Companies looking for managed IT services often find that their needs cross over into cloud computing. The two are closer in form and function than their vastly different names might suggest, but there are a few key differences.
Here’s a brief overview of the thin line in between managed IT services and cloud computing. Have a look at all details below!
Managed IT Services & Cloud Computing
#1. Customer vs Infrastructure Focus
Oftentimes, those shopping for cloud so mounting services will find a main difference being the focus of cloud service providers vs. managed IT service providers
Cloud services focus on their infrastructure, and they provide connections to their services to their customers. While there are opportunities for customization, especially with rapidly advancing developments in AI and machine learning, these providers are concerned with keeping their services available to all their subscribers.
Managed IT services, on the other hand, will often offer cloud computing solutions, but they have a customer-centric focus. They’ll offer customizable solutions based on the customers needs, rather than the services they provide.
#2. Types of Services Provided
As you might imagine, both services also provide for different needs and offer different solutions. Cloud computing heavily focuses on the various “as-a-service” platforms: software, infrastructure, data, even everything.
Virtually any sort of IT or network need can be out-sourced as-a-service. By doing so, they reduce the need to pay internal staff, support expensive data center and infrastructure requirements, and develop their own IT solutions.
However, with a managed services provider, they avoid the pain of having different solutions for different problems. By hiring a managed provider, they help ensure the company uses systems and applications that are capable of being integrated and working well together.
#3. Managed cloud services
Of course, we have to touch on managed cloud services. Most managed IT services nowadays use cloud services to extend services to their customers, but these are more closely monitored than traditional cloud services.
Managed IT services can help you transition your business to the cloud, then help you manage your cloud environment once you’ve migrated. Using a managed IT service can help you get a customized cloud solution with a personalized touch.
#4. Cybersecurity and Managed IT Services
Another popular feature of managed IT services is their ability to provide assistance with cybersecurity. Managed service providers (MSPs) can help your company with encryption, cybersecurity, and a variety of other methods to help protect your data.
This isn’t to say that cloud service providers can’t help with cybersecurity. In fact, cybersecurity as a service (CSaaS) is likely the next big thing in both cybersecurity and cloud computing; the ability to provide outstanding security through the cloud.
These services can help provide 24/7 monitoring, response to security breaches or incidents, and even dark web monitoring to help keep your business’s data off the dark web. However, one of the disadvantages of outsourcing CSaaS is lack of business-specific knowledge.
That is one thing that managed service providers have over cloud providers, at least traditionally speaking. With an MSP, you’ll have access to a personalized, business-specific service to help meet the exact cybersecurity needs your business has.
#5. Localized support
Finally, managed IT services can provide localized support that cloud service providers might not be able to match. If your business is local or regional rather than national, this may mean you have a better response time when you encounter issues.
Reputable managed service providers can be found in virtually any area through a quick internet search. You might be looking for managed services in Miami, for instance. No matter your geographical location, it’s possible to find a great MSP to meet your IT needs.
Localized services can be a great benefit from MSPs. Of course, each of these models of providing IT services meet different needs a small or medium business might have. Whether you choose managed IT services or cloud services depends on your own business needs assessment.
