{"id":810,"date":"2025-06-03T12:45:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/?p=810"},"modified":"2025-06-03T12:45:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:45:54","slug":"managed-network-services-a-complete-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/2025\/06\/03\/managed-network-services-a-complete-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Managed Network Services: A Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fb14ea2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fb14ea2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p>Managed network services\u00a0are a lifesaver for overworked IT teams.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than monitoring network logs, troubleshooting switches, and working overtime to address vulnerabilities, you can engage a trusted partner to manage your network for you\u2014typically as part of a\u00a0managed IT support\u00a0agreement.<\/p>\n<p>But not all network management providers are created equal. It\u2019s hard to evaluate one provider against another if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll explain managed network services from top to bottom\u2014including how they intersect with cyber security managed services. Then we\u2019ll give you the tools to find the right provider for your organization.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-1-what-are-managed-network-services\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. What are managed network services?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cManaged network services\u201d refers to network support and maintenance provided by an expert partner. Since this model is outsourced, it offers significant efficiencies through economies of scale\u2014plus access to career experts in networking who would be difficult to hire in-house.<\/p>\n<p>These services are typically part of a larger combined offering for managed IT and cybersecurity that covers end user devices, servers, infrastructure,\u00a0cloud managed data center services, and so on. That said, some organizations may only need the network services portion. A good provider should be flexible, ready to adapt to your needs and your existing IT team.<\/p>\n<p>So what do managed network services cover? Pretty much everything network-related:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Network design<\/li>\n<li>Network implementation<\/li>\n<li>Network management<\/li>\n<li>Network security<\/li>\n<li>Troubleshooting and support<\/li>\n<li>Network upgrades<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Need to brush up on network services terminology? Check out our\u00a0Managed IT Services Glossary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-535a376 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"535a376\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<h2 id=\"h-2-why-outsource-network-services\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Why outsource network services?<\/h2>\n<p>The more complex your operations, the more challenging it is to support your network needs. Some organizations have the resources to manage their network in-house, while others can\u2019t justify the expense and headache of maintaining their own network team. Given the convergence of IT and cybersecurity practice, and the high salaries of IT and cyber professionals, it\u2019s getting harder every day to support your network with staff resources.<\/p>\n<p>Managed network services solve this problem. They give you a single provider and budget line item, an SLA, and expert resources handling every aspect of your network. For many organizations, these services are a no-brainer\u2014particularly when bundled with cybersecurity and other IT services from a single provider (like Corsica Technologies).<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-3-what-equipment-is-typically-covered-in-managed-network-services\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. What equipment is typically covered?<\/h2>\n<p>Managed network services should cover all equipment related to your network infrastructure. Not every network has every type of device, but here are the main ones that your provider should manage.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Modems.<\/strong>\u00a0These devices connect your network to your ISP. Sometimes a modem is housed in the same package as a router.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Firewalls.<\/strong>\u00a0These essential devices check network traffic against predetermined rules to detect and block malicious activity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Routers.<\/strong>\u00a0Routers sit between networks, where they look at data packets and forward them to the appropriate network.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Switches.<\/strong>\u00a0Switches sit between devices on a network, where they look at packets and forward them to the appropriate physical device.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wireless access point (WAP or AP).<\/strong>\u00a0This is a radio device that provides internet access to devices like laptops or mobile phones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are the most common managed network devices. Other devices may include bridges, different types of gateways, repeaters, and hubs. A good provider will align their hardware coverage, as well as their services, to your needs.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-4-what-services-are-included\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. What services are included?<\/h2>\n<p>Managed network services cover everything related to your network infrastructure and performance. Ideally, these services should cover cybersecurity as well, as it\u2019s impossible to manage a network safely without an integrated security practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75b3e9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75b3e9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p>Here\u2019s everything that\u2019s typically covered.