As a business owner, or decision maker, you’re considering the transition from an unmanaged IT environment, to a managed one.
This decision will bring your organization increased efficiency, security, and peace of mind.
In this eBook, we’ll share 10 tips to help you on your journey to a managed IT environment.
- Define your IT goals
Begin by identifying your organization’s specific IT needs and goals. Are you looking to improve cybersecurity, streamline operations, streamline scale and hiring, or reduce IT-related downtime?
It is important for organisations to clearly define their objectives and current woes to allow their new provider to account for these in the planning stage.
- Assess your current IT infrastructure
A comprehensive IT audit will help you identify weaknesses, inefficiencies, and potential security risks in your existing IT environment. This assessment serves as a baseline to measure progress once you’ve transitioned to managed services.
At this stage, it is important to be as transparent as possible with your provider as to ensure you get the right support during the service period.
- Choose the right Managed Service Provider
Selecting the right MSP is crucial. Look for a provider with a proven track record, experience in your industry, and a commitment to customer service. A trusted MSP becomes an invaluable partner in your business journey.
At this point, we always suggest customers speak to current customers of their potential provider to get a good understanding of how the MSP operates.
- Develop a customised IT roadmap
Collaborate with your chosen MSP to create a roadmap for your IT transformation. This plan should outline short-term and long-term objectives, ensuring a smooth transition to a managed environment.
Depending on the size or nature of an organisation’s environment, this roadmap may need to be comprehensive as at times, transitions can be large. This is the time to consider outages, holiday periods, offboarding from existing providers, etc.
- Focus on cybersecurity
In today’s digital landscape, security is paramount. Ensure that your MSP implements robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard your data and systems against evolving threats.
This is the time to look at any of the existing flaws in your environment and allow a fresh set of eyes to run security discoveries in your environment. Having a fresh vulnerability and security assessment will allow you to ensure the right solution is being proposed and/or deployed.
- Embrace cloud solutions
Cloud technology offers scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Migrating some or all of your IT infrastructure to the cloud can enhance accessibility and disaster recovery capabilities.
The time of transition could be a good or bad time to complete a cloud migration. It is important to understand the implications of going to cloud in terms of how long a transition to another provider may take. At times, it may not be worth completing a large migration during the transition period.
- Foster a culture of IT awareness
Cultivate a workplace culture that values IT awareness and digital responsibility. Encourage your team to stay vigilant about cybersecurity, data privacy, and efficient technology use. This collective mindfulness will enhance your overall IT environment, making it more secure and efficient.
Use the transition to a new provider to potentially implement new tools or training for your end-users as well. The impact of user training has a significant impact on the security of your organisational data.
- Implement regular IT maintenance
Managed services include proactive monitoring and maintenance. Regular updates and patches keep your systems running smoothly and reduce the risk of unexpected downtime.
If there are any compliance frameworks or particular maintenance that your environment requires, now is the time to disclose this to your provider.
- Monitor and evaluate performance
Your MSP should provide regular reports and insights into your IT environment’s performance. This data helps you make informed decisions and ensures your IT investments align with your business goals.
Get an early understanding of what type of reports and metrics will be available to you once the transition to the new provider is complete. It’s important to review these reports regularly with your provider in order to plan for future changes, growth and scale.
- Continuously communicate and adjust
Maintain an open line of communication with your MSP. Regular meetings and feedback sessions allow you to fine-tune your IT strategy, ensuring it remains aligned with your evolving business needs.
IT environments are ever changing and a provider’s job is to continually bring new improvements and opportunities to their customers.
Transitioning from an unmanaged IT environment to a managed one is a strategic move that can drive your business forward.
Remember that your managed service provider is your partner in this journey, dedicated to helping your business thrive in the digital age. Embrace the change, stay adaptable, and watch your business flourish once your IT landscape is managed by a team of professionals.
