What are Managed Services and Why will they be Important in 2023?

The Managed Services Market has been growing steadily in 2022. Growth is expected to continue into 2023 at an even faster rate. The reasons for this forecast are more sophisticated hacking, cloud services replacing physical infrastructure, and a large number of employees shifting to remote work.

Managed Services are a combination of functions that a third-party organization offers to protect a company’s network and make it more efficient. Managed Service Providers (MSP’s) assume responsibility for handling the technology of its clients, either proactively, with a subscription, or as a one-time clean up.

Why it is imperative you hire a Managed Service Provider

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, organizations face numerous challenges in managing their IT infrastructure effectively. From security threats to software updates and network maintenance, there are countless responsibilities that can overwhelm even the most skilled IT department. This is where a Managed Service Provider becomes imperative.

By partnering with an MSP, you gain access to a team of experts who specialize in managing every aspect of your organization's technology needs. They have extensive knowledge and experience in handling complex IT issues and can provide proactive solutions to prevent problems before they occur.

Speak to a Datalink Experts technology expert today and see why a partnership with Datalink Networks is the best move you can make for your business!

One key advantage of hiring an MSP is cost savings. Maintaining an in-house IT department comes with significant expenses such as salaries, training, hardware/software costs, and ongoing maintenance fees. On the other hand, outsourcing these services to an MSP allows you to leverage their resources at a fraction of the cost.

Furthermore, managed service providers offer scalable solutions tailored to your specific business requirements. Whether you need assistance with cloud computing, data backup and recovery, or network monitoring services – an MSP has got you covered. They can customize their offerings based on your growth plans and adapt as your organization expands.

Another crucial benefit of working with an MSP is enhanced security measures. Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated; therefore it is vital for businesses to prioritize data protection. An experienced managed service provider will implement robust security protocols like firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems, to safeguard against potential breaches.

Moreover, the 24/7 support provided by managed service providers ensures minimal downtime for your business operations.

A quick response time means issues are resolved promptly, resulting in reduced disruptions and increased productivity for your employees.

With round-the-clock monitoring, you can rest assured knowing that any potential problems will be detected immediately, and remediated without delay.

By entrusting your technology management needs to a reputable Managed Service Provider, your organization gains access to cutting-edge tools and industry best practices.

They stay up-to-date on the latest trends, equipment, and software, ensuring that your infrastructure is always optimized for peak performance.

Why Managed Service Providers Are Useful

For managers who are focused on business operations, handling information technology may be the last thing on their mind. However, if a network is unstable, long-term problems like breaches, malware, and disorganized data are bound to occur.

On the other hand, with an experienced and trusted MSP, a company’s IT tasks are handled by a company who specializes in that work. The main responsibility of an MSP is maintaining full functionality of an organization's service and equipment.

By outsourcing these services to an MSP, the client is free to take on new tasks with peace of mind that its MSP will manage the technical details of the operation, secure the network, and make it run smoothly.

For more details on the benefits of contracting a Managed Service Provider, click here.

How a Managed Service Provider can save your organization money

Organizations of all sizes and industries are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. One way they can achieve this is by hiring a Managed Service Provider. By outsourcing their IT needs to an MSP, businesses can save significant amounts of money.

It's time to cut the fat and make your business more streamlined. Speak to a Datalink Networks technology expert about how Datalink Networks saves organizations tons of money, while making them more efficient and secure!

Partnering with an MSP eliminates the need for costly in-house IT staff. Hiring and training IT professionals can be expensive, especially when you consider salaries, benefits, and ongoing education expenses. With an MSP, you have access to a team of highly skilled experts at a fraction of the cost.

MSPs offer proactive monitoring and maintenance services that help prevent costly downtime. Downtime can be extremely detrimental to organizations as it leads to lost productivity and potential revenue loss. By keeping your systems up-to-date and resolving any issues before they become major problems, an MSP ensures that your business operations continue uninterrupted.

Additionally, many MSPs operate on a fixed monthly fee basis. This predictable pricing model allows organizations to budget more effectively without worrying about unexpected IT expenses or large upfront investments in hardware or software upgrades.

Furthermore, utilizing cloud-based solutions provided by an MSP enables businesses to reduce infrastructure costs significantly. Instead of purchasing expensive servers or storage devices which would require regular maintenance and upgrades over time - often resulting in additional expenses - organizations can leverage the scalability and flexibility offered by cloud solutions at a lower cost.

Speak to an IT professional about your IT needs today!

Hiring a Managed Service Provider not only enables businesses to streamline their IT operations but also helps them save money in several ways: eliminating the need for full-time IT staff; preventing costly downtime through proactive monitoring; offering predictable pricing models; reducing infrastructure costs through cloud solutions. So if you're looking to optimize your organization's efficiency while saving money along the way, it's imperative that you consider partnering with an experienced Managed Service Provider today!

