When a relationship with a managed service provider (MSP) is going well, all parties benefit. The provider is doing its job, and the business is saving time and money. IT issues are resolved quickly, and safeguards are installed to prevent them from happening in the first place. It’s a win/win situation.
Unfortunately, even good relationships can change over time. Businesses evolve, and a good MSP needs to change with it, both handling current needs and anticipating future ones. But when that doesn’t happen, it’s important to reconsider the relationship and find a managed service provider that works for you.
MSP Warning Signs
Here are a few common indications that your MSP isn’t a good fit for the current state of your business.
* Not saving you time and money. A contract with your MSP is more than an exchange of money for services. It provides peace of mind, knowing that your network is in good hands with a capable support team and a plan in place to minimize (or eliminate) downtime.
Even if the level of service is good in the beginning, things might change as the relationship continues. Response times that used to be immediate might be measured in hours or even days. Downtime becomes more frequent, turnover at the MSP might mean you’re dealing with different contacts who don’t know your business, and the current plan doesn’t feel tailored to your company as it exists today. If you don’t seem to be a priority anymore, you’ll end up spending valuable time dealing with issues that should have been resolved quickly.
And if it costs the business time, it also costs money. It might not show up on the bottom line at first, but when you aren’t getting the service you expect from your MSP, you’re spending unnecessary energy and resources on problems that impede your ability to do business. And when the cost of the provider becomes impossible to justify, it will become obvious on the balance sheet as well.
