What IT Services Can Managed Services Provide?
Today, there are so many types of managed IT services that a provider can offer your company. It really makes no difference what industry you’re in or whether you run a large or small company. Everyone needs IT services and some companies just don’t want to worry about this. And, it’s often just as cost-effective to outsource everything to a managed service provider. Most companies have a hard time deciding which IT services they really need and how all of it will work. So below, we go over the various types of IT services you can get through managed service providers.
What Are The Nine IT Functions Delivered Through Managed Services?
When choosing managed services, remember that most providers offer some sort of special deal if you bundle more than one service. This allows you to get more for your money. Be sure to ask about that.
CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE
Managed Cloud Infrastructure enables MSPs to manage cloud infrastructure by standardizing interactions between cloud environments. It also allows greater control over specific services to outsource while achieving interoperable cloud infrastructure management between consumers and service providers.
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & DATA ANALYTICS
Managed Business Intelligence (BI) is a comprehensive term encompassing data analytics and other reporting tools that help in decision making using historical data. Managed Data Analytics focuses on algorithms to determine the relationship between data offering key insights.
NETWORKS & INFRASTRUCTURE
Managed Networks and Infrastructure includes IP Virtual Private Networks widely used for security, high performance, and cost-effective networking. When handled correctly, this eliminates the cost of maintaining a data center via a Service Level Agreement (SLA), as Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) services do.
COMMUNICATIONS
Managed Communications is a merging of data, voice, and video on the same IP Network. Along with that comes a managed contact center. The center will combine two sections into one. On one side there are the traditional call center features. On the opposite side, is the intelligent IP call routing, integrating email, phone, web, IM, and fax.
SECURITY SERVICES
Managed Security Services (MSS) are network security services that get outsourced to a service provider. The “defense-in-depth” functions include 24/7 monitoring and management of firewalls and intrusion detection systems. The MSS also responds to emergencies, performs security assessments and security audits, oversees patch management and upgrades.
PRINT SERVICES
Managed Print Services (MPS) perform a requirements assessment before proceeding. Based on the results, a partial or complete replacement of existing hardware is reviewed. The equipment may include faxes, photocopiers, printers, scanners, and any multi-function product/printer/peripheral (MFP) devices. The managed service provider will oversee and service equipment, and provide parts and supplies.
SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE
Managed Software as a Service (MSaaS) is a managed service: providers will deliver, host, improve and update applications for clients. MSPs do resell this service and assist with the integration of cloud and on-premises apps. The MSaaS helps organizations with analytics, implementation issues which include hardware, hosting services and software, for a predetermined and contractual time frame.
WIRELESS & MOBILE COMPUTING
Managed Wireless and Mobile Computing enable wireless capabilities without incurring the capital expense (CapEx), the time and financial expenditure associated with implementation. With managed WMC there is an increase in productivity and collaboration and a decrease in deployment effort and complexity.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Managed Support Services take care of traditional Help Desk features, i.e., the Help Desk functions might be Ticketing for IT Support. Support services get offered in tiered models. Typically provided in blocks of hours or unlimited time frames. Layered models regularly get offered in bundled, On-Demand or On-Site, support packages.
Are There Other IT Functions Delivered by Managed Service Providers?
These nine essential IT functions above are the basics, but there are many other services you can get through an IT service provider. Just ask them about whatever you need.
- Managed hosting and storage – These managed IT functions eliminate costs that will skyrocket when purchasing and maintaining onsite equipment. On top of that, there is the floor space, then hiring personnel, and finally ongoing IT training. Tapping into the service provider’s expertise, hardened facilities, and guaranteed SLAs reduces any company or organization’s expenses.
- Managed IP VPNs – Virtual Private Networks are the most widely used technology for cost-effective, high-performance, and secure networking. A VPN permits users to connect over a public internet connection to access their main company network remotely. That allows each employee to work from home or when traveling, while connecting to the company’s intranet, giving them access to all their shared network files.
- Managed LAN services – Service providers can control a company’s Local Area Network over their system, helping to reduce total cost of ownership. Without managed services, the cost to maintain and update a network increases proportionally with increased network usage.
- Managed WAN services – Service providers do offer a broader range of managed Wide Area Network connectivity services. A short list would include ATM, frame relay, metro ethernet, multiprotocol label switching, and private lines.
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