A managed service provider (MSP) is a company that takes ongoing responsibility for another organisation’s IT – support for staff, monitoring and maintenance of systems, security, backups and technology planning – delivered for a recurring monthly fee rather than billed per incident.
What an MSP actually does
- Helpdesk – staff have one number to call for any IT problem
- Proactive monitoring – issues caught and fixed before you notice them
- Security – endpoint protection, email security, MFA, patching, staff training
- Backup and disaster recovery – automated, offsite, tested
- Planning – a technology roadmap reviewed each quarter, budgeting, vendor management
MSP vs break/fix vs IT staff
Break/fix means calling for help when something breaks and paying by the hour – reactive, no monitoring. An internal IT hire gives you someone in the building but is a single point of failure and expensive for a small business. An MSP gives you a whole team’s capability for less than one salary, with aligned incentives – they earn more when your systems are stable. See also in-house vs outsourced.
What it costs
Usually a flat fee per user or per device per month. Scandifix plans start at $199/month – see how managed IT is priced and our managed IT services page.
Is an MSP right for a small business?
If you have a server, staff who cannot work when systems are down, customer data to protect, or a compliance obligation – yes. Very small offices with no critical systems can sometimes stay on ad-hoc support, but that gets risky as you grow.
IT buyer’s guides
- What is a managed service provider?
- How much do managed IT services cost?
- Break/fix vs managed IT services
- What to look for in an IT support contract
- In-house vs outsourced vs co-managed IT
- How to switch IT providers
- Signs your IT provider is failing you
Thinking about managed IT in Edmonton? Call +1 (587) 400-9991 (also on WhatsApp) or request a quote. We start with a short review at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
What does MSP stand for?
Managed Service Provider – a company that manages a defined set of IT services for a client on an ongoing, subscription basis.
How is an MSP different from an IT consultant?
A consultant advises on projects and strategy. An MSP delivers ongoing operational IT – the day-to-day support, monitoring and maintenance. Many MSPs do both.
Do MSPs work remotely or on-site?
Both. Most support is remote; a local MSP also comes on-site for hardware work and when remote is not enough. Scandifix covers Edmonton and the surrounding area on-site.
How do I choose an MSP?
Ask what is monitored and reported, how backups are tested, what security is standard, response times, whether you own your accounts and data, and whether there is a long lock-in.