Embrace Success: 5 Reasons to Choose a Nationwide Larger MSP for Your Business

Businesses of all sizes depend on technology to operate smoothly, communicate effectively, and ultimately, achieve their goals. This is where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) come in. By outsourcing your IT needs to a qualified MSP, you gain access to a team of experts who can manage your network, troubleshoot problems, and ensure your systems are running optimally. However, selecting the right MSP is critical. While smaller MSPs often promote personalized service, there are important considerations before entering a partnership. This blog dives into five key reasons why a small MSP might not be the best fit for your specific business needs. By understanding these potential drawbacks, you can make an informed decision and choose an MSP that empowers your business to thrive.

1. Limited Resources and Expertise:

Smaller MSPs often have a smaller talent pool compared to larger counterparts. This can translate to limitations in infrastructure, scalability and skill set. With Infrastructure, businesses might lack the robust infrastructure needed for high performance and scalability. This can lead to bottlenecks and slowdowns during peak usage periods. Which in turn, slows down your processes and business. 

With Scalability, as your business grows, your IT needs will inevitably evolve. A small MSP may struggle to adapt their services and resources to keep pace with your expanding infrastructure. You will need an MSP that is able to scale with your business whatever step you are in. 

The smaller the MSP Company, the smaller the team size. This might limit the availability of specialists in specific areas like cloud computing, security, or data analytics which we will get into later in this blog.

You may be asking yourself, what is the consequence of these limitations? We have found that these may result in prolonged downtime due to technical issues, decreased productivity for your employees, and ultimately, lost revenue for your business.

2.Lack of Redundancy and Disaster Recovery:

Overall, Robust redundancy and disaster recovery (DR) capabilities are essential for any MSP. They ensure business continuity in the event of unexpected outages or data loss. Smaller MSPs might not have the following support:

• Redundant Systems - Redundant systems consist of mirrored servers and backup internet connections. This ensures minimal disruption if a primary system fails. For example, a mirrored server consistently replicates the data and applications on your primary server in real-time. So, if your primary server malfunctions, like an unexpected outage, the mirrored server seamlessly takes over.
• Comprehensive Backups - On a similar note, secure and regularly scheduled backups are critical for preventing permanent data loss in case of cyberattacks or hardware malfunctions. 
• Disaster Recovery Plans - A larger MSP will have options for a well-defined and tested DR plan that outlines the steps to recover data, applications, and infrastructure quickly after a disaster.

Without these components, your business faces heightened risks, like data loss, extended outages and business interruptions:

• Data Loss - The absence of proper backups means critical data can be permanently lost in case of a disaster.
• Extended Outages - Recovery from a system failure can take significantly longer without a comprehensive DR plan, leading to lost productivity and financial repercussions.
• Business Interruption - Large-scale outages can cripple your daily operations, leading to lost revenue and potentially damaging your reputation.

3. Limited Service Offerings and Flexibility:

Large MSPs often offer a wider range of services compared to their smaller counterparts. This can limit your options when working with a smaller provider. Additionally, smaller MSPs might be less flexible in tailoring solutions to your specific needs. This can lead to:

• Restricted Access: Limited service portfolios might prevent access to specialized solutions needed for your industry or unique business processes.
• Scalability Issues: A lack of flexibility in service offerings can hinder your ability to adapt your IT support as your business grows.
• Limited Customization: With fewer resources dedicated to customization, you might have limited control over how your managed services are implemented. This can be a disadvantage in dynamic market landscapes where agility is key to staying competitive.

4. Reliability and Support Issues: Single Point of Failure

Smaller MSPs often rely on a lean workforce or even a single individual for service delivery and support. This creates a single point of failure, which can negatively impact your business.

Service Disruptions can occur if the key technician is unavailable due to illness, vacation, or unforeseen circumstances. This could lead to service disruptions and delayed response times.

Keep in mind, another challenge with smaller MSPs is often their lack of robust SOPs and comprehensive documentation practices. Typically, we see vital information resides solely in individuals' minds, often referred to as "tribal knowledge." However, when those individuals are absent, unavailable, or leave the organization, it creates significant support challenges. In contrast, larger MSPs adhere to more established processes, ensuring environments are thoroughly documented and SOPs are firmly in place. This results in a higher Operational Maturity Level (OML) for the MSP.

Maintaining consistent service quality across a large client base can be challenging in a lean environment. This challenge can result in missed issues and inadequate resolutions to technical problems, compromising the quality of service delivery.

5. Compliance and Security Concerns

Navigating the complex landscape of industry regulations and robust cybersecurity measures is crucial for most businesses today. However, smaller MSPs might face limitations in various areas.

Smaller MSPs might lack the dedicated resources required to ensure your business remains compliant due to the resource-intensive nature of staying current with regulations and standards across various industries.

Implementing and maintaining robust firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures requires significant investment. Smaller MSPs might not have the budget to keep these systems up-to-date.

Large MSPs often have well-defined security protocols and procedures in place to protect client data. However, smaller MSPs might lack the manpower and resources to enforce such rigorous cybersecurity measures, leading to vulnerabilities.

These limitations can lead to severe consequences for your business:

• Compliance Violations - Failure to comply with industry regulations can result in hefty fines and penalties from regulatory bodies.
• Data Breaches - Inadequate security measures leave your business vulnerable to cyberattacks, potentially resulting in data breaches and reputational damage.
• Financial Loss - The financial repercussions of data breaches and compliance violations can be significant.

Conclusion:

While small MSPs offer a personal touch, it's crucial to weigh the potential drawbacks against your specific business needs. By carefully evaluating the resources, capabilities, and reliability of an MSP, you can ensure you choose a partner that can effectively support your IT infrastructure and fuel your business growth.

To recap the reasons why choosing the right MSP for your needs is important:

• Scalability: Will the MSP be able to scale its services to accommodate your future growth? Consider how your business might expand in terms of employee headcount, geographical reach, or the complexity of your IT needs.
• Experience: Does the MSP have experience working with businesses in your industry? Understanding the unique challenges and regulations of your sector is crucial for an MSP to provide effective support.
• Customer Reviews and References: Don't hesitate to reach out to current and past clients of the MSP you're considering. Reading online reviews and speaking with references can give you valuable insights into the MSP's service quality, responsiveness, and overall approach to client care.

By prioritizing factors like scalability, expertise, and a comprehensive service offering, you maximize the value of your investment in managed services and ensure your business has the robust IT support it needs to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Choosing the Right MSP for Your Business

Finding the right MSP is an important decision for any business. By understanding the limitations of smaller MSPs and carefully considering your specific needs, you can make an informed choice that will contribute to the success and growth of your organization. Remember, a qualified MSP should be a trusted partner, proactively managing your IT infrastructure and allowing you to focus on your core business objectives. Valeo Networks is dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions and expertise to be the right MSP for your business. We have robust IT support you needs to thrive in today's competitive landscape. Connect with our team of IT experts today to learn more.