Making Smart Telecom & Network Choices: 8 Reasons Business Customers Partner with a Managed Service Provider
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Businesses are increasingly partnering with managed service providers (MSPs) to enhance network decisions and operations, aiming for benefits such as cost savings, 24/7 support, and improved performance. An IDC survey highlights that companies expect MSPs to reduce network operation costs, enhance application availability, and allow IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives. Overall, MSPs provide expert support, improved security, and help in managing complex network infrastructures, thereby delivering significant value to businesses.
Making Smart Telecom & Network Choices: 8 Reasons Business Customers Partner with a Managed Service Provider
- 1. Voice | Internet | Television | Network Services | Cloud Services Making Smart Telecom & Network Choices: 8 Reasons Business Customers Partner with a Managed Service Provider
- 2. Businesses increasingly are utilizing managed services providers to assist them in making smart network decisions and streamline their operations. In addition to cost savings, what do companies hope to gain with this expert assistance?
- 3. Here’s what an IDC survey said: 53% 50% 39% 35% Expect to gain 24/7 support Expect to see reduced network operations costs Want improved network, application availability, & performance Want improved internal process and procedures 33% 29% 29% 23% Expect to be able to refocus IT staff on strategic initiatives Want to access external skills and expertise Want a single point of contact for all telecom and IT needs Expect to see more upgrades, migrations, or new app deployments
- 4. Are they realizing these benefits? Let’s take a closer look at the outcomes.
- 6. Businesses that used a managed services provider instead of internally staffed services catalogued: 79% lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for a managed WAN service deployed at a midsize multi-location sales office 84% lower TCO for a managed Internet and security service deployed at a single health care clinic
- 7. Why do businesses realize cost savings through an MSP? Predictable monthly fees aid budgeting. Companies pay only for the networking services used. Consolidating voice and data services onto a single network can cut costs in half. Companies can access innovative network technologies without high capital expenditures or ongoing investments in upgrades and maintenance resources. Their extensive knowledge of the market results in efficient and strategic decisions regarding the best choice of carrier.
- 8. 2 Expert, 24/7 support
- 9. MSPs offer comprehensive, high-quality service. They have a large, experienced staff that specializes in router and security technology, and their staff has a broader and deeper access to technical expertise than most businesses’ IT staff. IT staff can then focus on strategic internal initiatives.
- 10. 3 MSPs relieve the pressure put on a business’s IT staff
- 11. Staff must have multiple technology certifications in these areas: • Routers • Ethernet switches • Firewalls • Intrusion detection systems • Content filtering • VPN devices • Wi-Fi • Mobile devices • Server, desktop, & mobile operating systems Each member of the business’s IT staff requires continuous technical training to maintain skills in these rapidly changing fields.
- 12. 4 Improved performance of communications services
- 13. MSPs streamline the management of communications services like these: Broadband Internet access links—including T1, bonded T1, business Ethernet, DS3, DSL, cable, satellite, and wireless broadband Virtual private networks (VPNs) Carrying voice and data traffic on the same circuits Comprehensive management of security elements to mitigate network intrusions, attacks, viruses, spam, and other threats
- 14. 5 Single point of contact
- 15. MSPs offer objective advice based on their extensive knowledge of multiple carriers, carriers’ product lines, and a business’s needs and goals. Questions—among many—that MSPs can answer about carriers: Do they have an MPLS network to support VoIP? Do they do SIP trunking? Can they offer an IP-VPN solution for remote office sites?
- 16. 6 Improved network performance
- 17. 75% of midsize businesses are network dependent. Network reliability is critical because a network outage essentially shuts down business. MSPs guarantee improved network performance because of these factors: They have robust, reliable, and resilient networks Industry-average SLAs promise 99.95% network availability Networks are proactively monitored 24 hours a day SLAs guarantee response and resolution times for network problems to minimize impact on users
- 18. 7 MSPs ensure high-quality network operation
- 19. They manage, maintain, and upgrade network infrastructure and management systems more often than individual businesses do They must meet 24-hour demand They define and monitor Quality of Service (QoS) and Class of Service (CoS) parameters to prioritize voice traffic and ensure call quality They secure data, transactions, and communications to keep up with the latest security threats, as well as meeting privacy and security regulations They deliver services to more remote offices and employees than individual business networks do
- 20. 8 Improved network security
- 21. 31% of targeted cyber attacks are aimed at businesses with fewer than 250 employees, according to Symantec. MSPs help businesses realize improved network security through: Firewall management Intrusion protection service Advanced security solutions
- 22. For more information on Time Warner Cable Business Class, see business.twc.com/partner.