Questions IT Leaders Need to Ask About an MSP

‍

Your job as an IT leader is difficult enough. You’ve likely been considering a managed service to augment your current staff for a host of reasons. 

‍

• Your current staff doesn’t have the right tools and knowledge to properly service your organization’s needs. 
• You’ve recently gone through a major acquisition and were tasked with combining and managing disparate environments with platform-focused staff. 
• You’re considering bringing on new talent, but finding the right candidate is becoming exceedingly difficult to identify and attract.
• Your existing DBA staff members need help covering day-to-day, mundane tasks so they can focus their attention on other priorities. 

‍

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) can become an extension of your team and help mitigate headaches and stress.

‍

Nearly any project your company works on comes with priorities that require hyper-focused DBA efforts. This is where an MSP like DataStrike comes in handy. Overall, an MSP can alleviate the stress of needing to work on databases and applications that require 24x7x365 attention. 

‍

Here are the 7 things you should be looking for to ensure you find the right MSP to meet your needs.  

‍

Do They Have Experience with Your Specific Environment? 

‍

Finding an MSP with the proper experience with your specific databases is essential. Perhaps you have disparate platforms, a hybrid environment, etc.  Building a long-term relationship with an MSP means you must trust that they fully understand your goals, needs, and how to potentially leverage these platforms effectively and efficiently. 

‍

Whatever your environment, the right MSP will have the right experience to properly monitor, administer, and manage your databases so you can focus on what you do best— focusing on your business.  

‍

Are Their Employees Trained? 

‍

Are they investing in employee training to ensure they are knowledgeable about the latest releases, version updates, technologies, etc.. Make sure to ask about training regimens, compliance standards, and certifications to ensure they’re the best option to grow your business. 

‍

Will You Have Access to Senior-Level Experts?

‍

Doing so will ensure you’re able to leverage higher levels of talent without the need to hire directly into your organization.   

‍

Do They Offer 24 x 7 x 365 Database Monitoring? 

‍

Imagine sleeping soundly knowing your system is running smoothly and secured from threats. Thanks to consistent monitoring, this can be your new norm. If any problems arise, database monitoring will identify and alert for potential failures, allowing for speedy remediation of the situation. 

‍

Do They Have Customized Contracts Specific to Your Needs? 

‍

Your data and your company are unique. You need an MSP that has versatile contracts that are focused on your needs. Contracts should be easy to understand, clear, and concise so you fully understand the services that are being delivered, service levels, etc.  Your needs may fluctuate as your company grows. Updates to your current contract should be smooth and with little to no disruption to your business. 

‍

Can They Scale to Meet Your Needs? 

‍

Your business has unique needs. Ensure the MSP you utilize can flex service efforts to accommodate peak periods your business will experience. As an example, retail companies require more support around holiday seasons like back-to-school. 

‍

Are They Responsive? 

‍

As technology has evolved, so have customer’s expectations regarding service. An expedited response should be expected to ensure your needs remain a priority. Unfortunately, some Managed Services Provider’s responsiveness may decline over time for various reasons.  Use social proof (reviews, case studies, references, etc.) to find an impartial point of view from other people who have used the MSP before. 

‍

Conclusion

‍

An MSP allows your business to place a firm emphasis on your employees to ensure they can emphasize their goals and priorities. Be sure to do proper research when considering outsourcing to an MSP.  Fill out the form below if you’d like to elevate your business into the future with DataStrike. 

‍

About DataStrike

‍

DataStrike is the industry leader in 100% onshore data infrastructure services and enables companies to harness IT changes as a catalyst for growth. With a network of highly specialized experts, strategic partnerships with the world's biggest technology providers, and a platform agnostic approach, DataStrike provides innovative solutions and practical guidance to accelerate digital transformation initiatives and drive better business outcomes for small-to mid-sized businesses. Click here to learn more about our service offerings.