The following describes the evolution of managed services across time:
Stage 1 (break-fix model): IT services and management were offered on a break-fix basis in the early days of corporate computing. Managed computer systems would only be visited by a technician if they stopped working. Usually, the person who built or implemented the computer network (or systems) was also this professional.
Stage 2 (the emergence of huge manufacturers): System assembly kept growing after this until it was controlled by global firms like Apple, Microsoft, and IBM. The smaller IT dealer had to spend more time on break-fix IT services and less time on production. This method of maintenance was costly, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and reactive. It limited the technician’s ability to grow their clientele or their business.
Stage 3 (growth in demand for managed services): At the same time, the market’s supply of computers kept increasing annually. The gap between the quantity of experts and the quantity of machines they could efficiently maintain grew. This need led to the development of managed IT services in the early 2000s, when third-party businesses that were skilled in providing IT services began to provide them in large quantities.
Stage 4 (the mainstreaming of efficiency): By enabling regular preemptive maintenance, software upgrades, system monitoring, and troubleshooting, the new, balanced approach to IT helped to avert issues before they started. Over the following few years, remote management and issue resolution were made possible at a faster rate by automation and cloud computing services. This made it possible to streamline resources and conduct operations more efficiently.
Stage 5 (modernization and tooling of managed IT services): Since the beginning of managed IT services, MSPs have made great strides. These experts now possess a wide range of IT skills and methods to quickly fix problems. Professional services automation (PSA) software, for example, is intended to assist MSPs in managing their business operations. MSPs may provide managed IT services around-the-clock with the use of additional tools. These technologies allow MSPs to lower customer costs while improving service quality, and client information is secure.
10 Managed IT Service Types
1. Monitoring of IT infrastructure remotely
Remote management and administration of workstations, servers, and mobile devices is a popular type of managed IT service. For a managed services provider like BetterCommerce Managed Services, remote management and monitoring is frequently a crucial core offering. Additionally, there is fierce rivalry and pressure on profit margins due to the fact that several MSPs provide this service. New and more specialized kinds of managed IT services, such as the ones we shall talk about next, have resulted from this.
2. Services for security
MSPs have had to improve their service catalogs as a result of the productization of managed services and monitoring-led services. Using managed security services is one such approach. Consumers have a growing expectation that their service providers would help them with data protection and IT infrastructure. In order to provide fully outsourced cybersecurity solutions, service providers are responding by developing managed security services strategies or partnering with security firms.
3. End-user service management
Although end-user services can encompass a wide range of solutions, they frequently revolve on the IT support channels and procedures that a company has set up for its employees and clients.
At the most basic level, end-user services comprise an IT help desk or service desk solution that allows users to work with a group of knowledgeable agents to handle technical issues. Help desk support IT services may include problems with connection, application installs and updates, operating system and portable device support, and other concerns. In this case, the company employs the managed IT service provider, yet the improved user experience immediately benefits its staff and clients.
4. On-site IT support
On-site IT services, sometimes referred to as managed field services, entail an MSP placing specialists at a specific location to do a variety of IT tasks. This might involve site inspections, cabling or wireless installations, equipment installation or maintenance, and much more. In this case, the provider is responsible for post-task communications, problem records, service requests, and technician scheduling and deployment.
5. Services on the cloud
Cloud services have become a part of managed IT services with the advent of cloud technologies. For example, MSPs may focus on infrastructure as a service (IaaS), collaborating with cloud providers such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer managed public cloud services. Cloud deployment and administration, including consultation, assessments, migrations, and more, can also be included in managed IT services.
6. Managed IT services based on projects
Another type of managed IT service is project-specific technological assistance. This might be ongoing technical support for business apps, technology assessment, or solution expertise, such a significant Salesforce deployment or SharePoint build.
A corporation may find it advantageous to work with a managed service provider for technical expertise and administrative support if it lacks the skills or capacity to finish a critical IT project. To ensure that the job is finished within the allocated budget and timeframe, a capable MSP will also have a clear framework and be able to offer a project timeline and budget breakdown.
7. Services for communication
Enterprise communication is increasingly falling within the purview of IT, and you may decide to use managed IT services to outsource the management of your communication systems. Networks for data, multimedia, and phone calls are all combined into one cohesive hub by managed communications, sometimes referred to as unified communications.
This suggests that instead of needing different login credentials for email, video conferencing, and other services, staff members may access all forms of communication the firm offers by only connecting to a single network. Among the main responsibilities of MSPs offering this kind of managed IT service are uptime assurance, message encryption, video call security, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) license management.
8. Services for analytics
Services for managed data analytics help collect, evaluate, and safeguard user and customer data. This might entail tracking website traffic or social media activity, identifying patterns, and forecasting how to improve results. Raw data may be converted by the MSP into easily understood insights that can be used to corporate decision-making.
For business intelligence throughout the whole company, you may choose an all-in-one managed IT solution. For people analytics, market analytics, financial performance analytics, and so forth, there are also specialist suppliers. Project-based managed IT services are another option.
9. MPS, or managed print services
The service provider may remotely monitor gear and provide support, updates, maintenance, and repair thanks to managed print services. This service could be a great option to take into consideration if you have high printing requirements, such as the need for hard copy documents or a large team that requires printer access.
Needs analysis, hardware replacement, maintenance, and supplies required to operate new and modern technology will all be required for this kind of managed IT service. It could also involve keeping an eye on and analyzing printing-related activities to find expenses that could be reduced if they were avoided. MPS suppliers, such as HP, can optionally support digital transformation initiatives like paperless migration or hybrid work enablement.
10. Oversaw backup
Although some service providers offer a more complete solution as a stand-alone option, data backup may be combined with other managed services (including network, security, and cloud computing). This might entail creating a disaster recovery plan for lost data, recovering and restoring data, and backing up data on the cloud or even on other servers. MSPs may help you determine your backup needs, propose the frequency of backups, and suggest the size and breadth of the recovery program.