Look To An MSP For A Better Cloud Experience

Vadim Vladimirskiy is the CEO of Nerdio and empowers organizations to deploy, manage and optimize virtual desktops in Microsoft Azure.

Organizations are increasingly relying on cloud technologies to modernize their businesses such as productivity apps, software development tools, storage infrastructure, AI and more. When properly managed, the cloud offers enterprises a more convenient, quick and cost-effective way to leverage core technologies. However, as cloud deployments sprawl and grow more complex, these benefits become much harder to realize.

Many organizations are employing managed services providers (MSPs) to take over their cloud deployments and ensure they're maximizing returns from cloud investments.

Offering Simplicity In Complex Cloud Ecosystems

Technology environments across the board are becoming more complex, and that includes cloud environments. Organizations have more cloud technologies to choose from, and these technologies have become richer with features and now live across highly distributed geographies and business units. That's made them harder to optimize, deploy, control, secure and scale.

Many CIOs and IT leaders don't have the time to evaluate new cloud tools and learn how to best manage each of them. MSPs take over this work—managing, safeguarding and upgrading their clients' cloud infrastructure. MSPs don't just bring tactical benefits (i.e., better performance or easier scalability); they also provide strategic advantages. Enterprises can work with MSPs to ensure their cloud deployments support their broader business roadmap and organizational goals.

A growing cloud skills gap is making it harder than ever for organizations to hire and retain seasoned cloud experts, with a November 2023 U.K. study finding that 98% of companies globally are facing a skills shortage. Businesses can and should make efforts to train and upskill their workforce to overcome this hurdle, but looking to MSPs' deep domain expertise can be the fastest and most reliable way to close the gap.

Beyond Convenience: Delivering Secure, Cost-Effective Cloud Experience

Steep bills are one of the biggest concerns in the cloud. Pricing structures are often Byzantine and difficult to understand. If an employee makes a mistake—for example, leaving a service or workload running over the weekend—it can send compute and storage costs soaring.

Like performance or deployment problems, these cost issues typically result from a lack of skills or knowledge. MSPs can use their expertise to ensure companies minimize expenditures in the cloud while still achieving optimal results.

It's also tough to enforce security policies, manage permissions and detect threats across a massive web of cloud tools. There's little room for error: A single misconfiguration or missed update can lead to a devastating breach. MSPs can bring enhanced security and compliance skills to dramatically reduce these risks and protect businesses.

From SMBs To Fortune 500s

MSPs have long established a special role for small and medium businesses (SMBs) that have typically lacked the resources to effectively manage the cloud on their own. It's worth noting, though, that even many large enterprises are struggling with growing cloud complexity today. MSPs have recognized this challenge and have been aggressively expanding to serve this market as well.

Finding The MSP That Meets Your Cloud Needs

MSPs provide a variety of IT services. Some cover the full range of enterprise IT, some focus on specific technology domains such as networking or storage, and some focus on specific verticals like healthcare or manufacturing. With cloud spending rising consistently over the past decade, there are many MSPs that offer cloud services as part of their portfolio.

You'll want to consider a few things when looking for the right MSP to assist with your cloud deployment. First, you'll want to work with a provider with a proven track record in the cloud. The right MSP should also offer robust services supporting your preferred platforms—Azure, AWS, GCP, etc. Third, you'll want to consider MSPs that focus on your specific industry. Finally, if you're a larger company, make sure your MSP has the resources to properly accommodate the scale of your deployment.

Cloud MSPs Help Modernize Your Business

The foundational promise of the cloud is a more efficient, simple and easy way to leverage technology. However, modern cloud environments have become more sophisticated and complex. MSPs can cut through this complexity and enable organizations to focus on what matters most—running their businesses, boosting their bottom lines and delivering better outcomes for their customers.

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