What is an MSP? Find out what a Managed Service Provider is and how to go about choosing one.

1. www.linuxit.com
WHATISANMSP
ANDHOWDOI
CHOOSEONE?
Using a Managed Service Provider (MSP)
isn’t the same as outsourcing your entire IT
operation, but it’s essential you choose wisely.

2. www.linuxit.com
A Managed Service Provider
is a team of experts (in
this case Linux systems
management experts) who
provide defined services to
an enterprise whilst overall
accountability of your
service remains with the
enterprise’s own team.

3. www.linuxit.com
MSPs are often used to provide expertise in new technologies or when
an enterprise needs to change its hardware, software or methods whilst
maintaining business continuity.

4. www.linuxit.com
Using an MSP is not the
same as outsourcing your
entire IT function, though
the range of services they
provide can be very wide.

5. www.linuxit.com
HowdoIchooseanMSP?
1.Definewhatyouneed
Choose a provider that matches your requirements the closest.
2.Asktherightquestions
Make a check-list of questions for potential MSPs to answer, such as:

6. www.linuxit.com
What is the pricing structure?
What service level agreements are available?
What are the payment terms?
Does the MSP follow best practice methods such as those described by ITIL?
Does the MSP adhere to standards such as ISO/IEC_20000 and ISO 27001?
Is the MSP a UK governed business?
Aboutthecompany

7. www.linuxit.com
Are managed services a large proportion of their business or a sideline?
How many employees work on it and how many will be devoted to your project?
What certifications do they hold?
What are their skill levels?
Will they be able to change your infrastructure provision in a timely and reliable manner?
Is there round the clock support?
Aboutthestaff

8. www.linuxit.com
Some organisations simply provide the virtual infrastructure and leave it to the
customer to manage it.
Some organisations expect the customer to raise a fault ticket when something goes
wrong.
The best MSPs actively manage their customers’ systems so they see problems arising
and fix them before the customer notices.
What management tools will be deployed and can you view what’s happening?
Aboutthecompany’s‘break/fix’strategy

9. www.linuxit.com
Many EU-based organisations require that their data remains within the EU. Some UK
bodies, especially government departments and Quangos require their data to remain
on UK soil.
Check that the MSP can provide a guarantee that your data will remain in a permitted
location
Wherethedatabaseishoused?

10. www.linuxit.com
Discover everything you need to know about
Managed Services by downloading:
THEULTIMATEGUIDETO
MANAGEDSERVICES
INTHECLOUD
www.linuxit.com
THE ULTIMATE
GUIDE TO
MANAGED
SERVICES IN
THE CLOUD