providing the cost benefits of bundled services.

Services from an IT Service Provider include:

  1. Network and Cloud Security
  2. On-Demand Data Backups
  3. 24/7 IT Help Desk Support
  4. Office 365 Installation, Training, and Maintenance
  5. On-Site and Virtual Technicians
  6. Cloud Services and Storage
  7. Consultation, Strategy, and Roadmaps
  8. Disaster Recovery Services
  9. Application Development and Hosting
  10. Business Process Automation
  11. Data Analytics
  12. Digital Transformation

Why do companies prefer IT Service Providers?

SAVINGS. Companies save considerable amounts of money on technology, maintenance, repairs, security, and data recovery by purchasing bundled services

DISASTER RECOVERY. The country has been facing more natural disasters than in past decades. Natural disasters wreak havoc for organizations that can’t afford the downtime caused by one. An IT Service Provider has redundant backups of data and disaster recovery services that ensure business continuity.

EXPERTISE. IT Service Providers are required to keep their certifications up to date with vendors like Microsoft, Dell, and Cisco. They have larger teams than companies generally have internally, to have deep expertise in more areas.

ON-DEMAND. The services are available when you need them. Companies without these bundled services have to go through the hassle of finding and interviewing IT repair shops until they find a reputable one who will likely charge them extra for rush or emergency services.

SECURITY. IT and Network Security are becoming the most sought-after tech services as ransomware and cyberattacks against corporations now occur every 39 seconds. Corporations cannot rely on their internal teams to protect them from the sophisticated attacks that plague companies.

STRATEGIC PLANNING. IT Service Providers meet with your company and plan out a Technology Roadmap. Building an IT strategy tailored to your business needs helps reach your business goals.

How do you choose a reputable IT Service Provider?

CHECK OUT THEIR REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS. Don’t see any? That’s a big red flag. People are quite willing to leave reviews and testimonials these days. An IT company with no customer evaluations should be off your list.

CERTIFICATIONS AND AWARDS. Awards show that the industry values its efforts. A reputable IT Service Provider will prominently display their tech certifications as well as how current they are.

MAKE SURE THE PROVIDER KNOWS YOUR INDUSTRY. A provider that understands your business model is far more likely to anticipate needs, ask the right questions, and provide the most effective solutions.

EASE OF CONTACTING THEM. Look through their website. Do they offer multiple methods of contact (phone, contact form, service tickets, and a physical address)? If you don’t see at least three ways to contact them, take note. That can be a deal-breaker in an emergency.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE. Think about companies you may have seen before that claim to be modern and forward-thinking, but their website looked archaic? Even small details like the copyright notice being out of date may not seem like much, but they say a lot about the company’s attention to detail.

DO THEY SUPPORT YOUR SYSTEM? This could be the most critical element. A reputable ISP will have a webpage (or at least a row) of the names of the technology providers they support, install, maintain, and partner with.

How do I work with you?

It’s easy to work with Red Level. Call us, email us, or pay us a visit. We are happy to meet you and discuss your goals and needs. We’d love to work with you.

For more information about gaining a competitive advantage with digital transformation, contact Red Level today.

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