How MSPs Should Present Business Continuity, Part 3

When it comes time for MSPs to choose the right vendor, it is important to select one that will act as a true partner. Ideally, vendors should help MSPs understand and identify their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in order to minimize unexpected fees. In order to get a better handle on TCO, MSPs should ask certain key questions.

MSPs should ascertain how long it will take to setup the device in question and how long it will take to get technical support from the vendor. They should learn the Recovery Time Objective (RTO), or how long it will take to fully recover data in the event of an emergency. MSPs should look into all the costs involved, including the costs for virtualizing servers and workstations. It is also important to learn about warranties – how comprehensive they are and the costs involved with obtaining replacement devices, if needed.

MSPs should also investigate policies regarding upgrades, how much they cost and how long they take. But they should not overlook initial device seeding. They should learn how initial device seeding works, who provides the hard drives (the vendor or the MSP), who covers the cost of shipping devices when necessary, how many man hours are required for the seeding and what guarantees the vendors offer. By learning all of the above information, MSPs can be confident that they are working with the best vendors, and can have the information and confidence necessary to answer customer questions.