No two businesses are alike, even if they are in the same industry. This statement is true both for your industry and for managed service providers (MSPs). Therefore, you can’t expect every MSP to be capable of meeting your unique needs. So, it’s important to know how to choose a managed services provider strategically.
| “Working with an MSP will only provide the expected benefits if you choose one who fits your unique requirements.” – Lambros Bowers, Vice President, NetOps Consulting |
Your first step in choosing an MSP that aligns with your business operations in narrowing down the right questions to ask an MSP. You don’t need to be a technology expert to zero-in on these questions. All you have to do is pinpoint your IT-related business goals.
The rest of this article will focus on how you can make these decisions. We’ll explore how to determine your selection criteria, convert those criteria into questions, and give you some examples of what to ask during discovery calls.
How to Determine Your Managed Services Vendor Selection Criteria
Identify Your Current IT Challenges
Start by listing the main technology-related issues your organization faces. Understanding these challenges will clarify what you need from a managed services provider. For example, if frequent system downtime is an issue for your business, you may want to prioritize MSPs that provide network monitoring services.
Assess Your In-House IT Capabilities
Approximately 78% of businesses worldwide are dealing with a tech talent shortage. If you’re one of them, think about exactly where skill gaps exist. Knowing which gaps need to be filled will help guide you towards a partner who can fill them.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to consider areas where your team is spending a lot of their time. Even if they are good at their job, you could give them more space to get more work done by offloading some time-consuming tasks to an MSP.
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Define Your Budget
Rather than focusing solely on the initial cost, think about how the provider will help you improve your ROI over time. 50% of companies who work with an MSP report cost savings of 25%, but these savings are only realized over time.
Of course, your cash flow is still important. So, consider both your cash flow requirements and predicted ROI as you determine your MSP price range.
Determine Your Preferred Approach to Service Management
Consider how you want to interact with a managed services provider. Do you prefer a hands-on relationship with regular updates, or would you rather let them handle tasks independently? Establishing your preferred approach to service management will help you find a provider whose communication style and service delivery match your expectations.
Consider Your Desired Level of Control & Flexibility
Decide how much control you want to retain over your IT environment. Do you prefer to handle certain tasks in-house while outsourcing others, or do you want the vendor to take full responsibility?
There are pros and cons to each option. 95% of cyber threats stem from human error and expert management can reduce that risk. On the other hand, you may have less visibility over day-to-day tasks.
Also, consider whether you need flexibility to scale services up or down based on changing needs. By defining your desired level of control and flexibility, you can select a vendor who respects your preferences.
How to Choose Your Technical Questions to Qualify Each MSP
Break Down Each Need into Key Areas
Once you’ve identified your overall IT needs, divide each one into specific areas for more focused questions. For example, if you need data management assistance, consider questions about data storage, accessibility, backup solutions, and analytics. Breaking down a larger need into manageable parts helps ensure that no critical aspects are overlooked.
Consider the Outcomes You Want to Achieve
Think about what success looks like for each IT need. For instance, if your goal is improved cybersecurity, you might consider outcomes like reduced vulnerability to attacks or compliance with data protection standards. This approach will help you shape questions that focus on results.
Prioritize Questions Based on Urgency & Impact
Assess the urgency and potential impact of each IT challenge you would like an MSP to resolve. Pinpointing these areas will help you decide which questions you cannot miss when you consult a potential MSP partner. It’s also a way to help you determine which questions to ask first.
While you certainly will have your own unique priorities, there are certain criteria that are of high urgency for every business. Here are some considerations that should always take priority. There are 3 primary categories these can be organized into, here they are.
Refine Questions for Clarity & Specificity
Clear and specific questions are more likely to lead to actionable answers. Avoid questions that have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. What you want instead are questions that demonstrate how you can benefit from a potential MSP’s service offerings.
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Key Questions to Ask During MSP Discovery Calls
The bulk of this article is focused on helping you choose good questions to ask an MSP yourself. However, if you need a hand getting started, here are some examples of good questions you could use.
| What to Ask an MSP | What to Look For in an Answer |
| “Can you describe how you address common IT issues that cause disruptions for organizations like ours?” | Look for a detailed approach, including proactive monitoring, response times, and examples of how they’ve handled similar issues. |
| “How do you help clients achieve both short-term and long-term IT goals?” | Listen for specific strategies, examples of measurable results, and ways they align their services with client priorities. |
| “What steps do you take to meet our security needs and compliance standards?” | Expect clear processes for maintaining security, meeting regulatory requirements, and adapting to evolving compliance needs. |
| “How do you scale your support as our organization grows or as our IT needs evolve?” | Look for flexibility in service options, scalability in infrastructure, and experience supporting growing organizations. |
Put Your MSP Qualifying Questions to The Test – Contact NetOps Consulting
We hope that this article can help you get started on finding the best IT partner for your long-term needs. However, we also believe in holding ourselves accountable to our own suggestions and recommendations.
That’s why we encourage you to explore NetOps Consulting using your set standards. Our goal is to cut your annual IT costs by 20%-25% throughout our engagement. The best way to achieve that goal is to optimize your technology and our services to your specific criteria.
Reach out for your free 60-minute consultation.
