Using a managed service provider to move your business to the cloud

How to choose a managed service provider

Finding a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that meets your businesses needs is vital to successful cloud migration.

The cloud is a resource that is being used by many businesses to help make changes to their current business processes. These changes are important in helping to improve the customer experience and remain competitive in what is an increasingly digital centric world. This move towards using the cloud is the reason that many companies are searching for a managed services partner (MSP) to deliver cloud migration services for them. The question is: how does any business know that it has made the best choice of MSP for its needs? This choice is vital if you want your cloud migration to be a success; with this in mind there are several different factors to consider.

Why use an MSP?

Using the cloud can be advantageous for any business, but you need to ensure that migration is successful and that you get the optimum level of benefits. Making sure that this happens is a skilled task, which is best undertaken by people who have a thorough understanding of the cloud and how it works.

This is why using an MSP is a good idea. They can help you migrate all of your data to the cloud, and they can successfully manage it for you, on an on-going basis. You get help from experts who are there to watch over the operations and ensure that everything is managed smoothly and securely. They put to use the knowledge they have gained through working with numerous different businesses over the years. You can automate your cloud migration and management and take all of that pressure off the shoulders of your business.

This is a far more beneficial position to be in than having to deal with the stress and resource issues that managing everything in-house can bring. Working with an MSP means you can let them do the job that they do so well, while you spend your valuable time managing the business and supporting them at a strategic level.

What should you look for?

There are many MSPs out there to choose from. They do not all provide the same level of service, so you need to be careful about which one you choose.

Which one should you work with?

If you are looking for the best MSP for you, there are certain attributes you should pay attention to:

• Ability to focus on a cloud plan that is relevant in your industry.
• Whole service options available, including migration and on-going support.
• Strong bonds with the top cloud providers.
• Strong set of tools for complete automation.
• Proven experience in producing excellent results worldwide.
• Resources available to produce the cloud-based results you are looking for.
• Ability to be answerable and cost effective in the long term.
• Willing to offer pay-as-you-go options so that they share the risk of the relationship with you.
• Ability to scale the product and deal with complex requirements.

The cloud as a resource is evolving all the time. This is why it makes sense to expand your knowledge and abilities by working with an MSP. The list of attributes above should help you to choose the one that is the best fit for your business.

What should you consider before signing a contract with an MSP?

If you are thinking of entering into a relationship with an MSP, you should always be completely open about what you need. Having everything out in the open, and being clear, means that the relationship is far more likely to be successful. You need to think about what your requirements are now, what they will be in the short-term future and what they will be in the longer term.

An agreement needs to be reached about who owns and manages hardware and software. You also need to determine whether your business will be able to grow and change with the same provider; can they assure you that this will be the case?

Find an MSP partner that best meets your business requirements.

Computer Geeks is an expert MSP that can help you make the move to the cloud in an effortless manner. Speak to us today, to find out how our cloud-based solutions can help your business become more flexible, lean and cost-efficient.