5 Biggest MSP red flags to watch out for

Managed IT services providers (MSPs) in Salt Lake City offer varying levels of service. Some are thorough and will help you maximize your business’s IT systems, while others may cut corners and fail to deliver the results you need. Therefore, you must choose your MSP carefully. To help you make the best decision for your business, watch out for these red flags when choosing an MSP.

The MSP charges you for services you don’t need

Unless you belong to the tech industry yourself, it’s likely that you don’t have extensive skills or knowledge about IT. Some providers know this and will take advantage of you by pressuring you to sign up for services you don’t actually need. For example, they might say your system requires a certain type of software when the one you’re currently using is enough for your needs or that you need to purchase additional licenses when you don’t.

Make sure you have a rough idea of your business’s IT needs before consulting with a prospective provider so you aren’t caught off guard. Ask for a second or third opinion from other MSPs or IT experts if you’re unsure about the advice you’re getting. A reputable MSP will assess your needs first and will be upfront about which services are essential for your business and which ones can wait. They’ll also explain why certain upgrades are necessary so you can make the most informed decision possible.

A reputable MSP will assess your needs first and will be upfront about which services are essential for your business and which ones can wait.

They don’t communicate clearly and frequently

Ongoing communication is key to a successful relationship between your business and your MSP. After all, your MSP is responsible for keeping your business’s IT systems up and running, so they must be proactive in inquiring about the state of your IT infrastructure. If they don’t communicate with you, certain tech issues may not be discovered and resolved on time, if at all.

Ideally, an MSP should assign someone from their team to act as a dedicated point of contact for your company. It is this personnel’s job to regularly check on your company and coordinate all developments and issues that require attention.

They have few or negative customer reviews

Online reviews can tell you so much about an MSP, including how they treat their clients and whether their services match your business’s needs. Of course, very few or nonexistent reviews could simply mean that the MSP is new. However, you’d want to entrust something as important as your business’s tech to a provider with a track record of quality service, so choose an MSP with numerous and consistently positive reviews.

They respond too slowly

Downtime can have severe and costly consequences for your business, so your MSP must be able to mitigate or immediately resolve it. Before committing to an MSP, ask about their turnaround times and see how fast they can respond to your concerns over the phone.

On a related note, it might be better to choose a provider within your area. Although MSPs can manage most of your IT needs remotely, hardware issues and certain tech hiccups may require an on-site visit. In such cases, working with an MSP within your locale helps resolve problems quickly.

They can’t help you with cybersecurity insurance

Data breaches are occurring more frequently. In fact, the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2021 Annual Data Breach Report shows that there were 68% more data breaches in 2021 than in the previous year. This makes it all the more important for your business to secure cybersecurity insurance, as it protects you from the financial risks associated with cyber incidents.

Ask your prospective MSP if they offer cybersecurity insurance. If they don’t, inquire if they can help you apply for the insurance policy. Reputable MSPs will at least know what you need to secure such a policy and point you to a trustworthy insurance provider.

Your IT systems are crucial to your business’s survival and success, so you need to leave them in the hands of an MSP like [company_short]. Our team of IT specialists has years of experience in addressing the needs of Utah businesses like yours. Talk to us today to get the best IT services for your business.

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