Unlock Your Business Potential with Managed IT Services

Managed IT services can be a game changer for businesses of all sizes. Whether a one-person shop or a large enterprise, these can provide you with the resources, tools, and information technology expertise you need to succeed.

For most businesses, they were unheard of several years back. That’s because these services were offered only by the big companies. Fast forward to today, and managed services are now available to everyone thanks to a slew of cloud-based solutions.

The expected value of the global IT Managed Services market is US$ 244670 million in 2022, and it is anticipated to reach US$ 399170 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 8.5% throughout the analysis period.

These cloud platforms offer potent tools which allow even the smallest businesses to get an edge over their competitors. This has led to almost every business owner/CEO, including Managed IT Services in their budgets.

You can handle your IT problems as a business owner. This is true for some businesses, but most large complex companies will be well served by outsourcing their IT service model to a managed service provider (MSP).

This article goes over why managed services for businesses are essential.

What is Managed IT Service?

Managed IT services are the ultimate in business technology support. Whether it’s security, disaster recovery, or network design, managed service providers eliminate the headache of keeping your business up and running.

Outsourcing, managed services, security services, data management, and cloud computing comprise the larger market for IT services. End-user spending on cloud computing is expected to reach nearly 500 billion dollars in the United States in 2022.

Managed service offering is a proactive solution that provides you with around-the-clock hardware and software support for your computer network. This means you’ll never have to worry about being left in the dark when something goes wrong — because a professional team of experts is all taken care of

These services typically include a variety of services, including:

• Help desk support and remote monitoring and management.
• Security monitoring and threat protection.
• Software and hardware installation, configuration, and deployment.
• Telecom expense management services.

Managed service provider msp companies provide their clients with 24/7 monitoring, assistance in identifying and resolving issues before they become problems, backup and recovery plans, and focus on improving other services designed to keep your business running smoothly.

Different Types of Managed IT Services

There are many types of managed IT services available, but here are some of the most common:

Managed Networks and Infrastructure – This service includes monitoring and managing remote servers, desktops, and laptops. These services also include application management support and help desk support.

Managed Security –Managed Security refers to outsourcing security operations and management to a third-party service provider. MSSPs offer a range of security services, including threat detection and response, vulnerability assessments, security monitoring, and incident management. They use specialized security software and tools to monitor and manage the client’s security environment, identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities, and respond to security incidents in real-time.

Managed Support Services – Managed support services provide all the technical expertise needed to keep your systems running smoothly without downtime due to technical issues or problems with software applications such as Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Online and Microsoft Azure Active Directory Cloud Services.

Managed Wireless and Mobile Computing – This type of IT service involves the management of wireless networks, mobile devices, and applications. With these services, companies can have more control over the performance of their employees’ mobile devices by ensuring they are secure and up-to-date with the latest operating systems.

Managed Communication Services – Managed communication services are designed to help companies improve productivity by ensuring that all employees can communicate effectively with one another through email and instant messaging. These services also include other forms of communication, such as video conferencing, web conferencing, and more.

Software as a Service (SaaS) –  Software as a service provides clients with access to applications hosted on the cloud, typically through the internet. This means that users do not have to install or maintain any software on their systems. 

What are the Benefits of Using Managed IT Services?

Managed services are a great way to maintain your IT infrastructure’s security, performance, and reliability. This is especially true if you’re a small business or a startup company with no budget for full-time IT staff.

Of the 451 large businesses surveyed by 451 Research, 45% planned to collaborate with a MSP, and 42% prepared to deploy additional security software. The industry is changing as a result. Managing service contracts have replaced the old break-fix model in 59% of IT services.

Managed IT providers offer several benefits in their service level agreement sla over doing things yourself:

Contractual Terms: A managed service provider often has a contract in place with their clients that outlines the responsibilities of both parties. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding what they’re expected to do, when they’re expected to do it and how much they’ll be paid for it.

Reliability: An MSP will work hard to avoid any potential issues — from hardware failure to cybersecurity threats — so that you don’t have to worry about them taking down your entire system or causing data loss.

Cost Savings: It can help you save money by reducing spending on technology. Your service provider can take care of all your IT needs, from network management to infrastructure upgrades, so you only pay for what you use. This can save you more of your total cost of ownership.

