Read this post to find out about the considerations that go into choosing managed IT services in Seattle that are most suitable for your business.Seattle has been constantly buzzing with entrepreneurial activity. The startups here have raised more than 3.2 billion USD in venture capital through the first three quarters of 2020. As per another 2020 report, Seattle rose three spots and now ranks ninth among the top thirty cities having the best global startup ecosystem.

With growing competition, managed IT services is the need of the hour for businesses. Managed services providers (MSPs) will help your business scale its processes, earn a competitive edge, and improve employee productivity. Choosing the right managed IT services provider is, therefore, a crucial business decision.

According to findings, the market for managed IT services providers is continually exploding due to the rise in network outages, malware attacks, and constant emphasis on cybersecurity. It is, therefore, imperative for business owners in Seattle to work with an MSP that ensures minimum downtime for clients. Apart from this, several other factors should be considered when hiring managed IT services in Seattle.

But before that, let’s understand what managed IT services providers are and how they can help businesses bridge technological gaps.

What Are Managed IT Services Providers?

A managed IT services provider manages a business's IT infrastructure, network, and end-user systems. While their services are beneficial for businesses of all sizes, small and medium enterprises find them particularly helpful. The IT expertise that MSPs offer helps you run your business operations without the fear of infrastructural or network issues and security breaches.

Managed services providers have the resources and expertise to cater to a business’s growing needs. They provide access to a multidisciplinary IT team that is proficient in addressing all IT infrastructure issues.

The right MSP will ensure that all your technology requirements are addressed with the highest efficiency. Your overall IT infrastructure will, therefore, remain secure from third-party and internal threats.

How Managed IT Services Streamline Business Operations?

The rapid penetration of digital technologies is enabling new businesses to explore untapped opportunities. However, whether you're planning to start a business in Seattle or are already running one, you need a flawless IT infrastructure for seamless functioning.

It also crucial to secure your business environment from cybersecurity threats, data loss, unnecessary downtime, and network failure. This is when a managed IT services provider will prove to be helpful.

Here’s how MSPs are driving business success.

24/7/365 Monitoring

Managed IT services providers ensure 24/7/365 monitoring with high-tech networking tools and provide quick solutions in the event of a cyberattack. Whether it's after your office hours, on a weekend, or on holidays, they will swing into action without a second thought.

Improved Security

All businesses are prone to security vulnerabilities. Managed services providers integrate advanced firewalls and endpoint protection solutions into the existing infrastructure and secure the business network so threats and risks are minimized. They also deploy advanced alert systems that notify the IT team in the event of unauthorized access. This ensures there’s no delay in responding to a cyberattack.

Data Backup and Recovery

Data backup and recovery solutions help keep your sensitive business data secure in the event of a security breach, natural disaster, or equipment failure. Managed IT services providers offer comprehensive data backup services by storing your data on another server at a different location. MSPs also offer customized cloud storage solutions, depending on your unique business needs.

Comprehensive Reporting

Managed IT services providers give you a real-time view of your IT infrastructure. Their detailed and data-backed reports can help you keep track of ongoing network activities and vulnerabilities. 

Seattle businesses can choose from a plethora of managed IT services providers for their needs. Not all managed services providers, however, are proficient in their work. A reliable managed services provider goes a step ahead of the traditional break-fix model to support the business at every stage of its growth.

Here are seven essential factors to consider when choosing a managed IT services provider in Seattle.

How to Choose the Right Managed IT Services Provider in Seattle?

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the right managed IT services provider. You should, however, ensure that the one you choose offers the following:

1. Flexibility

A managed IT services provider should be able to provide you with the flexibility to scale up or down business operations as needed. Simply put, you need a managed IT services provider who won't lock you into a contract where you can neither scale-up nor down as your business needs change.

Your MSP should allow you to expand or shrink your bandwidth as your demand peaks or falls. For example, if your business runs on a subscription-based model, your MSP must allow you to scale the resources based on consumption and demand. You should be able to dedicate more resources during peak demand and reduce the usage (and pay less) as demand shrinks.

 2. Constant Vigilance on IT Infrastructure and Network

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, your business data becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. This means your managed IT services provider should constantly monitor your business network and take the necessary action at the first sign of trouble.

Your defenses may be breached or your system may encounter a glitch at any point in time, without a warning. Constant monitoring by a managed IT services provider will keep your IT infrastructure and network up and running as well as secure at all times.

3. Transparency in Service Level Agreement

The managed services provider should be transparent when it comes to setting the terms and conditions for their services and the fees charged. They should give you all the related details in writing. The service level agreement (SLA) should specify the services that will be provided by the MSP and who will be held accountable in the event of an issue.

The agreement should also specify the preferred mode of contact, response and resolution times, specific performance metrics (such as device uptime and incident response times), and the pricing structure.  It should also include a breakdown of the costs of each service you use. 

4. Response Time

Dealing with downtime can be frustrating for businesses. Not all managed IT service providers are equipped to respond promptly to downtime. If your MSP’s response time is slow and getting timely support is difficult, it will make things worse. 

To minimize the possibility of downtime, go for an MSP that deploys multiple threat detection and alert systems. They should be able to respond to inquiries within fifteen minutes or less. There should be remote support systems and dedicated helpdesks to enable you to register a ticket for your issue systematically.

5. Data Backup and Disaster Recovery

Data loss or theft can lead to massive financial and reputational losses for businesses. The MSP you choose should be able to put a reliable data backup and recovery solution in place so you don't lose your key business information in the event of accidental deletion, data theft, cyberattacks, system crashes, natural disasters, or hardware malfunction.

The MSP should also follow the practice of conducting manual backups and storing your data on separate servers at multiple locations. They should be equipped to perform automatic and continuous cloud backups. Further, they should be able to minimize downtime by providing user access in a secure environment.

6. Network Security

Managed IT services providers proactively monitor the business network and improve security. They conduct regular audits and detect loopholes that could be exploited to gain unauthorized entry.

They also work on patch management and upgrades to fortify the defense against a cyberattack. Additionally, they install and maintain the latest versions of high-tech firewalls and antivirus solutions to ensure complete protection.

 Before signing the contract, it’s advisable to ask the MSP about the specific network security measures they have to keep cybersecurity threats at bay.

7. Market Reputation

You should partner with providers of managed IT services in Seattle with a proven track record and solid market reputation. During your consultation, you may ask them for references of their current and previous clients, and find out how they are to work with. This will also help you understand the MSP’s industry experience.

Make sure to research the MSP on Google, and read what customers are saying about them on third-party review websites. You can also try digging into their social media accounts and online IT forums for more feedback on their services.

Wrapping Up

Hiring a managed services provider and entrusting them with your IT services infrastructure is a crucial decision, which can make or break your business. You should take time and research your options rather than make a hasty choice. The above considerations will guide you to narrow down your options to the most suitable company providing managed IT services in Seattle.

Outsourcing your IT services to providers of managed IT services in Seattle can be one of the best business decisions you make.  Let’s find out how to partner with the right one.