Defining Managed Services

Garth Hayward, Regional Manager for Kaseya recently wrote an interesting article on Managed Services in ITWeb. I've posted the article here as it gives a very good insight into the emerging role that managed
services are starting to play in the S.A. IT landscape.

"As this is the first edition of the managed services newsletter I thought it would be appropriate to define and discuss exactly what is meant by the term IT managed services provider (MSP).

Wikipedia defines an MSP as "an IT services provider who manages and assumes responsibility for providing a defined set of services to their clients either proactively or as they (not the client) determine that the services are needed, usually for a fixed monthly fee".

In practice, this is an attractive and rewarding value proposition for the key stake holders. MSP service automation platforms have the added advantage of ensuring that the mundane but extremely important daily IT tasks required to ensure MSPs meet the SLA conditions contracted between MSPs and their customers are met.

Automation is key for South African MSPs as it increases the productivity by at least 300% (and growing) in the amount of end points each technician can manage and maintain.

Given the shortage of qualified IT technical personnel in SA, perhaps it is no small wonder that its claims to be the fastest growing sector in the IT services market are justified.

Garth Hayward, regional manager for Africa, Kaseya"

Garth also answered a couple of questions;

Q:
What is the major trend you are seeing in your industry?

A: We are seeing a transition in IT service organisations from an old business model of 'break- fix' type services, where a company only calls upon them when their computers are not working, towards a proactive delivery service ensuring customers' installations do not break in the first place.

Q: What do you love the most about your job?

Assisting IT service organisations in transforming their businesses from unprofitable and ineffective 'break-fix' organisations to profitable and proactive world-class IT managed service providers.

Remember, if you need help we're only a phone call away....087 806 1330 or 0861 CLEVER

-- Post From My iPhone