Reduce IT Spending: These providers offer fixed monthly rates that allow you to budget for your entire year’s expenses upfront and avoid unexpected costs that could hurt your bottom line.

Dependable Service: Instead of wasting time troubleshooting problems yourself or waiting on hold with technical support, let us handle it! Our team will monitor your network 24/7, so you have peace of mind knowing there’s always someone available to help when something goes wrong.

Managed IT Services Provider Inclusion

To qualify for inclusion in the Managed IT support services category, a service provider must offer their clients a range of IT services and support:

• Provide Constant Monitoring of IT-Related Functions: This includes monitoring of the server, applications, and network, as well as security systems.
• Provide On-Demand Support: A MSP should have a team of technical experts that can be deployed whenever an issue arises. This could include a help desk, online chat, or phone support.
• Provide IT Consulting: A good MSP offers advice and guidance on improving your business’s technology infrastructure and processes.

Final Words

The benefits of managed services are clear. By outsourcing their IT management services and maintenance, businesses can free up their internal IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives and benefit from improved security, compliance, cost savings, and customer service. However, finding the right managed IT services provider for your business is essential. Be sure to look for a provider that has experience working with companies of your size and industry, is reliable and has a good reputation, and offers competitive prices.

If you’re looking for a managed services provider in Rockland County NY or Hudson Valley, Protected Harbor can help. Protected Harbor is one of the top Managed IT Services providers in the US and offered a range of services to meet your business’s IT needs.

With digital and technological techniques that support your company’s objectives, IT specialists at Protected Harbor will assist in transforming your enterprise. Reduce stressful day-to-day IT operations, minimize costly downtime, and improve operational maturity. Gain access to a whole team of IT professionals to help you manage the newest technology and a wealth of knowledge that will accelerate your growth, boost your profitability, and improve your business.

Get a free IT Audit today and unlock your business potential with Protected Harbor.

Protected Harbor Named Best IT Company of 2022 by Best of Small Business Awards!

Protected Harbor, a family-owned Managed IT Service Partner in New York, was named the Best IT Company of 2022 by the Best of Small Business Awards. The Best of Small Business Awards is an annual award recognizing the achievements of small and medium-sized businesses within the United States. This award acknowledges small businesses’ hard work and dedication to providing their customers with the best possible service. The award is based on customer feedback, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

“We are honored to have been selected for this prestigious award, and we are proud that our hard work and dedication have been recognized by the Best of Small Business Awards,” said Protected Harbor CEO Richard Luna. “We are grateful that our clients allow and entrust us to eliminate their technology problems, allowing them to focus on their business and mission.”

The Small Business Expo which is America’s largest and most popular Business-to-Business networking event, trade show, and conference, actually presented The Best of Small Business Awards. Coincidentally, while attending the Small Business Expo in New York this past year, Protected Harbor was notably one of the most popular exhibitors in attendance.

Previously, Protected Harbor was also recognized as a top cloud computing company in the US by Goodfirms, and as a top managed service provider by DesignRush.

Protected Harbor has been recognized by The Best of Small Business Awards for the company’s commitment to our customer’s happiness. During voting, Protected Harbors’ approach to customer service was recognized as going beyond just solving problems and closing tickets. The company aims to connect on a human level, getting to know its clients and their client’s business so Protected Harbor can function like an extension of their team.

Protected Harbor prides themselves on providing their clients with the best IT services possible. Their team of professionals are dedicated to ensuring that their clients receive the highest quality services and products. The company strives to offer their clients the most innovative solutions to their IT needs.

The organization has more than 14 years of experience implementing cutting-edge engineering solutions focused on managed services, cloud migration, networking, and collaboration. Protected Harbor’s staff is highly knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of IT, from network security to cloud computing. The company keeps up with the latest trends and technologies to ensure clients receive the most up-to-date solutions. They understand that technology is constantly evolving, and they strive to stay ahead of the curve.

Protected Harbor’s innovative approach to offering managed services is redefining business technology. The IT experts at Protected Harbor will help lessen stressful day-to-day tech challenges, decrease expensive downtime, and boost operational maturity through digital and technical strategies that complement your company’s goals.