3 reasons MSPs are Essential in 2023

Remote Work

Remote jobs increased from less than 4% of all high paying jobs before the pandemic, to 9% at the end of 2020, and to more than 15% today. Ladder's CEO, Marc Cenedella, says, “It’s the largest societal change in America since the end of World War II.”

Remote work is here to stay. According to projections, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023.

With so many individuals working virtually, having a Managed Service Provider becomes more essential. MSPs can connect employees and devices through their expertise and cloud computing. The more connected the company is, the more efficiently it will run.

Cyber Attacks

2022 has been one of the worst years of all time when it comes to organizations being hacked. These cyber-attacks will only grow moving forward, expanding in frequency and sophistication. As investment in technology continues to rise, hackers’ opportunity to breach data will become more prevalent.

According to Check Point, by mid-year, cyber-attacks have risen 42% globally. As a result, Gartner estimates that $172 billion will be spent on cyber security this year, from $155 billion in 2021.

The result of this spike in cyber-attacks requires a company to beef up its security in order to stay protected. MSP’s offer services that monitor a network, anticipating and preventing threats before they can do any damage.

Cloud Services

A side effect of remote work becoming standardized is that companies will migrate their on-premises servers to cloud services. Nearly all high-level organizations are making a shift in their network to the cloud.

Click here to read, "6 Best Practices for Enterprise Cloud Migration."

Beginning with 490 billion in 2023, cloud services are expected to reach 592 billion by the end of 2023, Gartner Webb forecasts. This is a staggering 20.7% increased rate, compared to a 18.8% increase in 2022.

As more companies move to the cloud, they are likely to continue using it throughout the span of the company’s work life. Models for most subscriptions ensure that pricing will be billed monthly throughout the term of the contract and likely beyond.

MSPs are highly trained in cloud computing and use it to monitor client data. Their expertise will become a product of high demand in 2023, as cloud migration ensues.

With a trusted provider, companies optimize their operations, reduce costs, and gain a clear chain of communication. A large number of organizations are outsourcing this responsibility for maintenance in anticipation of their IT needs.

5 Benefits of Hiring an MSP

1. Cut Costs

A top-tier IT staff is useful for day-to-day operations but can wear down a budget. By outsourcing IT services to an MSP, you trim the costs of a company while paying a monthly subscription. Companies can be sure of a fixed rate and reliable service, no matter the extent of the technical difficulties.

2. Communicate with the Pros

When hiring an MSP, you will receive access to trusted and experienced engineers. The engineers have many years of history in the industry and are equipped to deal with any issue that arises.

3. Proactive Support and Quick Response time

MSP’s have qualifications in the areas that protect and resolve your technical difficulties. They are dedicated to making sure your network is running as smooth as possible. Because this is their main priority, MSPs offer quick and timely responses in the case of a performance drop in your system.

4. Coded Infrastructure in Place

Cloud networks use coding for configuration. Unless you have the best of the best, your IT staff will not be able to build codes for the cloud. It is too time consuming for those without experience.

In contrast, MSPs prepare for this and have archives with codes ready. Small adjustments are done to tailor to the client’s needs. With this advantage, MSPs discover solutions more quickly, which translates into more time and savings for a company.

5. Better Business Focus

Managed Service Providers handle the IT challenges of an organization, removing hurdles businesses must jump over. As this area is handled by professionals, time is freed up so that the company can direct its attention to growth and business strategies. Leaders get peace of mind knowing their data is left in capable hands.

MSP Functions 

The responsibilities of MSP’s are centered on infrastructure and app management. This section of IT includes connectivity, network supervision, data storage, and backup recovery.

In addition, MSPs provide help desk support for clients with fast response times. For nearly all IT needs that an organization has, MSP providers are prepared and willing to help.

The following is a list of the services MSPs carry out for companies:

• Network and Infrastructure:

  
  Networking and communication infrastructure, administrative hosting and storage service Wide Area Networks (WAN), Local-Area Networks (LAN) and automated network support
  
  

• Security Supervision:

  
  Antivirus, malware security and the latest security updates
  
  

• Support Services:

  
  Help desk service, operations management, and damage control
  
  

• Data Analytics:

  
  Ability to acquire and analyze data using AI technologies for complete reports
  
  

• Cloud Infrastructure:

  
  Cloud computing makes resolving issues and storing protected data within the organization easy
  
  

• Communication and Collaboration:

  
  Video and phone services over the IP network for seamless communication
  
  

• Mobile Communications:

  
  Integrated mobile devices to your network that allows the ability to connect at any location around the world
  
  
  

Automation: For efficiency and savings

One of the main ways MSP's support clients is by automation. If a company is reorganizing its structure or employees leave, there will be fewer people available to carry out the work. This is where automation comes in.