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>24x7x365 monitoring, troubleshooting, and support<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Things can go wrong on a network at any time. That\u2019s why 24x7x365 monitoring is essential, and a good managed services provider will cover this responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>However, monitoring alone isn\u2019t enough. When something\u00a0<em>does<\/em>\u00a0go wrong, who\u2019s going to deal with it?<\/p>\n<p>Look for a managed provider who not only\u00a0<em>monitors<\/em>\u00a0the network but\u00a0<em>supports<\/em>\u00a0it too. This type of provider will notify you, but it won\u2019t be your responsibility to address the issue. Your provider will cover it.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Preventative maintenance<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Network services should never operate in \u201creaction\u201d mode only. Proactive maintenance is an essential part of preventing outages and security incidents. This is why the best network services providers don\u2019t only respond to alerts\u2014they actually plan for the future, keep equipment up to date, and conduct maintenance\u00a0<em>before\u00a0<\/em>problems arise.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Ongoing performance optimization<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Today\u2019s businesses demand more from their networks than ever before. Between VoIP and video calls, cloud applications, and universal internet usage, business networks are often strained to the breaking point.<\/p>\n<p>The result is laggy video calls, dropped connections, lost work in the cloud, and a negative impact on productivity.<\/p>\n<p>Hence the need for ongoing performance optimization. A dedicated provider will review network performance continually, identify weaknesses, and devise plans to address them. Your provider will also implement the changes and provide any necessary support.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Network security services<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Gone are the days when you could treat IT and cybersecurity as separate things. Every IT responsibility is also a cybersecurity responsibility\u2014because every network, device, and user can be targeted.<\/p>\n<p>A good provider will include managed network security as part of their services package. They\u2019ll recommend and implement essential controls, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identity verification<\/li>\n<li>Access control<\/li>\n<li>Authentication<\/li>\n<li>Authorization<\/li>\n<li>Cryptography<\/li>\n<li>VPN<\/li>\n<li>Email security<\/li>\n<li>Zero Trust controls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This list is not exhaustive. Your network may require unique controls. Your managed provider should understand your situation fully so they can advise and implement accordingly.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Network performance analytics<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Modern networks are too complex for manual analysis. You need automated systems that report on network usage and performance in quantified terms.<\/p>\n<p>But having automated analytics isn\u2019t enough. Do you know what to\u00a0<em>do<\/em>\u00a0with that data?<\/p>\n<p>A managed network provider works with this data every day. They know what they\u2019re looking at, and they can easily compare your performance to an acceptable baseline. They can spot issues\u2014and opportunities for improvement\u2014that internal IT is too busy to handle.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-5-what-types-of-networks-are-typically-covered-in-managed-services\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. What types of networks are typically covered?<\/h2>\n<p>A good managed provider should tailor their network services to fit your needs. Depending on your scenario, you may require:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>LAN (local area network) services<\/li>\n<li>WAN (wide area network) services<\/li>\n<li>Cloud-based network services<\/li>\n<li>WLAN (wireless local area network) services<\/li>\n<li>CAN (campus area network) services<\/li>\n<li>SAN (storage area network) services<\/li>\n<li>EPN (enterprise private network) services<\/li>\n<li>VPN (virtual private network) services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re not sure what type(s) of services you need, reach out to a managed provider like\u00a0<strong>Corsica Technologies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Hint: We\u2019ll be happy to explore your current setup, diagnose any issues you\u2019re facing, and chart a path for the future of your network.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-6-why-outsource-network-services\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Why outsource network services?<\/h2>\n<p>If you have an in-house IT team, it can be hard to let go of network services. Your team knows your landscape\u2014or we hope they do! But it\u2019s getting harder and harder to cover network services in-house.<\/p>\n<p>When you look at outsourcing network services, several benefits jump out immediately.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>A) You get rock-solid network reliability<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>A managed provider will give you a well-defined SLA for network uptime and support response time. Since the agreement is governed by a contract between two businesses, rather than a relationship with an employee, you know you\u2019ll get the promised results.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>B) You get flexibility and scalability<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>What happens if management decides to open a new office location, or your company acquires another company? Network requirements can change overnight, and it\u2019s difficult to respond to them with an in-house team managing on-premises equipment. You get flexibility and scalability when you outsource\u2014particularly when your managed provider offers cloud-based network services.