Protected Harbor is one of the many IT companies in the area that specializes in various services, such as IT assistance, remote workforce support, IT infrastructure, cloud migration, VoIP phones, and data center hosting. The company differentiates itself from other MSPs by prioritizing customer satisfaction. They also offer 24/7/365 unrivaled customer service. If you run into a problem at any time, you can always count on them to address it, no matter how late in the evening or early in the morning.

Protected Harbor looks forward to continuing to provide their clients with the best IT services and products in the years to come. The company’s main objective is to create an interpersonal relationship and understand their client’s company so they can work as an extension of their client’s staff. The result of this connection is evident in the fact that customer referrals mainly drive their business, and they have a 98% customer satisfaction rate. Protected Harbor is the last IT company you will ever need to hire. Get in touch now to experience what effective collaboration and outstanding customer service looks like.

5 Benefits of Hiring a Managed Services Provider

Today’s businesses are faced with myriad challenges. The growth of digital technologies, the Internet of Things, managed services, and other connected devices have exposed organizations to new threats and accelerated the pace of change. As a result, organizations must adapt faster than ever to stay ahead of their competitors.

Users need to balance increasing responsibilities without sacrificing performance or security. Many businesses are moving from standard IT support services to managed services providers that can meet all their IT needs with a single vendor.

Managed service providers (MSPs) offer more than just essential managed IT support services; they provide strategic business services that integrate with the end user’s existing technology infrastructure. This article highlights the 5 benefits of hiring a managed services provider to leverage these benefits within your organization.

• Reduce Costs

A managed services provider can reduce the costs of your technology in several ways. First, by leveraging economies of scale, MSPs can obtain better pricing on hardware and software services than they can as an individual organization. This can be expensive if you are currently responsible for buying and maintaining all your technology. You can reduce your costs by 10% to 30% or more by using MSPs to meet your technology needs.

Additionally, MSPs provide better service than many in-house IT departments. And according to a recent study, managed services providers can reduce costs by an average of 14% in the first year. This can amount to a significant amount of money, depending on the size of your organization.

• Unified Platform to Manage All Services

An MSP can fulfill your business’s IT management services through a unified platform. All services are integrated through a single vendor that manages your technology. This can be especially beneficial when having all your systems and devices connected through a single system.

Unified platforms can link multiple applications and devices through a single system. This allows your organization’s employees to easily access their business applications from any location. This can result in improved productivity and more timely decision-making.

• Built-In Security Features

MSPs can offer several built-in security features, including identity and access management, intrusion detection and prevention, data encryption, and more. Building a secure network isn’t an easy task. If your organization doesn’t have the expertise you need to implement and maintain a secure network, you won’t be able to meet today’s security challenges.

Managed services providers offer many built-in security features to help protect your data from cyberattacks. They also provide security services that allow you to meet regulatory compliance requirements and protect your data from cyberattacks.

• Accelerated Problem Resolution

Because managed services providers are responsible for all aspects of your technology, they can respond to issues more quickly and with a more consistent level of service. They can meet challenges more rapidly because they have dedicated teams of experts responsible for each technology solution.

Hiring an MSP can accelerate the speed of problem resolution and reduce employees’ time without important services. The average time for managed service providers to resolve a problem is six hours or less, compared to three days for organizations that work their own IT.

• Better Service Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Compared to IT service providers or day-to-day service providers, Managed services providers offer better service continuity and disaster recovery services. Suppose your organization is currently responsible for handling its own continuity and disaster recovery services. In that case, you may need help to meet regulatory compliance requirements or keep your business up and running in the event of a disaster.

With managed services, you can be confident that your business will remain up and running if a natural disaster or other event disrupts your technology. MSPs can meet regulatory compliance requirements and offer more comprehensive continuity and disaster recovery plans than many individual organizations.

Managed services providers can help you meet regulatory compliance requirements related to cybersecurity and privacy. They also can provide 24/7/365 monitoring to detect potential outages and offer more advanced and redundant systems to ensure business continuity and continuity of operations in the event of a disaster.

