If you are contemplating migrating your business to the cloud but lack the resources to manage the transformation, it may look like a daunting task. Many organizations currently are looking to leverage the cost reduction, flexibility and rapid app deployment offered by Microsoft Azure services. Thanks to the rapid expansion of Microsoft Azure managed service providers (MSPs), you can partner with them to gain the support, insights, and management services required to avail the services of the tools without burdening your staff. But choosing the right partner is a crucial step in generating maximum value out of Microsoft Azure Managed Services. This blog dives deep into the factors to consider before choosing a Microsoft Azure Managed Services Provider.
What are Microsoft Azure Managed Services?
An Azure MSP is a partner who helps its clients to smoothly transition to the cloud by advising them on all aspects of the journey. The MSP tells the customer about the benefits that cloud adoption can offer in areas of business operations management, security, and integrations. An MSP supports your Microsoft Azure system to extend your business capabilities. It offers valuable insights to help you determine your exact needs, designs the perfect cloud solution for it, manages migration and then offers continued optimization and management support.
Factors to look for before choosing Microsoft Azure Managed Services
Level of Expertise
The objective of partnering with an MSP is to leverage the knowledge and talent pool to aid in Microsoft Azure implementation. You must take care to choose a service partner with advanced status. Experienced MSP’s bring in best practices along with key certifications to the organization. They will have many years of expertise in planning, deployment, and management that can help you to navigate through Microsoft Azure effortlessly right from pre-sales to purchasing to on-boarding.
Level of Expertise
The objective of partnering with an MSP is to leverage the knowledge and talent pool to aid in Microsoft Azure implementation. You must take care to choose a service partner with advanced status. Experienced MSP’s bring in best practices along with key certifications to the organization. They will have many years of expertise in planning, deployment, and management that can help you to navigate through Microsoft Azure effortlessly right from pre-sales to purchasing to on-boarding.
Support Offered
An MSP must continue their partnership throughout the lifecycle of Microsoft Azure implementation. A Microsoft Azure Managed Service provider’s work begins right from pre-sales where an assessment is conducted to determine your business needs. They must audit your current infrastructure, identify business cases, outcomes and assess the level of cloud readiness. Through pro-active monitoring by MSP’s, you can eliminate the day-to-day issues in Microsoft Azure usage. They must evaluate the existing system, make recommendations to enhance operations and help your business evolve.
Services Offered
Each business is different, and the MSP chosen must offer the services needed for the specific business segment operations. Monitoring can include application performance, system health, alerts, and log monitoring. Other services offered may be configuration support, operations management, access management, and data recovery support. You must first research the scope of solutions available before deciding if the MSP can help you throughout your Azure journey and support your fluctuating needs and business environments.
Cost optimization
One of the main factors that drive companies to choose an MSP is the potential for cost savings. Businesses choose MSP’s to avail of superior services at a competitive price rather than utilizing the internal staff along with additional cost savings. A Microsoft Azure Managed Service provider may be able to offer incentives such as free trial for 3 months, discounts for longer commitment and so on.
Ease of Communication
Another crucial aspect to consider while choosing a Microsoft Azure Managed Service provider is how they will communicate with your team. The partner must have a dedicated manager acting as a single point of contact who understands your business needs and works towards securing maximum value for it. You also identify the customer and technical support model and their ability to help you 24X7 with Microsoft Azure issues. The communication channel must be flexible and easily accessible via phone, email or chat.
Upgrades and Optimization
Microsoft Azure Managed Service providers must help Microsoft Azure users get the best value out of their implementation. Whether they are creating their pilot project or scaling the usage across departments, an MSP can assess the current environment, and then provide a concrete roadmap to leverage the cloud platform optimally. Optimization is followed by deployment and then assessments to ensure that your business is keeping up with the latest technology and growing at a rapid pace.
Conclusion
If you are serious about embracing Microsoft Azure and moving your business to the cloud, you can count on the support, insights, and expertise of a professional Microsoft Azure Managed Service provider for successful migration.
