A managed service provider (MSP) is a company that remotely manages a customer's IT infrastructure and/or end-user systems, typically on a proactive basis and under a subscription model.
MSPs usually charge a flat monthly fee under the subscription model. This approach provides the MSP with a monthly recurring revenue stream, in contrast to IT projects that tend to be one-time transactions. MSPs often provide their offerings under aservice-level agreement, a contractual arrangement between the MSP and its customer that spells out the performance and quality metrics that will govern the relationship.
To keep labor costs in check and improve efficiency, most MSPs employ remote monitoring and management (RMM) software to keep tabs on clients' IT functions. RMM software lets MSPs remotely troubleshoot and remediate issues with servers and endpoint devices. With RMM, MSPs can manage numerous customers' IT systems simultaneously.Managed services work differs from other business models in the IT solution provider and channel partner space. One key departure is recurring revenue. Solutions providers pursuing the break/fix model, for example, usually price their services on a time-and-materials basis, billing an hourly rate for repairing a customer's IT equipment and charging for parts or replacement gear. Companies performing IT project work, such as computer systems installation and integration, may charge a fixed price for products and services. Either way, those solutions providers generate revenue on a one-time basis from each project; an exception would be large projects with multiple milestones and associated payments. But, in general, the conventional solution provider business is mainly transactional. An MSP's recurring revenue stream, on the other hand, potentially provides a more stable and predictable base of business.
The prospect of recurring revenue has attracted many traditional solution provider companies, such as value-added resellers, to the MSP business model. However, would-be MSPs have struggled to establish themselves in the market. The MSP line of business calls for companies to adopt different performance metrics, technology infrastructure components and sales compensation programs, to name a few challenges. As a result, many MSPs derive revenue from business lines other than managed services, such as IT project work and break/fix business. Pure-play MSPs are relatively rare in the IT services industry.Small and medium-sized businesses are typical MSP customers. Many smaller companies have limited in-house IT capabilities, so may view an MSP's offering as a way to obtain IT expertise. Larger enterprises may also contract with MSPs, however. For example, government agencies, facing budget pressure and hiring limitations, may contract with an MSP to supplement in-house IT staff. The MSP subscription model provides customers of all sizes the advantage of predictable IT support costs. And because MSPs take a proactive approach, they may be able to prevent IT problems from occurring and therefore from disrupting business operations.
The evolution of MSPs began in the 1990s with the emergence of application service providers (ASPs), which offered remote application hosting services. ASPs helped pave the way for companies that would provide remote support for customers' IT infrastructure. MSPs, for the most part, initially focused on the remote monitoring and management of servers and networks. But over time, MSPs have expanded the scope of their services in a bid to differentiate themselves from other providers. MSPs now often remotely support a client's endpoint devices and have built offerings around mobile device management. Companies have also developed specializations: managed security services providers (MSSPs), for instance, offer services such as remote firewalladministration and other security-as-a-service offerings. Managed print services providers, meanwhile, offload the task of maintaining printers and supplying consumables.
MSPs now face the challenge of cloud computing. As more of their customers' IT infrastructure components migrate to the cloud, MSPs have had to find ways to managehybrid cloud environments. MSPs also seek to provide their own cloud services or resell other cloud provider capabilities, with cloud-based backup and disaster recovery a common entry point.