Streamlining IT Management

Small businesses face an ever-growing array of challenges, from maintaining cybersecurity to ensuring seamless technological integration. Amidst these complexities, managing an efficient and secure IT infrastructure emerges as a pivotal task for sustaining competitiveness and growth. However, for many small businesses, navigating the intricacies of IT management can be daunting and resource-intensive. This is where Managed IT services for small businessses emerge as indispensable partners, offering tailored solutions to alleviate the burden of IT management and empower businesses to focus on their core objectives. Through strategic collaboration with IT managed services, small businesses can unlock new avenues of efficiency, resilience, and innovation, positioning themselves for sustained success in today’s digital landscape.

Maximizing Business Resilience

Companies must develop innovative business models to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment. This often involves leveraging the latest information technology to optimize operations, improve customer experiences, and achieve business goals. However, with the increased reliance on technology comes the increased risk of data loss, which can have serious consequences for businesses of all sizes. That’s why many companies turn to security service providers MSSPs, for assistance.

MSSPs are third-party organizations that specialize in providing various security services to businesses. They offer various services, including data loss prevention, incident response, and security monitoring, to help businesses stay protected against cyber threats. They also offer Service Level Agreements, or SLAs, which specify the level of service that a business can expect from the MSSP.

One of the key benefits of working with an MSSP is that they can help businesses develop a comprehensive incident response plan. This involves identifying potential threats, establishing protocols for responding to incidents, and regularly testing the plan to ensure it is effective. This approach can help businesses minimize cyber-attack impact and quickly return to normal operations.

Conclusion

The managed services model provides significant benefits over standard IT support services. It enables businesses to reduce costs, access better technology, and improve productivity. When organizations hire managed services providers, they can focus on their core business activities by outsourcing their technology needs.

When you think of an MSP, you might imagine a provider focusing on a limited set of products and services, with a technician who comes to your business on a set schedule to perform maintenance work. While many MSPs fit this description, Protected Harbor is different. Thanks to our customer-centric approach and experts, we can deliver peace of mind and a near-seamless customer experience.

It’s not an MSP at all. It’s more of a managed security service, providing monitoring and protection for your business’s critical IT infrastructure. What sets Protected Harbor apart from other MSPs is its tailored approach to each client’s unique needs. And with a team of seasoned engineers, analysts, and consultants, you can expect the utmost professionalism.

Contact our expert today to learn how we’re built differently. We are also giving away a free IT Audit; get one now!

Managed Services vs. Cloud Computing: What’s the Difference?

Suppose you’re a CIO of a company or just an employee. In that case, it’s likely that sooner or later, you will have to deal with two opposing forces: on the one hand, the demands of your organization and the increasing need for agility, and on the other, your team’s inability to manage everything in a digital world. These two factors often lead to a choice between having a managed services contract, which relieves some pressure from your technical department by allowing them to use third-party companies instead of managing services themselves or going all-in with cloud computing.

Managed services and cloud computing can help businesses streamline operations, automate processes, and make data-driven decisions. They also have several things in common that make understanding the differences between managed services and cloud computing more accessible. Managed services and cloud computing are two popular ways organizations outsource their technology needs. Managed services refer to outsourcing day-to-day technology management, including data management systems and IT infrastructure management. On the other hand, cloud computing refers to using cloud-based services to store and access data securely.

Whether you’re a business looking to cut costs or develop an online presence, knowing what these services are and how they can benefit your organization is essential. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between managed services and cloud computing.

What is a Managed Service?

Managed services refer to a type of outsourcing where a company owns the technology and staff of another company, but not the business process or the customer relationship. A managed service provider (MSP) offers customers various types of managed services, governed by a service level agreement (SLA). This agreement outlines the expected level of service, including response time, issue resolution, and performance metrics.

One popular type of managed service is data management. This involves the storage, retrieval, and security of customer data. Another type of managed service is information technology services, which include the management of an organization’s technology infrastructure, such as servers, networks, and software applications.

Protected Harbor offers clients various managed services, including data management, cloud computing, migration, and information technology services. We work with our clients to develop customized SLAs that meet their specific needs and provide them with peace of mind knowing that their technology and data are in good hands.

There are several reasons why companies choose to partner with us for their managed services needs. One of the main reasons is our expertise in data management, which helps clients improve their data security and compliance. We also offer various managed services, including cloud-based solutions, which provide our clients the flexibility and scalability they need to grow their businesses.