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>C) You save money<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Consider the fact that the average network engineer salary in the US is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/network-engineer\/salaries\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$95,000+ (2023)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that you\u2019ll need more than one network administrator to keep things cooking.<\/p>\n<p>Now consider the fact that the average network\u00a0<em>security<\/em>\u00a0engineer makes\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/network-security-engineer\/salaries\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$115,000+ (2023)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And these are just the averages. You don\u2019t want average\u2014you want a top-tier professional, a person who stands above their peers.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s incredibly difficult to hire and retain these resources. They can make a great salary anywhere they go. When you outsource network services, you get a single line item, a firm contractual commitment, and a guarantee that top professionals are handling your network.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But there\u2019s a catch.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many network service providers promise unlimited service for one predictable price. Unfortunately, that\u2019s rarely the case.<\/p>\n<p>Our FREE guide gives you insider information on how MSPs operate, plus tactics for defending your interests and getting the right service package.<\/p>\n<p>Download the guide now:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corsicatech.com\/resources\/dont-overpay-for-managed-network-services\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Don\u2019t Overpay for Network Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>D) You can refocus on your core business<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Unless you\u2019re a combined MSP\/MSSP (like Corsica Technologies), your business isn\u2019t IT or cybersecurity.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, your business is the reason your organization exists.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s selling cars, approving mortgages, teaching children, or administering your local county government, your organization has a primary purpose. IT is just a supporting function that ensures you deliver on your commitments.<\/p>\n<p>When you outsource network services, your team gets back the time, energy, and peace of mind that your network was stealing. Then your team can refocus on your core mission. In today\u2019s overloaded work environment, that\u2019s huge.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>E) You get clear line of sight to network spend requirements<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Does it ever feel like your IT budget cycle is a rollercoaster ride?<\/p>\n<p>It shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>All IT costs, including network costs, should be predictable. This is why the best managed network providers offer an IT roadmap. This document shows where you\u2019re at today, where you need to go, and what level of investment you\u2019ll need to get there. It looks out 3 years, which gives you ample time to understand evolving trends in network services (and how they affect you).<\/p>\n<p>Hint: This 3-year IT roadmap is one of the best things we offer here at Corsica Technologies.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>F) You get network services and cybersecurity bundled together (or you should, anyway)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>IT and cybersecurity are no longer separate concerns. Every IT responsibility is also a cybersecurity responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to network services, that means your managed provider\u00a0<em>must<\/em>\u00a0cover network security as part of their services.<\/p>\n<p>But not every provider does. Some just want the network design and management component. They\u2019ll outsource security to a third party.<\/p>\n<p>Guess what happens when you have an incident?<\/p>\n<p>That third party notifies your network services provider, but they don\u2019t do anything to remediate the situation.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not good. Ideally, you want a partner who doesn\u2019t\u00a0<em>only\u00a0<\/em>offer the managed network services component. You want one who\u00a0<em>also\u00a0<\/em>covers network security with their own expert team. This provides integrated strategy and lightning-fast resolution when an event occurs.<\/p>\n<h2>7. How much do managed network services cost?<\/h2>\n<p>These services are usually sold as part of a larger bundle of managed IT services. Your provider will assist you with other needs, such as desktop support, server support, cybersecurity services, strategic technology consulting, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, many managed service providers claim to offer simple, \u201call-inclusive\u201d billing, but the fine print reveals that many items are out of scope. This leads to highly unpredictable bills that can disrupt your budget.<\/p>\n<p>Corsica Technologies is different. Our pricing model is simple and truly all-inclusive. Your pricing won\u2019t go up and down as your service needs fluctuate.<\/p>\n<p>What exactly does this look like?<\/p>\n<p>Use our FREE\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corsicatech.com\/resources\/managed-it-services-pricing-calculator\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Managed IT Services Pricing Calculator<\/a>\u00a0to find out. You can input your company data, such as users, servers, network devices, cybersecurity needs, and more, then see a comparison between variable pricing and stable pricing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-7-what-to-look-for-in-a-managed-network-services-provider\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. What to look for in a provider.