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Introduction

Every business is now becoming highly reliant on digital technology and it is almost inevitable to incorporate information technology in business operations. With the increasing use of technology and the internet, the demand for a reliable managed service providers is also on the rise. North London has witnessed rapid growth in businesses including startups, and SMEs across various industries. Regardless of the fact that you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, finding the right MSP in London can seem a daunting task. This blog outlines every aspect of MSP including services offered by an MSP, its types, benefits and associated challenges.

What is a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

Managed service providers, also known as MSPs, are companies that assist companies in maintaining their IT infrastructure and meeting all of their technological needs. These third-party service providers make sure that organisations can run smoothly and that compliance is met by providing proactive support and maintenance.

Among the many services provided by managed service providers are:

  • IT upkeep and support
  • Cloud management and solutions
  • Disaster recovery and backup
  • Protection against malware and viruses, etc.

There are multiple benefits of hiring an MSP:

  • Outsourcing IT services can save significant costs of creating and maintaining an in-house IT team.
  • Hiring an MSP can also provide the benefit of scalability- flexible solutions when your business grows.
  • A well-qualified MSP monitors your systems and prevents issues before they even occur.

Key Services Offered by Managed Service Provider

Generally managed service providers offer a range of services and businesses can choose according to their specific needs:

  • IT Infrastructure Management: From helping businesses procure hardware to maintaining the IT infrastructure of businesses, managed service providers offer a range of services. It includes monitoring IT systems, overseeing performance and taking any corrective actions.
  • Cloud Services: Cloud services are gaining more and more popularity since they are flexible and cost-effective. A managed service provider helps businesses migrate to cloud options and optimise their cloud storage.
  • Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is the need of the hour and providing cybersecurity solutions is a major service provided by MSPs. Cybersecurity includes implementing tools and technologies that keep the systems safe and ensure that no sensitive and confidential business information is leaked.
  • Helpdesk Support: To ensure that daily business operations are not affected by any technical issues, MSPs offer responsive helpdesk support. This service of helpdesk support helps in troubleshooting and identifying issues in advance.
  • Backup and Disaster Recovery: Backup and disaster recovery are crucial to reduce downtime in case the system is compromised. MSPs also provide proper backup and disaster recovery solutions.

What Functions Does an MSP Perform?

An MSP may offer an extensive range of services. The most common functions performed by an MSP include:

  • Monitoring and Maintaining IT Infrastructure: MSP constantly monitors the IT infrastructure of the company and identifies and prevents any issues before they disrupt the operations.
  • IT Support: MSP provide constant IT support (both on-site and remote) for all hardware and software troubleshooting.
  • Cybersecurity: MSPs use advanced tools for cybersecurity and securing systems against any cyber threats.
  • IT Consulting: MSP can also analyse your business goals and assist businesses with planning related to IT hardware and software procurement, cloud migration, etc.
  • Compliance: If businesses are not compliant with regulations, it can bring serious consequences. MSP also take care of IT compliances.
  • Backup and Disaster Recovery: MSPs assist in maintaining proper backup and disaster planning in case

What are the Types of MSPs?

There are multiple types of managed service providers. These MSPs are categorised based on the services that they offer for businesses:

  • Managed IT Services: These MSPs only focus on the general maintenance of hardware and software of the IT infrastructure and generally do not require any special set of skills.
  • Manager Security Service Providers (MSSPs): These MSPs ensure that your sensitive business information is safeguarded by protecting it from any data breaches or malware.
  • Managed Networks: This type of MSP sets up the IT network and maintains the infrastructure, installs firewalls, etc. and ensures that the network is stable, secure and efficient.
  • Managed Help Desk: These types of MSPs are useful for businesses that do not have their own help desk to deal with day-to-day general IT issues.
  • Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery: These MSPs are dedicated to reducing downtime in case any disaster happens. They ensure that backups are created regularly and plan for disaster recovery in advance to keep sensitive business data secure.
  • Managed Cloud Services: These MSPs are concerned with helping businesses migrate to cloud computing and maintain all the cloud platforms for the business.

Criteria for Selecting a Managed Service Providers

It is important to choose a managed service providers whose range of services align with your business requirements. There are certain criteria that should be considered while selecting a managed service provider:

  • Service Quality and Range: Hiring multiple managed service providers can be costly. Instead, look for an MSP that offers a range of services that suit your varied business needs. It is also important to ensure that the MSP provides good quality services.
  • Response Times: It is essential that the MSP’s response time is quick so that problems can be resolved in time before operations are hampered.
  • Customer Support Quality: Always ensure that the MSP provides robust customer support quality so that business operations are conducted smoothly without any disruptions.
  • Expertise: Always consider the expertise they offer and if they align with your requirements. Check if they hold any certifications that solidify their expertise. Also, ask for testimonials or case studies to check if they have previous experience working in your industry and understand the unique challenges.
  • Scalability: Also check if the MSP offers scalability so that the solutions and services they offer can cater to the business requirements when the business grows in size.