For example, a hosting company outsources the management of its infrastructure to a third-party company. The customer’s website is hosted on the managed service provider’s cloud. The ordered service provider has managed the hosting for the customer for a fee.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of resources and services through a network of shared hardware and software that reside on remote servers and are accessed through a network. This means you don’t own or manage any technology but instead access it via the Internet cloud. You can, for example, use a shared spreadsheet on someone’s computer over the Internet without knowing anything about the computer’s technical setup.

It is also referred to as “virtual computing.” A cloud provider like Amazon offers various storage, computing, and software services. The advantage of using a cloud provider is that it saves you time by letting you outsource tasks that used to take up a lot of your time, like managing the technical setup of employees’ computers, to a service provider.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

Cloud providers offer several advantages over managed services providers. First, you get access to a broader range of services and benefits, like automatic backup and disaster recovery. The second is that you don’t have the costs associated with data center maintenance or power. Another advantage of cloud computing is that you are not limited to using the technology of a single provider since the cloud is an open network where anyone can offer a service. This means you can access a broader range of technologies and services without being limited to the ones a managed service provider offers.

Managed Services vs. Cloud Computing

Managed services and cloud computing benefits organizations looking to improve their technology capabilities. With managed services, organizations can benefit from expert monitoring and management of their technology infrastructure and data management strategies that can help them extract valuable insights from the data they collect. With cloud computing, organizations can benefit from scalable, cost-effective solutions allowing them to access their data anywhere.

Managed services can help organizations leverage machine learning and business intelligence to make informed business decisions. At the same time, cloud computing can provide the flexibility and scalability needed to support growth and innovation. Both approaches can offer high data governance and security, which is critical for organizations that handle sensitive information.

Ultimately, the choice between managed services and cloud computing will depend on an organization’s specific needs and goals. For organizations that require more control over their technology infrastructure, managed services may be the better choice. For organizations looking for more flexibility and scalability, cloud-based solutions may be the way to go. Regardless of the approach, organizations should seek a provider that offers a high level of service, data integration, and data warehouses to ensure they can make the most of their technology investments.

Managed vs. Platform as a Service

Managed services generally have a more limited scope and a more focused purpose than cloud computing. They are often used to supplement existing IT service delivery rather than replace it. A managed service usually has a defined scope and duration. The range includes the service type and the effort required to deliver it. The time of the contract is generally shorter than the scope. A platform as a service (PaaS) is a service that gives you access to an Application Programming Interface (API) that you can use to store your data and run specific programs, like a payroll service.

Conclusion

As you can see, managed services and cloud computing both have a lot of potential benefits, but it’s essential to know the differences between them to make the right choice for your organization. Both are effective ways to alleviate some of the pressure from your IT team and get access to resources that are not owned or managed by you. Suppose your organization is experiencing challenges managing the increasing volume of data created, the growing need for agility, or both. In that case, it might be worth analyzing the costs of managed services versus cloud computing.

The level of trust that Protected Harbor has received from its customers is evident from the fact that we have been recognized as the top cloud computing company in the US by Goodfirms. We have been rated highly among the people of the Internet because we offer a wide range of affordable cloud computing services at different levels of customization. With the wide range of cloud computing services we offer, every business can get the cloud computing services they need.

We are committed to protecting the safety and integrity of your data, no matter where it lives. Contact us today to learn more about your organization’s managed services and cloud options.

Red Flags: It’s time to switch your IT Managed Service Provider

Technical hiccups happen regardless of your business’s size, niche, or geography. And outsourcing your IT infrastructure services to an MSP provides you with a dedicated team that can handle all such issues. This team is always on alert to address any problems, getting you back up and running as soon as possible. You hire MSPs to fix your problems and reduce your downtime.

But fixing issues and keeping it running are slightly different things, though. If you find your MSP fixing the same issue numerous times, you’re probably with the wrong MSP. Actual MSPs must be less product-focused and more focused on solving client problems. In addition to billable hours, your MSP should track the uptime of your systems.

Sometimes with specialized services, like those an MSP provides, it can be hard to assess how well they perform their job. But the bottom line is that outsourcing your IT to a managed service provider (MSP) is supposed to make your life easier. If it doesn’t, something has gone wrong. There are subtle signs that your MSP is no longer the right fit for you. A few questions to introspect are:

How often has your MSP not even known there are issues until you tell them? Do you consider your MSP as an on-demand IT service provider?

