One size doesn't fit all
Services vary significantly from one MSP to another. Some offer a broad range of management services, while others concentrate on vertical areas such as security, storage, content delivery, and application performance and testing. Such wide coverage makes it critical for customers to be diligent and have a clear sense of their needs before they start the MSP selection process.
Technologies employed differ among MSPs, too. Some license framework software from network-management vendors, while others have developed proprietary tools to pull data from managed devices. Some MSPs deploy onsite servers that deliver information back to a data centre for analysis; others deploy agent technology to collect pertinent data.
Most MSPs offer a dashboard-like Web interface through a password-protected information portal. This common interface reduces training time for IT staff. The portal aggregates data from various programs, and presents pertinent graphs and information in a unified interface. Administrators can then monitor such items as server load, network capacity, and application availability, and track IT investments in real time. MSPs can also send alerts via email or pager once particular thresholds are reached, to help administrators nip problems in the bud.
With an MSP monitoring critical systems, IT staff can concentrate on other areas, such as strategic initiatives and emerging technologies. IT management won't need to hire systems-management experts, who are difficult to find, much less retain, in today's competitive labor market. The model provides a middle ground between completely outsourcing management responsibilities and maintaining total internal control.