Top Managed Service Providers in North London

There are many managed service providers in North London. The top MSPs in the list are as follows:

             1. Tristar Tech Solutions

  • Tristar Tech Solutions has been providing IT services in North London since 1999. With rapid on-site support, Tristar Tech Solutions provides cost-effective solutions.
  • With a guaranteed 4-hour SLA for swift issue resolution, Tristar Tech solutions ensure seamless business operations.
  • Services by Tristar Tech Solutions include: Proactive managed services,  IT Manager assistance,  cyber security services, website protection,  backup and disaster recovery, virtualisation, office relocation, cloud solutions, etc.

             2. Chess ICT

  • It is one of the UK’s leading managed services providers.
  • The company is headquartered in Alderley Edge, England
  • Their services include endpoint security, end-user devices, Software-as-a-service, cloud infrastructure, Unified communications, web development, business applications, etc.

            3. City Fibre

  • This company provides managed services in Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen.
  • The services include FTTP services, dark fibre, ethernet services, full-fibre infrastructure etc.

            4. Claranet

  • Claranet provides end-to-end services mainly focused on communications, cloud transformation, and cybersecurity.
  • They have been providing services for over 25 years in the UK.
  • Services provided by Claranet include cloud migration and management, managed networks, unified communications, security training, penetration testing, etc.

            5. Complete IT (Sharp IT Services) 

  • Complete IT is an MSP operating in the UK for 25 years.
  • Acquired by Sharp Business Systems in 2019, the company is now known as Sharp IT Services.
  • Their services include IT Helpdesk Support, onsite IT support,  24/7 monitoring, Account Management, etc.

One important thing to note here is that there are numerous qualified managed service providers in the UK. Always compare different MSPs on certain parameters and check if they cater to your business needs and requirements. An ideal MSP should provide a cost-effective solution aligned with your business goals.

Benefits of Choosing a Local MSP in North London

It is always better to choose a local Managed service provider in North London due to the following benefits:

  • Quick Response Times for On-site Support: Local MSPs ensure that there is no or minimal disruption by providing faster on-site support. For instance, Tristar Tech Solutions has locally placed their expert engineers that can reach your business location in as little as 20 minutes and provide swift resolutions.
  • Better Compliance: Every region may have different local regulations. Local MSPs are better familiar with these local regulations governing different industries.
  • Better Client-provider Relationship: When MSPs provide on-site support, it allows clients and providers to interact and discuss goals and challenges in person. It results in better client-provider relationships.
  • Trust-building: When MSPs work with businesses online, they tend to understand the operations better and provide services accordingly. It further helps in building trust between both parties.

Challenges of Managed Services Providers

Although managed service providers offer numerous benefits, there are certain challenges associated with them that also need to be considered:

Potential for Miscommunication: Maintaining proper communication is very necessary to ensure that the MSP understands the business’s goals and that services provided by the MSP are aligned with those goals.

Dependency: When any business relies on a third party and outsources IT needs, there’s always a risk of over-reliance. This situation demands trust and transparency.

Monitoring Performance: Businesses need to monitor the performance of their managed service providers to see if they are properly managing and meeting the pre-decided expectations.

Cost of Outsourcing: For startups or small businesses, MSPs can seem to be a costly option for initial investment.

Conclusion

It is important to hire an experienced MSP but it is more important to choose the right MSP for business growth. Hiring an expert MSP can save businesses from incurring avoidable and hefty IT expenses. An ideal MSP can future-proof your organisation and ensure top-notch security and compliance.

If you’re searching to hire or change your MSP o, Tristar Tech Solutions can be your perfect solution! It offers an extensive range of services and flexible agreements to suit all your business IT needs! Visit the website today to know more.

FAQs:

Ques: What are the top service providers in the UK?

Ans: There are many service providers in the UK including Tristar Tech Solutions, Primary ICT Support Ltd., Atlas Cloud, AirIt, Claranet, etc.

Ques: Who is the best MSP?

Ans: The best MSP is one that aligns with your business goals and provides a cost-effective solution for all your business IT needs.

Ques: How many managed service providers are there in the UK?

Ans: According to government data, there are currently 11,492 active managed service providers in the UK.

Ques: What is an MSP in the UK?

Ans: An MSP is an enterprise that assists companies in maintaining their IT infrastructure and meeting all of their technological needs.

Ques: What is the largest network provider in the UK?

Ans: In the UK, EE is the biggest network provider. It covers over 99% of the nation.

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