The answer to this question is about strategic fitment. Do you consider your MSP a transactional partner or partner to work with you? It’s not enough that your MSP is fixing IT issues that arise. They should proactively assess hardware and software needs and security practices bi-annually or quarterly. And this can even be outside their written contract (scope of work). Proactive maintenance makes all the difference when it comes to IT management.

A good MSP should regularly monitor your IT infrastructure and identify issues before they become bigger problems, and they should have the expertise to provide proactive support and guidance. If you feel like you’re having to tell your MSP about issues and they’re not taking a proactive approach, you may want to consider finding a different provider that can better meet your needs.

Do your MSP over-promise and under-deliver?

It is important to carefully evaluate the capabilities and reputation of any MSP before entering into a partnership. This can include checking references, researching customer reviews, and reviewing their offerings and guarantees.

Some MSPs may over-promise and under-deliver, while others may provide high-quality services and support. It is important to thoroughly research and choose an MSP that aligns with your organization’s needs and priorities and to establish clear expectations and performance metrics to ensure that the MSP delivers on its promises.

MSP industry has cut-throat competition. And to survive, many MSPs rely on the effectiveness of their salespeople. However, the challenge with this method is that sales calls or pitches often commit big promises upfront to secure your business.

In reality, the service provider might not have the capacity or competency to deliver such services. Reviewing your IT service agreement lets you pick areas where your MSP hasn’t delivered up to its promises.

Does your MSP have the vision to plan and execute for the future? How good is your MSP in project management skills?

The sole purpose of your MSP is to provide reliable IT services. And that can’t be achieved with a myopic view of day-to-day operational issues. Your MSP must champion taking cues from regular issues, devise long-term plans that put you in the driving seat and execute with a transparent governance model.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your current IT-managed service provider, it may be time to consider switching to a new provider. One red flag to look out for is if your current provider struggles with cloud migration or the free flow of information.

Another red flag is if your provider cannot accurately write a scope of work document or create a service level agreement. If your provider is not delivering on project objectives or not meeting the agreed-upon project plan, this may also be a sign that it is time to switch.

Additionally, if your provider is not knowledgeable about cloud infrastructure or data center management, this could be a red flag.

Do they track response time? How well do they handle complaints? Does your MSP manage stakeholder communications effectively?

One of the best indicators to answer this question is MTTR (Mean Time To Repair/Resolve/Recovery/Response), MTTF (Mean Time To Failure), MTTA (Mean Time To Acknowledge), and MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure).^[1] These can be good baseline or benchmark that starts more challenging conversations regarding the process, RCA methodologies, response protocols, and more.

Another issue to watch out for is if your provider is unfamiliar with the project goals and deliverables or cannot create a project plan that aligns with these goals. If the provider’s team members are not working collaboratively or the provider’s business model does not align with your organization’s needs, these can also be red flags.

Ultimately, it may be time to switch if your provider is not delivering the expected service level. When making the switch, be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions of the new provider’s service agreement and work closely with them to ensure that the project is delivered successfully.

How well does your MSP align with your organization’s culture? Do they own your issues? Do they consider your users as their ‘own’ users? Do they track CSAT?

Can you ring your MSP at 2 AM and be assured that someone will be working on the ground to resolve a critical business issue. Does your MSP empathize with you in a significant outage and work tirelessly to bring back the system? Does your MSP think about the solution first or bring the contractual scope of work in every discussion? How well does your MSP resonate with your user community, values, and vision?

If answers to the above questions are No, is your service provider an MSP then? Yes, an MSP is responsible for a specific and agreed set of technologies for an agreed-upon subscription cost. But, if your MSP only does time and materials on a break-fix basis, they aren’t an MSP.

It would help if you didn’t forget that an MSP is a Managed Service Provider. The effectiveness of managed services lies in their simplicity. They augment your competency rather than you shifting your operational complexities. Actual MSPs think beyond their scope, which benefits your entire landscape.

Final Words

If you’re not receiving the level of service you expected or if you feel your provider is not actively working to solve your issues during a contract period. This can happen, and you have the right to switch when it does.

