Can Computer Management and Monitoring Tools Replace MSPs?

In the early days of automation, professional teams may have once heard the phrases “machine learning” or “artificial intelligence” and feared the notion of potentially being replaced by technology. However, as rapid digital transformation efforts continue to gain momentum across almost every industry, that couldn’t be further from the truth. These technologies have proven to be key to accelerating business growth and driving value, especially when it comes to the work of managed services providers (MSPs).

Rather than replacing MSPs, computer management and monitoring tools should be used in conjunction with human teams to provide a heightened level of security and productivity. As you work to create a secure and efficient IT environment for your own clients, it’s important to understand some key considerations when it comes to finding the right solutions.

Computer management tools and MSPs: The perfect team

As third-party companies that remotely manage customers’ information technology (IT) infrastructure and end-user systems, MSPs play an essential role in many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), nonprofits and government agencies. These hired professionals oversee critical operational needs including network and infrastructure management, promoting overall digital security and productivity for the business while also lowering costs. 

Over the past several years, IT has increasingly played an even bigger role for millions of SMBs. Datto Inc. has reported that MSPs have become essential service providers in today’s post-COVID landscape. In fact, as leaders continue to entrust more  IT needs to MSPs, the market shows no signs of slowing. Since 2019, 22% of MSPs reported that their total revenue per year grew by up to 5%, and 24% of MSPs reported growth of up to 10%.

While some MSPs may specialize in specific segments of IT, many of these organizations often handle management services on a daily basis so customer organizations can focus on improving their services without worrying about extended system downtimes or service interruptions, explained TechTarget. However, in an effort to stay competitive, MSPs are constantly looking for new ways to offer customers innovative, cost-effective solutions. As the market grows more saturated, this can quickly lead to higher and increased overhead as teams are forced to reskill while also losing valuable time and resources on intensive manual work.

The solution? Automated computer management and monitoring solutions.

These tools proactively safeguard customers’ networks while also alerting IT teams of potential threats or vulnerabilities in real time through holistic and user-friendly dashboards. This means MSPs can spend more time focusing on new ways to offer clients added value and less time addressing what could have been a preventable issue.

Finding the right tools for your team

The most effective way for an MSP to stay competitive in today’s market is by leveraging the right tools and software to make the customer experience as seamless as possible. Rather than slowing your team down, the technologies you implement should integrate with ease and provide clear, actionable insights. 

As you build out your own team’s tech stack, let’s go over some of the most crucial features:

Real-time monitoring and alerts management

The most effective way to solve an IT-related issue is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. The solution you deploy should help your team  monitor all of the devices on your client’s enterprise network as well as the applications employees are using in real time. This way, you can immediately intervene if a warning or potential issue arises rather than waiting for an end user to identify it themselves when their system goes down. 

Patch management

Patches, the necessary software and hardware upgrades released by vendors to solve security or performance issues, often go by the wayside when left to the individual user. Even if these updates aren’t directly related to a security concern, left unaddressed an end user could be using a glitchy platform that leads to long-term productivity issues.

Instead, by implementing a solution that automatically monitors for and deploys patches as soon as they become available, you can minimize the threat of a security-related update going unnoticed and leaving a vulnerability open for a hacker to take advantage of.

Reporting and analytics

Any solution you use should provide your IT team with clear visibility into user behavior while also generating key metrics regarding system health, licensing dates and patch feedback as well as offering an overall audit of your existing digital asset environment.

In today’s market, it can be difficult to find the right tech stack that can address each of these security considerations. 

At Faronics, we can help. 

Our patented reboot-to-restore Deep Freeze Technology allows you to “freeze” your clients’ endpoints and easily restore them from unexpected changes with a simple reboot. Plus, end users have full autonomy and can instantly restart their device to your IT team’s default configuration, removing any unwanted software or third-party changes. Not only does this reduce the strain on IT, but it also prevents any downtime on the client’s end.

With the right technology on your side, you can continue to grow your brand while offering clients more innovative solutions. 

If you’re ready to get started, sign up for a free 30-day trial or contact our team with any questions.