Hybrid MSPs Bring IT Relief To SMBs

There’s no shame in getting a little bit of outside help. That is particularly true for businesses bogged down with inferior network capabilities and other IT shortcomings. A managed service provider brings a wide-ranging support system of services that enable a company to focus on core business development and big-picture planning. Furthermore, hybrid MSPs can be particularly beneficial to SMBs who may already have some in-house IT infrastructure in place.

Hybrid MSPs function by using an owned network that can handle cloud services in addition to on-site network management, a necessity in a progressively digital business world.

The number of businesses sticking to a static network design was quite a boon for the MSP industry. The popularity of third-party hybrid service providers has increased exponentially, as many businesses require outsourced help to stay relevant during the transition to online functionality. The Third Annual Nutanix Enterprise Cloud Index reports that 86% of international IT experts consider a hybrid cloud model to be ideal. An increase of hybrid cloud integration is projected at 37% for the next five years. As of now, the most common IT infrastructure is a cocktail of private and public cloud systems with a traditionally-housed datacenter, with around a quarter of all businesses adhering to some hybrid methods.

In the Nutanix survey, 58% of respondents had altered the existing IT model to get a better grasp of available IT resources. Other top motivators included customer and employee support priorities and a desire for flexibility in meeting dynamic business goals. Nutanix’s CIO Wendy Pfeiffer said, “Hybrid is no longer just a technology model; it’s a business model. If we can continue instrumenting our companies to function well in a hybrid model, we as CIOs and IT teams can continue to influence successful results for our companies and industries, regardless of what the next year brings.”

An estimated 90% of Fortune 1000 companies use MSPs to comprise part of their IT infrastructures or services. Leading MSPs cast a wide net for clients, tapping into a deep well of IT resources to provide the assistance required. Not to be forgotten, small and local businesses stand to benefit from any amount of MSP consultation at scale, as IT resource optimization can make or break profitability when margins are thin. In particular, hybrid MSPs can offer SMBs assistance with managing or automating low-level tasks, offering outside expertise, navigating transitions, and consulting on security.

The albatross of IT problem solving is exactly the sort of worry a business is wise to outsource. Retaining a hybrid managed service provider with its own network is paramount for competitive businesses.