When it comes to choosing a manage service provider in rockland county NY to handle your company’s tech needs, trust is key. Partner with Protected Harbor, when our members think of us, they don’t just think of us as an MSP. We are more than that.

We will walk you through the process of selecting the best solution for your company’s specific needs. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to our years of experience and you can manage all of your company’s IT tasks, request support, and configure your team’s profile settings.

If you need help managing your business, Protected Harbor is the go-to MSP in Hudson Valley New York. Together we will identify areas of improvement, outline a road map for change, and put a process in place to track your progress. Contact us for a free IT Audit.

How do leading MSPs differentiate themselves from the rest?

MSP’s operating model is a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive support.  This means one KPI for an MSP must be to ensure your IT doesn’t fail while ensuring optimal performance.

It all starts with a growth-oriented business model. The most successful MSPs focus on delivering genuine value to their customers, continually improving their offerings, and scaling their businesses. To grow their businesses, MSPs can focus on increasing the amount of business they do with existing customers, acquiring new customers, or increasing the average value of each customer. So, beyond keeping your IT lights on, MSPs that stand out provide good business value for their job. Here are a few differentiators of modern MSPs.

Advanced security offerings

Cyber-attacks are mainstream, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Threats are more frequent, targeted, and a lot more complex. According to a Accenture — Cost of Cybercrime Study report, around 43% of cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses, and only 14% are prepared to defend themselves. A quality MSP company should ensure you are safe from online threats rather than waiting for the disaster. Instead of dealing with cyber attackers or ransom calls as they come, a good MSP can target vulnerabilities in advance and shut them down before it becomes a problem. Yes, some attacks can penetrate even the best of systems. However, robust threat prevention will de-risk the threat of an unexpected event. Your MSP must offer a comprehensive plan that can prevent even sophisticated threats.

Cloud services and automation

Modern MSPs are switching to cloud-native solutions and automation levers to improve the quality of their services. Cloud solutions provide scalability and on-demand disaster recovery to their clients. Automation brings efficiency with lower dependency on humans, thus reducing manual errors or discrepancies.

Innovation

Best IT service companies focus on innovation, which can benefit their customers. These companies know the importance of tracking the latest industry trends. With their help, you can utilize digital technologies to get ahead of competitors. Best MSPs are not stuck with their approach and technology and update their offerings based on trends, geography, and industry. For example, new forms of cybercrime develop every year. A company that focuses on innovation will know how to safeguard you from further attacks.

Value creation

Leading MSPs consult and advise on the best technologies or tools. They help build a customized program based on your business goals and strategic vision, manage the program’s implementation, and run daily operation and maintenance of those critical functions. MSPs must keep up to speed with the latest developments and develop new services to keep delivering value to their customers.

Customer Experience (CX)

CX has already been the buzzword for the last half a decade. The concept was initially driven by big consulting firms and is now necessary for IT customers. As modern users prefer being at the center of things, they expect self-service via knowledge forums, chatbots, and service catalogs, i.e., omnichannel communication. A helpdesk managed service provider supports these areas to improve your NPS and CSAT. Your in-house team can focus on the strategic aspects of improving tech adoption.

Adaptability and Resilience

The disruption caused by the pandemic demonstrated that adaptability and resilience — from both MSPs and their customers — are essential to survive. As companies adopt a hybrid working culture, MSPs must shift their operating model to suit the situation. E.g., MSPs need to equip their employees and clients with the right tools to support remote working remotely.

Conclusion

Top MSPs know how to stay ahead of the curve, keep their customers engaged, and offer value-added services that make their customers’ lives easier. As technology advances and changes the way businesses are done, MSPs must keep up with the latest trends. To stay ahead of the curve and deliver top-notched service to their clients, MSPs must stay informed about the latest technological advancements and customer demands.

Protected Harbor’s team of IT experts is dedicated to providing its clients with dependable IT solutions that meet their unique business needs. With its remote monitoring and management capabilities, our solution enables clients to access their IT team whenever needed — no matter where they are. As a hudson valley new york manage service provider we specialize in small- to mid-sized businesses and offer scalable and flexible services to fit client needs. We also offer 24/7 on-site or remote monitoring, data recovery, and an SLA. We offer a free consultation to help you determine the best solution for your business. Contact us today!