The 3 different types of MSPs

managed service provider, also known by its MSP acronym, offers to be the IT department for multiple companies at once, working remotely, and for a fixed monthly cost. Pricing options offered by MSPs are usually based on the number of employees they will be supporting in each company; this approach allows small and medium-sized businesses to reduce their budget while still affording an external IT department to rely on. The main core services that managed service providers cover include cybersecuritycloud serviceshelpdesk and Infrastructure.
Overall, outsourcing IT services is a more cost-effective, less hassle approach that helps companies focus on their core business while someone else takes care of their IT.

Managed Service Providers can take different shapes and forms, however 3 main different types clearly stand out:

  • MSP. The most common and typical managed service provider will cover the whole spectrum of IT services, including cybersecurity, cloud, helpdesk and Infrastructure.
  • MSSP. Managed Security Service Providers specialize in providing end-to-end security services. Services include security information and event management (SIEM), network security, vulnerability assessment, and management of IT security controls delivered out of security operations centers (SOCs).
  • Specialty MSP. IT service providers highly specialized around a certain hardware service. These types of providers are highly qualified on their specialty topic while still offering complementing IT services. Often specialty MSPs will focus on VoIP, connectivity or printing services and devices.

So, considering the different options available in the market, it is important to clearly identify your goals and requirements before deciding which type of MSP model will fit best for your business. The best way to choose a provider that fits perfectly well is to consider your IT needs first.

Published by Jordi Vilanova, Cloudtango