Has the idea of outsourced IT services crossed your mind recently, and have you started wondering if doing that may be the right move for your small business? To be able to answer that question, you will first have to get a better understanding of managed security services for SMBs. After all, making decisions without having the necessary information in place is never a good idea. Click here to start getting familiar with the concept.
So, before you can make any decisions for your business, you want to get answers to some important questions. And, chances are you have a lot of questions on your mind. What we are going to do now is answer those questions for you below, providing you with a clear overview of managed services, their benefits, as well as of the process of choosing the right providers.
What Are Managed Security Services?
We are, naturally, going to begin with the most basic question. What exactly are managed security services? So as to understand this, you need to quickly be reminded of the idea and the importance of security in general when running a business.
Thanks to the technological developments, businesses are nowadays expanding their operations, using the Internet to reach wider audiences. But, they are also facing numerous threats. Cybersecurity has to, thus, be taken extremely seriously.
Read more on the importance of cybersecurity: https://skillfloor.medium.com/the-vital-importance-of-cybersecurity-for-small-businesses-30b2b5fb1703
Small businesses are especially vulnerable to those threats, given that they often lack the resources to protect themselves properly. Hiring an entire team of in-house experts to take care of cybersecurity can be quite expensive. There is, however, a solution to that problem.
Put simply, small businesses can use managed security services, and thus more easily afford staying protected. So, managed security services actually encompass a wide range of security solutions that are outsourced to a third-party provider. Thus, instead of paying an entire in-house team, you can pay for the services you need, when you need them, and ultimately keep your company well protected.
The scope of these services can vary. Most usually, though, they include risk management, network monitoring, as well as managed detection and response. Ultimately, you will agree with the provider on what you want to get, and that depends on your specific business needs.
What Is a Managed Services Provider?
I have mentioned that you will have to agree on the specific services with the provider. But first, of course, you have to understand what a managed services provider (MSP) actually is. When you, for example, visit Delval Technology Solutions or a similar company, you will get a clearer idea on what these professionals can do for you. Nevertheless, let me quickly define the concept of MSPs and help you better understand what you can get from them.
Basically, an MSP is that third-party company that offers a wide range of tech solutions and services, including cybersecurity and management. They monitor and manage your organization’s infrastructure remotely. Furthermore, they provide guidance on how to respond to certain threats and incidents in order to minimize damage and get your business up and running again in no time.
In short, an MSP is your key partner in maintaining a completely secure IT infrastructure. Working with them means you are outsourcing a part of your business operations and some of the companies allow for purchasing specific services on an as-needed basis. The fees will vary from provider to provider, but they also depend on the size of your organization, as well as on the level of protection required.
What Are the Benefits of Outsourced IT Services?
So, we have made it clear that working with an MSP means outsourcing some of your IT needs to a third-party professional. Yet, you may now be wondering what the benefits of those outsourced IT services are. Why is it that you should seriously think about doing this for your SMB?
First of all, there is the fact that an MSP will offer 24/7 protection. Hackers won’t give you the curtesy of waiting for opening hours to launch an attack. Cyberattacks (additional info) can happen anytime. So, having someone constantly monitoring your infrastructure is a huge plus, as it helps you stay protected at all times, as well as identify any potential threats before they cause any damage.
Furthermore, having an entire team of professionals on your side, working hard to protect you is, well, much safer than hiring one or two in-house experts and thinking they can cover it all. Because, they actually can’t. Plus, as a small business, you may have troubles attracting and retaining those professionals. On the other hand, when you work with an MSP, you will constantly have access to the best talents and their amazing skillsets.
Since we are on that topic, we cannot fail to mention once again that outsourcing will be much cheaper than hiring a whole in-house team. You won’t be paying salaries to anyone. Instead, you will agree on a fee, most likely a monthly one, with the provider and you will be paying only for the specific services you are using.
So, to put it simply, by outsourcing those IT services, you will boost your organization’s cybersecurity, and do so at a fair price. In fact, you will do it for a fraction of what it would cost you to hire a team of professionals to monitor your organization. And, on top of it all, the MSP will monitor and manage everything 24/7, which is another huge plus.
How to Choose the Right Provider?
Having understood what an MSP can do for you, as talked about at https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-managed-service-provider/ as well, you are now probably wondering how to exactly choose the right provider. You have to be careful here. Because, the quality of the protection you will get depends on those providers. Choosing a company in Montgomeryville, for example, requires you to do a lot of research.
What you have to do search for these providers online, as well as possibly get some recommendations from the people you know. Then, research them all in more details, checking how experienced they are. Of course, remember to inspect the reputation of the companies you’re considering. Finally, compare all the information you have found, including the prices, and make your final choice.
