The Features And Characteristics Of Managed Service Provider Software

To choose or not to choose has always been a dilemma since ages for mankind. The great bard had mentioned it in his classics albeit in a different fashion. Yet, the same holds true when we have to select between objects that offer similar facilities. With the information technology throwing up varieties in abundance on every conceivable issue, how to choose the best managed service provider software also has its share of selection dilemma. The answer to this question of how to choose the best managed service lies in the aspect of what benefits do we wish to accrue from this selection. The basic features claimed in every managed service provider software are something all are well versed with. That it should provide information about the network and its working. That it should help in diagnosing the network problem and offer means to deploy the solution network wide from one single location. That it should be customisable to meet the changing needs of the business house and its operations are all well established facts and known to exist in every MSP software that is available in the market. If these so claimed features were to be changed to reality how then would it effect the real enterprise functioning or the network managers job would be the guiding factor for choosing the best managed service provider.

MSP's are third party vendors who carry out the job of managing the client's network against payment by the client. Any and every managed service system works on this basic business principle. It is therefore imperative that the MSP be of such calibre that it can sense the defect of the network even before its actual occurrence. In short a good MSP should be proactive.

With all preventive measures in place given Murphy and his laws on probability, there is bound to be a breakdown in the network. Quick response by the MSP to rescue and restore the network is another measureable criterion for selection of the MSP. A network without the data and the application programs running on it is of no use. In case of a crash or break in the network there would be need to restore the complete system to a point where everything was clean. For this reason the MSP should have been taking regular backups which would be used during the restore process.

The MSP must also be able to advise the client on the various changes that are occurring in the volatile IT field and the possibility or feasibility of implementing the same in the existing network for higher efficiency.

Security of the network, more so the data which is critical and could be misused if available to wrong people is an important factor for consideration while selecting an MSP. MSP that implements a strict and secure system is the best choice. Verification of the managed service provider's credentials is one other important factor to be considered while choosing an MSP. A good method would be to obtain reference of previous or other places where the MSP has been implemented.

As a check off list the ideas stated here could help to choose the best managed service provider.