Automating processes will make the business run with more efficiency and speed. It also mitigates the likelihood of human error as a result of fewer tasks that need to be checked. Automation lowers the timeframe of slow responses to the processing time of solving problems.

How MSPs can Accelerate Business Growth    

• MSPs can accelerate business growth by improving the scalability and support of the company. Businesses must keep up with the latest technology trends or risk falling behind the evolving market. As business grows, MSPs help find new strategies to support growth. They provide monitoring services that secure the infrastructure and anticipate any incoming threats to the network.
  
  
• Boost compliance will also help to increase a business' growth. As rules change faster and faster, regulatory requirements become more complex. MSPs have a wide knowledge base of security and compliance, and they can guide your business to develop a strong foundation of industry regulations.
  
  

Innovative ways of thinking will define how successful a business becomes. Organizations that hand the responsibility of the IT team to MSPs, free its leaders to direct its energy on the strategy and innovation - which will fuel business growth.

A high-level MSP will be on the lookout for opportunities of new functionality that its customers aren’t currently using. They should identify areas like data analysis and reporting, existing data and sales information, and mapping out where to focus sales across their region.

• A high-level MSP will be on the lookout for opportunities of new functionality that its customers aren’t currently using. They should identify areas like data analysis and reporting, existing data and sales information, and map out where to focus its sales.
  
  

Tech in 2023 is Needed

MSPs have reason to get excited as we approach 2023.

The Spiceworks Ziff Davis (SWZD) 2023 State of IT report explores IT budget plans and trends in technology. It reveals that tech spending in North America and Europe is on path to grow by 13%.

Peter Tsai, head of technology insights at SWZD, claims businesses will “shift more of their budgets towards managed services. Expected spending on managed services will rise to 18% of total IT budgets in 2023, up from 15% before the pandemic,” says Peter.

Managed IT services' budgets increased from 8% in 2021 to an expected 11% in 2023. The budget for managed business applications grew from 9% in 2021 vs 11% in 2023.

Despite many business' concerns for a recession in 2023, 51% plan to increase their overall IT budgets in 2023. This is compared to a narrow 6% that plan to reduce their tech spend.

Things to look for when vetting Managed Service Providers

As you can see, hiring a Managed Service Provider is not just a luxury but an imperative for any organization looking to stay competitive in today's fast-paced technological landscape. By outsourcing your IT needs to experts, you can save time, money and resources while ensuring that your systems are running smoothly and efficiently.

However, choosing the right Managed Service Provider is crucial for the success of this partnership. To ensure that you make the best decision for your organization, there are several key things to look for when vetting potential providers:

1. Expertise: Look for a provider with extensive experience and expertise in managing IT infrastructure similar to yours. They should have knowledge of the latest technologies and best practices to effectively address your specific needs.
   
   
2. Proactive Approach: A good Managed Service Provider will not only handle day-to-day operations but also proactively identify and resolve issues before they become major problems. They should be proactive in monitoring your systems and providing timely solutions.
   
   
3. Scalability: Your business may grow or change over time, so it's important to choose a provider who can scale their services accordingly. Ensure that they have the flexibility to accommodate your evolving needs without compromising on quality.
   
   
4. Security Measures: Data security is paramount in today's digital world, so it's essential that your Managed Service Provider has robust security measures in place to protect sensitive information from cyber threats or breaches.
   
   
5. Communication and Support: Clear communication channels and responsive support are vital when working with a Managed Service Provider. Make sure they have efficient methods of communication in place and offer prompt assistance whenever needed.

By considering these factors during the vetting process, you can find a reliable partner who will not only manage your IT needs effectively but also contribute towards the growth and success of your organization.

Recap

Managed IT services is the practice of outsourcing IT needs, such as maintaining and updating network security, managing infrastructure, and providing end-user help desks. A managed service provider, also known as an MSP, is the IT organization that takes on this responsibility for clients.

Managed services often work off of an all-inclusive pricing model, in which the MSP charges one flat rate to manage and monitor all of the IT support the plan offers. They focus on comprehensive solutions, monitor the overall health of an organization's IT environment, and help optimize the overall performance of IT infrastructure.

2023 is expected to be a big growth year for those in the tech space, specifically Managed Service Providers. The factors contributing to this growth are an increase in remote employees, cyber-attacks, and the demand for cloud services.

Datalink Networks: Your Trusted MSP 

Datalink Networks can help with any IT needs your company is experiencing. With services stretching from cloud migration to Microsoft Licensing, Datalink covers everything in the IT realm.

As your business grows, IT requirements will inevitably change. By hiring an MSP like Datalink Networks, the burden of monitoring IT will be lifted off your shoulders. Your company will gain a secure IT environment while reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and adding scalability.