First, let me say that every business is different. Priorities range from “keeping the lights on”, to a sequential strategy or technical roadmap to drive your business goals. It’s not about changing the way you currently work with your partner day in day out, but rather, does that partner offer you the information you need to understand just what’s possible. From there, you can decide for yourself, what is best for your business. Often with tools you already have!
Knowledge
Deep knowledge in offered products and services can be a challenge for many MSPs. That may sound odd because on the surface, cloud services appear to be relatively simple. A migration or basic administration is typical, but what after that? Most organizations use only a fraction of the functionality found in products they use every day. For example, Office 365 is commonly underutilized to the extent that budgets are allocated for third party applications that do the same thing. What if your Provider could minimize that? More on this later…
Experience (No one want’s to be the guinea pig.)
This is where many Providers “stumble. Let’s face it, technology changes quickly. Even the most common products require a commitment by your provider to stay educated on functionality and configuration protocols. This comes from working with diverse clients and a solid relationship with the product manufacturer. That experience provides the “backbone” to speak from when it comes to the EXTRA efficiencies and functionality that most don’t have the opportunity to learn. Additionally, these technical experts are in high demand and often hard to find so details are commonly skipped over.
Informative (New products, Product updates or end of support)
There is a fine line between educating and selling. Fortunately, in many cases there is nothing to sell because it’s simply a matter of knowing how to get the most out of what you already have. Be it, security, device management, imaging tools, effective licensing or basic architecture, there are many ways to increase production. A Progressive MSP partner can help you understand where these opportunities lie. The best part is that it’s not a matter of paying more for the service but rather partnering with the right Service Provider to bring the options you already have to the surface.
Strategic Planning
Every organization has a technical roadmap. Some are as simple as “the next” project or upgrade. In other cases, it’s a comprehensive and multiyear plan to reach the next level in security or automation. Regardless, the right partner can offer you the information you need to make those decisions. For more comprehensive planning, your MSP/PSP should offer a structured Fractional CIO program that builds an IT strategy with your business goals as the top priority.
Questions to ask yourself
- How often do you discuss your business goals with your MSP
- Do you feel informed on new products, functionality, updates & end of support?
- Do you have the correct level of software subscriptions?
- Do you know your Security Score?
