MSP (Managed Service Provider)
A company that runs and supports a business's IT for a predictable monthly fee.What Is an MSP?
An MSP, or managed service provider, is a company that takes ongoing responsibility for some or all of a business’s technology. Instead of calling someone after something breaks, an MSP monitors your systems, keeps them updated, secures them and fixes problems, usually for a flat monthly fee. It works like an IT department you don’t have to hire, or backup for the one you already have.
What Does an MSP Do?
- Help desk support for employees
- Around-the-clock monitoring of servers, computers and the network
- Software updates and security patches
- Cybersecurity, including firewalls, endpoint protection and multi-factor authentication
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Network and Wi-Fi management
- Technology planning and vendor management
Managed IT vs Break-Fix IT
| Feature | Managed IT (MSP) | Break-fix IT |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Flat monthly fee | Per incident or by the hour |
| Approach | Prevents problems through monitoring and maintenance | Fixes problems after they happen |
| Budgeting | Predictable | Unpredictable, especially after an outage |
| Security | Ongoing and built in | Usually reactive |
Who Uses an MSP?
Small and midsize businesses without a full IT team, companies whose one IT person needs backup, and organizations with compliance requirements, like healthcare offices, financial firms and schools.
MSP vs MSSP
An MSSP, or managed security service provider, focuses only on cybersecurity, such as threat monitoring and incident response. Many MSPs cover both everyday IT support and security.
ALLO Business Managed IT
ALLO Business provides managed IT services alongside internet, voice and AI, so one provider handles the network your business runs on and the technology running on top of it. When something goes wrong, you call ALLO, not a third party.
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FAQs
What does MSP stand for?
Managed service provider. In IT, it's a company that manages a business's technology on an ongoing basis.
How much does an MSP cost?
Most charge a monthly fee per user or per device, based on the services included. It's typically less than hiring an in-house team with the same coverage.
What's the difference between an MSP and IT support?
Traditional IT support fixes issues when you call. An MSP takes ongoing responsibility, monitoring and maintaining your systems to prevent issues in the first place.
Can an MSP work with my in-house IT staff?
Yes. Many businesses use an MSP for monitoring, security or after-hours support so their own team can focus on bigger projects.
Do MSPs handle cybersecurity?
Most do. Firewalls, endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication and backups are a core part of most managed IT plans.
