With the emergence of cloud computing, technology service providers have also evolved. What was once cut-and-dry IT work has been muddied by the cloud, so it can be tricky for business leaders like you to know what type of service provider is best for their needs. But managed service providers (MSPs) and cloud service providers (CSPs) are growing more distinct—offering stark benefits and differences among their levels of expertise.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the definitions of MSPs and CSPs as well as what they’re individually good for so you know what provider to rely on, and when.
What Is an MSP?
An MSP is a business to which you would typically outsource IT work. Anything from maintaining your IT infrastructure to monitoring your network to helping with end-user systems falls under an MSP’s umbrella. Note that if you ever see “IT managed services” written, that term is likely referring to an MSP.
The convergence of traditional IT work with the cloud over the last decade has forced some MSPs into the cloud realm. They have had no choice but to start to familiarize themselves with cloud solutions because the cloud is so intrinsic in business technology now. But MSPs’ bread and butter remains in IT work.
When Should You Use an MSP?
Three of the biggest reasons to call an MSP is if your IT staff is overwhelmed by infrastructure maintenance, on-premise security, or addressing helpdesk tickets. Here are a few examples of work an MSP can cover:
- Troubleshooting employee IT problems
- Overseeing system upgrades
- Implementing cybersecurity for IT
- Onboarding and offboarding employees’ hardware and data
What Is a CSP?
A CSP specializes in cloud solutions and has certified expertise in cloud providers like Microsoft. While cloud technologies can often overlap with IT, a CSP will specifically offer public, private, or hybrid cloud solutions.
A CSP will be able to help your business choose the right cloud solution for your needs and then tailor that solution so you can get the most out of your technology.
When Should You Use a CSP?
Call a CSP first if you are thinking of migrating to the cloud. If you’re already using an MSP for IT services and you think it would be easier to go with them, you could end up paying more to fix problems down the road with a more knowledgeable CSP. The MSP is certainly an expert in many areas, but they have typically not honed their expertise to the cloud solutions available on the market and all the nuts and bolts associated with those solutions.
A CSP will help you migrate your solutions to the cloud and customize your tools and features. Each cloud solution has capabilities that can be overwhelming to digest, but a CSP helps you skip all the instruction manuals and jump right to receiving ROI from your solution.
You should also use a CSP if you need assistance onboarding your staff to a cloud service. For instance, Microsoft’s many powerful business tools often go under-utilized because people don’t know or take the time to figure out how to make the most of each of them. A CSP delivers this expertise to your business, so you can be rest assured you’re using the cloud the way it was intended.
A CSP will also:
- Help you figure out what comes with your cloud solution license
- Ensure your solution is configured properly for security
- Support you after implementation
Point Alliance Is the CSP of Choice for SMBs
Small and mid-sized businesses have chosen Point Alliance for our expertise and responsive support to help them get the most out of their cloud solutions. We are a 100% Microsoft-certified CSP here to help you with any cloud-related needs. Get in touch with us today.
