What are the Different Types of Managed Services Solutions

Managed services are versatile and effective business strategies that allow you to outsource specific operations, processes, or IT functions to a third-party service provider. The managed service provider (MSP) is responsible for proactively monitoring and managing the specified functions or systems on your behalf. 

Managed services cover various areas, such as IT infrastructure management, network monitoring, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and database management. These services are designed to provide you with access to specialized expertise and resources. This approach helps reduce operational costs by eliminating the need for expensive IT infrastructure or hiring an internal IT team. 

This guide will discuss various managed services that can strengthen your IT management and help you keep up with your company’s changing requirements.

End User Services

End-user services refer to a set of solutions offering IT support desks to your staff and clients (also known as end-users) by an MSP. The IT service desk and helpdesk solutions are at the core of these services, where users can seek resolutions for various technical issues. Here is a breakdown of what end-user support includes: 

• Troubleshoot IT problems 
• Technical assistance 
• Answer IT-related questions 
• Incident resolution 

The MSP addresses and resolves technical issues affecting users’ productivity. They offer user support through different channels, including phone support, an online ticketing system, remote desktop support, and a self-service knowledge base. Their primary objective is to provide fast and professional assistance to employees to minimize downtime and ensure continuous productivity.

Infrastructure Support

With infrastructure support, the MSP manages your critical infrastructure components, including servers, networks, and storage. They provide proactive maintenance, monitoring, and support to ensure that these systems are always running efficiently. 

Basically, the MSP takes responsibility for all infrastructure-related tasks in this area, such as: 

• Hardware management: Provisioning new hardware, performing maintenance, and troubleshooting hardware-related issues. 
• Network management: Monitoring network performance, configuring network devices like routers and switches, and implementing security measures like firewalls to prevent unauthorized access. 
• Operating system (OS) management: Installing OS updates, patching vulnerabilities, and configuring system settings for optimal performance. 

The MSP should provide a service level agreement (SLA) outlining the specific services offered, support levels, and response times, which can be customized to meet your unique requirements.

Security Services

With cyberattacks growing more frequent and complex, prioritizing the security of your IT infrastructure is crucial to preventing disruptions and maintaining business continuity. Partnering with an MSP is one of the best options to achieve this goal. Your business can benefit from the expertise of security professionals who deeply understand the latest cyber threats and how to mitigate them. 

MSPs can help you strengthen your IT environment through a robust security strategy, such as employing real-time alerts and proactive security measures to detect any risks in your systems. These measures may include managed detection and response, threat hunting, email security services, and security awareness training. Listed below are the security measures MSPs employ:  

• Security monitoring: Monitoring network traffic to detect any suspicious activity. 
• Log management: Collecting and storing logs from various devices and applications, then analyzing them to identify potential security threats. 
• Intrusion detection and prevention: Deploying various tools and methods to detect and prevent any unauthorized attempts to access your network. 
• Endpoint security: Ensuring the security of individual devices, such as laptops, desktops, mobile devices, etc., from security threats. 
• Incident response: Implementing an incident response plan that outlines the actions to take in case of a security incident. 

Technology Support

Working with an MSP allows you to access a skilled team of experts who can complete critical IT projects. For instance, let’s say you need to modernize your legacy systems or deploy a seamless Teams infrastructure. Your internal IT team may be overburdened or need more specialized skills for these tasks. The MSP can assist you throughout the entire project lifecycle: 

• Project planning: The MSP works with you to define project goals, timelines, and budgets. 
• Execution: Using their expertise, the MSP executes the project efficiently, ensuring it stays on track. 
• Delivery: You receive a completed project that meets your needs and expectations within the agreed-upon timeframe and budget.

IT Consulting and Strategic Planning

IT consulting and strategic planning are crucial for establishing a dependable, future-proof IT infrastructure that aligns with your business objectives. It goes beyond day-to-day IT management.

Your MSP begins with an in-depth evaluation of your current IT infrastructure and business operations. The MSP will then develop a customized strategy based on the evaluation to optimize your technology and streamline your processes. Having a well-defined IT strategy is a key factor in adapting to changing business needs and technological advancements. The services typically provided by MSPs include:

• IT assessment and audit 
• IT strategy development 
• Technology roadmap planning 
• Digital transformation consulting  
• IT project management 
• Budget planning and forecasting

Data Management and Backup

Data management is a process that involves the proper storage, organization, security, and backup of data. It is critical to ensure that data is easily accessible, well-organized, and secure. Effective data management minimizes downtime and financial losses by enabling swift data recovery in case of incidents. MSPs usually handle services like: 

• Storage solutions 
• Data organization and classification 
• Data archiving 
• Data encryption 
• Storage optimization 
• Backup strategy development 
• Automated backups 
• Backup verification and testing 
• Disaster recovery planning and implementation

Device and Inventory Management

The primary task of device and inventory management is managing and maintaining an inventory of IT assets and devices connected to your company’s network. This includes all hardware and software components crucial to your organization’s day-to-day operations.  

The main objective of this process is to ensure that all IT assets and devices function properly, are up-to-date with the latest security patches, and adhere to company policies and regulations. The services usually included are: 

• Asset tracking and inventory management 
• Hardware and software procurement 
• Lifecycle management 
• Asset decommissioning and disposal 
• Compliance reporting 
• Devise usage monitoring

Technology has changed how businesses operate, and those who can adapt and take advantage of the latest innovations are better positioned to thrive in today’s fiercely competitive business environment. With the right MSP, your organization can delegate technology-related tasks to industry experts, allowing you to focus on your core competencies.