<\/h2>\n<h4><strong>Maintains expertise and certifications<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Your provider should have demonstrated expertise and up-to-date certifications relevant to networking. Look for certifications like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching<\/li>\n<li>Cisco CCIE Security<\/li>\n<li>Cisco CCDE (design)<\/li>\n<li>Cisco CCNP Cloud<\/li>\n<li>CompTIA Network+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Knows your industry and compliance requirements<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Do you know how industry regulations apply to your network?<\/p>\n<p>Your managed provider should know.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you\u2019re in a regulated industry like healthcare, your provider should audit your wireless network security controls for compliance with HIPAA. And this is just one example.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure your provider has reference clients in your industry and proven expertise achieving compliance with applicable regulations.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Offers a strong consulting perspective<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Managed network services should cover your network from top to bottom. It\u2019s not enough to have \u201cboots on the ground\u201d monitoring and managing your network. You also need that 50,000-foot perspective on where you\u2019re at today, where you\u2019re going, and how to get there.<\/p>\n<p>This is why a good managed provider will offer robust consulting as part of their services package. Look for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Network assessment and planning<\/li>\n<li>Disaster recovery and redundancy<\/li>\n<li>Network security completely integrated to managed services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Offers the right SLA(s)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>How much guaranteed uptime do you need from your network? And what kind of response time do you need on tickets?<\/p>\n<p>Your managed network provider should offer the service level that your business needs. Make sure to be your own best advocate as you explore options.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Continuous optimization<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Today\u2019s networks don\u2019t look the same as they did five years ago\u2014or even last year. Best practices in network design, management, and cybersecurity are always evolving. The right provider will:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Stay on top of these trends<\/li>\n<li>Understand them completely<\/li>\n<li>Advise on what they mean for your organization<\/li>\n<li>Implement the necessary changes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><strong>3-year roadmap defining network strategy and spending<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>As we mentioned above, no one should suffer from unexpected spend requests in IT.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to managed network services, the right provider will include\u00a0virtual CIO services\u00a0in their package. A virtual CIO is a fractional IT executive who consults on your current environment and advises on the future. When you work with Corsica Technologies, this expert gives you a 3-year roadmap that outlines your future IT journey. It\u2019s an essential component in optimizing your network for evolving business needs.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Monitoring and reporting<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>This is the minimum you should expect from a managed provider. At the very least, they need to monitor your network for performance issues and threats\u2014and they should report on their findings regularly.<\/p>\n<p>But if that\u2019s all you\u2019re getting, you\u2019re not getting enough.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-takeaway-choose-the-provider-who-s-right-for-you\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pssst: Don\u2019t overpay for network services!<\/h2>\n<p>Many providers claim to offer \u201call-inclusive\u201d pricing that\u2019s predictable.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, that\u2019s rarely the case.<\/p>\n<p>Use our FREE calculator to compare our pricing to the competition.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/corsicatech.com\/resources\/managed-it-services-pricing-calculator\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Try the calculator now \u2192<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Managed network services\u00a0are a lifesaver for overworked IT teams. Rather than monitoring network logs, troubleshooting switches, and working overtime to address vulnerabilities, you can engage a trusted partner to manage your network for you\u2014typically as part of a\u00a0managed IT support\u00a0agreement. But not all network management providers are created equal. It\u2019s hard to evaluate one provider[\u2026] <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/2025\/06\/03\/managed-network-services-a-complete-guide\/\">Read<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 24 24\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16px\" fill=\"#091926\"><rect fill=\"none\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"\/><path d=\"M14.29,5.71L14.29,5.71c-0.39,0.39-0.39,1.02,0,1.41L18.17,11H3c-0.55,0-1,0.45-1,1v0c0,0.55,0.45,1,1,1h15.18l-3.88,3.88 c-0.39,0.39-0.39,1.02,0,1.41l0,0c0.39,0.39,1.02,0.39,1.41,0l5.59-5.59c0.39-0.39,0.39-1.02,0-1.41L15.7,5.71 C15.32,5.32,14.68,5.32,14.29,5.71z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,11,14,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cybersecurity","category-managed-it","category-modern-workplace","category-networking-wi-fi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=810"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":813,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/810\/revisions\/813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}