IT Company in Columbus Shares Key Questions for Selecting an MSP Partner
Approximately 66% of US companies outsource at least one business function. Outsourcing IT services to a managed service provider (MSP) is one of the most popular versions of this. However, there are several different types of managed IT services. Choosing the wrong one can be just as bad as not choosing an IT service provider at all.
| “Outsourcing IT is about cost savings and empowering your in-house team to accomplish more work each day, but you can’t do that if the IT services that you selected are not delivering what you expected.” – Shawn Wilkoski, President, Keytel Systems |
By comparison, the right type of managed service is your key to staying secure and efficient in the face of quickly evolving technology. A good provider will help you stay ahead of the latest advancements and the sophisticated cyber threats that could put you at risk.
In this article, an IT firm in Columbus helps you explore key types of managed IT services, their benefits, and how they enhance your cybersecurity posture.
Why Are So Many Businesses Interested in Outsourcing Various Types of Managed Services?
Running a business today involves complex systems, constant change, and increasing security demands. 82% of executives report that these complexities are impeding their organization’s ability to succeed.
That’s why many companies are choosing managed IT services to reduce that complexity. By outsourcing to a trusted provider, you gain expert management of your technology environment while freeing internal teams to focus on growth and operations.
Here are some of the top reasons why MSP partnerships are on the rise.
| Predictable Costs | Managed IT services replace surprise expenses with a predictable monthly investment. This gives you a clearer view of IT spending and helps plan budgets with confidence. |
| Complex IT Environments | As your IT systems expand, keeping everything connected and secure becomes more difficult. Managed IT providers bring the expertise to oversee networks, cloud platforms, and applications under one plan. This simplifies management and prevents your internal team from being overextended. |
| Increased Security Threats | Modern cyber threats evolve faster than most in-house teams can handle. Managed IT services provide up-to-date defense through continuous monitoring, threat detection, and alignment with security standards. |
| The Need for Scalability | When business demand changes, your technology should adapt just as quickly. Managed IT services give you access to scalable tools, cloud resources, and professional support that grow with you. You can expand capacity or reduce costs without major infrastructure investments. |
| Business Focus | Managing IT internally can pull focus from critical business goals. Partnering with a managed IT provider shifts day-to-day technology tasks off your plate. Your team gains more time to focus on innovation, customer service, and key initiatives. |
8 Key Types of Managed IT Services You Can Choose From
The following is a list of 8 different types of managed services. However, be aware that in most cases, you will be able to get more than one of these from the same provider.
1. Fully Managed Services
Fully managed IT services provide complete oversight of your company’s technology environment. A dedicated provider takes responsibility for monitoring, maintaining, and supporting all IT systems.
From a cybersecurity standpoint, a fully managed approach creates consistent protection across all systems. Providers apply standardized policies, monitor networks for threats, and patch vulnerabilities quickly. This reduces risk from unmonitored devices and inconsistent user practices that often put organizations at a higher risk of attacks.
2. Co-Managed Services
Co-managed IT services blend internal expertise with external support. The provider works alongside your existing IT team. This gives you the flexibility to scale support without adding full-time staff.
This model helps teams meet growing demands without overwork or new hires. You can offload time-consuming duties like patching, vendor management, or system monitoring, while your team focuses on other work.
Plus, your provider’s advanced monitoring and response tools reduce detection time for threats, while your team retains full control of systems and security decisions.
3. Managed IT Support
Managed IT support provides dedicated helpdesk services for user issues, software problems, and system errors. This service improves productivity by reducing time lost to technical interruptions. Employees receive quick assistance for connectivity issues, application errors, and hardware malfunctions.
Furthermore, every system remains patched and protected, lowering the risk of malware infections or unauthorized access.
4. Managed Security Services
Managed security services protect your environment through continuous monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. You benefit from access to specialized expertise and enterprise-grade tools that are often too costly to manage internally.
Threats are detected and contained faster, compliance requirements are tracked, and your organization receives clear reporting on security activity.
5. Managed Cloud Services
Managed cloud services handle setup, migration, and ongoing operation of cloud platforms. The provider also manages resources, access permissions, and system performance.
You gain flexibility to scale storage, users, and applications as needed without disruptions or capital expense. Security also improves through strict access controls, encrypted data storage, and ongoing vulnerability monitoring.
6. Infrastructure & Network Services
Infrastructure and network services manage the physical and virtual components that connect your business.
This service reduces downtime from network failures, improves internet speed, and supports future growth with a scalable design. Routine monitoring identifies weak points before they interrupt business operations. Strong network management also closes common entry points for attackers.
7. Strategic Consulting
Strategic consulting helps align your technology strategy with business objectives. Providers assess your systems, costs, and risk levels to develop a roadmap that supports growth and operations. You gain clear direction on where to invest and which systems to improve. You can also enhance cybersecurity through informed planning and risk awareness.
8. Data Backup, Recovery & Continuity
This service protects business data by creating secure copies stored across multiple locations and automating regular backups. It includes recovery plans to restore systems after an outage or cyber attack.
You gain confidence that critical files and applications can be restored within hours instead of days. Automated backups eliminate manual errors, and tested recovery procedures minimize downtime during hardware failures or disasters.
How to Determine What Type of Managed IT Service You Need
Selecting the right managed IT service begins with recognizing your organization’s specific challenges and goals. Each business depends on technology differently, whether to maintain daily operations, protect data, or plan for future growth.
Here’s an overview of the steps that you should take.
What Are The Benefits of Choosing The Right Type of Managed Service?
Reduced Downtime
Proactive monitoring and maintenance prevent small technical issues from turning into major outages. This is a critical benefit when you consider that the average employee loses 15.3 minutes of work time to IT issues per day. With a managed service provider keeping systems updated and stable, your business experiences fewer disruptions.
Improved Security
A trusted managed service provider strengthens your defenses by applying updates, monitoring threats, and responding to incidents in real time. They use proven frameworks to detect unusual activity and secure every device and application. This continuous attention reduces risk and helps protect sensitive business information.
Controlled Costs
Predictable pricing models make technology spending easier to manage. Managed services replace unpredictable repair bills with fixed monthly costs that reflect the true level of support your business needs. This structure simplifies budgeting and helps you plan long-term investments with confidence.
Accontability
When a large number of vendors or individuals are responsible for your IT management, things can get out of control. Sometimes, it’s difficult to pinpoint who made which decisions, and that can be problematic if you’re dealing with an incident. By comparison, choosing one MSP means you always know who to turn to.
Talk to a Trusted Columbus IT Firm About the Right Types of Managed Services
Selecting a partner who understands your business and adapts to your evolving needs is absolutely necessary. At Keytel Systems, we built our offerings around this principle by focusing on flexibility, risk reduction, and total transparency.
Here’s how we do it:
- Free comprehensive security review: Every new client receives a detailed security and compliance analysis at no cost.
- Unique satisfaction guarantee: If you’re not satisfied, you can terminate services within the first six months with advance notice (refer to our terms for specifics).
- Responsive, North America-based IT support: You get direct access to local experts, with no offshore outsourcing, and service-level agreements that hold us accountable.
Contact a trusted Columbus IT firm today to see how our approach can help you move forward with confidence.
