IT Managed Services – The Superhero Your Business Needs

When you think of IT Managed Services, you probably think of a company that provides software or hardware maintenance. But as the name suggests, this service is not only limited to hardware and software maintenance. The term Managed Service Provider also includes service provisioning and design as well as data centre management. Managed IT services enable companies to delegate most of their IT operational functions to a professional third-party company that specializes only in managing these functions. Companies that outsource to a managed service provider (MSP) typically have to pay one fee for all the services that are provided and this includes support, training, data centre provisioning, training and hardware upgrades. They are usually very affordable and can fit into any budget.
Managed Service Provider (MSP) companies usually hire from the pool of in-house IT professionals to staff their facilities. This is why there can sometimes be a big gap between what an in-house employee knows about Exchange and how it is used by an external consultant. External consultants usually work with a short-term contract because in-house staff often don’t have the time to train and retain employees who are knowledgeable on Exchange. For this reason it is crucial for your company to have its own dedicated Exchange Server, in-house trained personnel and the tools and infrastructure to handle the complex tasks involved in implementing and maintaining an Exchange server environment.
Managed Services also includes virtualization, which means using software that allows multiple devices to run the same applications, even when these devices are located in different locations. Exchange Server 2010 is the first major release of Microsoft Exchange Server. Virtualization gives the business more flexibility, but there are also disadvantages. In a traditional VDI scenario, the physical hardware and software components would have to be located at the same site, potentially complicating network infrastructure management and access. Exchange Server virtualization ensures that all Exchange servers are located on one piece of hardware, which makes porting between the two easy, and ensures that the applications can be run side by side without any problems.
The two technologies that make up Exchange Server 2010 are Microsoft’s virtualization technologies, namely: Storage as a Service (SaaS) and Microsoft’s mobility platform, known as Microsoft Exchange Mobile. The former makes use of the client-server model, where a server is only needed for administering the mailboxes and managing the users’ emails. Exchange Server for Business can be easily operated and managed by a business owner himself, because all communication and data is passed between the server and the user end points. The latter technology solutions provide IT managers with real time access to corporate data and application settings. Mobile apps are another way by which businesses are using Exchange Server 2010 to reduce costs and increase productivity.
There are three primary consulting firms that provide Microsoft Exchange consulting services. One of these is Pivotal Consulting where they specialize in Microsoft Exchange. Barracuda Consulting and Associates is another firm that offers virtualization consulting services, and Global Counseling Consulting is known for its mobile app consulting services.
If you are thinking about going for these managed solutions, it is imperative that you choose the right partner, one that can offer you the best solution. The solutions must be tailored to suit your company’s needs, so choosing a provider that specializes in Exchange or a provider that offers VDI/ VMware is not advisable. A good provider will also be able to offer various web hosting features such as co-location, disaster recovery, VDI/ VMware, or even dedicated server plans for your company. A good web hosting partners will be able to help you set up e-mail, databases, and application testing, and also offer you custom software solutions that will meet all of your customized needs.
One of the most in-demand solutions offered by managed service providers today are identity management and virtualization. These are two technologies that will help you secure your business data and personal data from unauthorized access. With identity management solutions, your company can secure its customers’ data by implementing various security measures such as storing permission lists, controlling access, monitoring access, and even implementing multifaceted authentication systems. In addition to this, a good VDI/ VMware provider will be able to offer integrated application performance and service.
There are many advantages associated with managed service plans. Among these is remote monitoring and integration of third party applications. These are important aspects of any managed service provider, and a VDI/ VMware provider is just the perfect company offering remote monitoring, integration, and application functionality. VDI/ VMware gives your company the ability to consolidate all of your user data and all of your hardware and also gives you the ability to customize it, as well as integrate it with various third party applications. If you want to secure your company’s data from unauthorized access, then it is time that you looked for a VDI/ VMware provider that can meet all of your requirements.