| There has been a steady rise in Manage Service | | | | in-house IT operation tend to use a lot of electricity. |
| Providers (MSP) who offer an all-in-one IT support to | | | | Going with a MSP, servers and UPS hardware is |
| Small Businesses, especially appealing because they | | | | replaced with the MSP data center. Typically only a |
| have to reduce workforce everywhere they can, IT is | | | | monitor, keyboard, mouse and thin client computer |
| no exception. The smart business owner who stays | | | | operating at very low wattage is needed at each user |
| alert to new technology is finding MSPs can deliver the | | | | desk. The data center operates more energy |
| same level if not better IT support than a in-house IT | | | | efficiently thru its distributive design to allocate its |
| person at a much lower cost. For example in the | | | | resource to more than one business at a time those |
| markets a small business should expect to budget | | | | fewer servers are needed because more companies |
| about $120.000 for an on-site IT person annual salary, | | | | share use. Find out if your MSP use "ENERGY STAR |
| benefits and training. That is not including the additional | | | | Products". |
| cost to bring in vendors and consultants to assist with | | | | *Here is what to generally expect form a MSP moving |
| any upcoming projects, the on-site person may not | | | | IT over to the cloud for a small business. |
| have the skill set to handle on their own, It is a | | | | (* this are not to be interpreted as an order of |
| monumental task but not so for some MSP who can | | | | procedures in moving ones company to cloud |
| draw from a pool of engineers who specializes in | | | | computing) |
| various areas of the IT field, plus they have the funds. | | | | - The MSP will want to do an analysis. This requires a |
| A Small business needs a large amount of capital to | | | | thoughtful site survey, reviewing phone and internet |
| build its own IT department, just the cost of software, | | | | access bills and other records of expenses that have |
| servers, computers, printers, networking equipment, and | | | | incurred in earlier purchases. |
| IP phones can be a huge CAPEX for a small business | | | | - A plan on how to implement. |
| to start with, not to mention the annual cost of keeping | | | | - To understand the company's business challenges |
| the network operating at a reasonable level that | | | | and implement business-relevant technology that |
| doesn't impede productivity, efficiency and customer | | | | contributes to the company's success. |
| service. | | | | - Interview the users, this is a great time to correct any |
| Regular upgrades of hardware and software is the life | | | | short falls that the old IT plan may have had. |
| cycle of operating a business and if not done routinely | | | | - Move all company data, application email, etc... over to |
| an organization stands to lose a completive edge in | | | | the cloud in as uninterrupted to business activity as |
| today's market place. Keeping the hardware and | | | | possible. Normally this is done on the time when |
| software on the latest releases and revisions of a | | | | business is closed, evenings or weekends. |
| communication network with a Manage Service | | | | - Coordinating with the internet providers and telephone |
| Provider plan can save a company up to 50% of the | | | | companies for any changes needed with the services |
| cost of the in-house method. Most MSP offer a fixed | | | | they provide to you. The phones and internet access |
| price plan that includes software upgrades as well as | | | | will likely now run though the MSP data center and be |
| replacing the hardware that it runs on. The benefits are | | | | added to your one single monthly bill. |
| the MSP will most of the time know and already have | | | | - Setup IP phones, voicemail, email integration, Video |
| done the upgrade before the end-user knows there is | | | | surveillance, printers and paging |
| an upgrade available. Small business is embracing the | | | | - User training |
| manage service provider model because they also the | | | | - THE latest operating system on work stations (thin |
| potentials that the manage services provider offer, it | | | | client). |
| can help grow their business and reduce energy | | | | - Policy on contacting for service support and a clear |
| waste, while protecting the earth's environment. | | | | understanding on the service response time l which will |
| A Business can reduce carbon foot print by using a | | | | usually be approx. 30 minutes response time after you |
| Manage Service Provider. Computing hardware | | | | place a service call. |
| especially servers, and, UPS that typically are found in | | | | |