More than ever before, Australian businesses need access to fast, reliable and secure network connectivity. 37% of Australians are regularly working from home, requiring seamless collaboration across multiple locations. Cyber attacks continue to rise, meaning companies are eager to invest in the most advanced threat detections and shore up their security measures. And businesses are continually incorporating new technologies into their operations, like Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and edge computing, which significantly increases performance demands on networks. On the other hand, the economic crisis hasn’t left Australian businesses unscathed. Companies are looking for innovative ways to do more with less — less time investment, less complexity, and most importantly, less overall cost to the business. How are forward-thinking and ambitious businesses balancing the competing priorities of needing the best network connectivity and specialist expertise, while also reducing operational costs? These services allow businesses to completely outsource their daily network management to a team of experts who monitor, optimise and secure your network using best practices and industry standards. Your business enjoys a high-performance, scalable and resilient network without the hassle and overhead of regular in-house maintenance. Here’s the challenge: A quick Google search turns up dozens, if not hundreds of Managed Services Providers (MSPs) — all offering different levels of service and support. How do you find the best fit for your business? Here are our top four things to look for when you’re choosing the right MSP for you. One thing we know for sure is that there are no two businesses that are exactly alike. Your team is unique. Your business goals are different. Your tech stack is one-of-a-kind. It’s important that you find a provider who understands what you need from your network and can customise a solution just for you. Rather than shoehorning you into a bundle, a good MSP will provide you with a flexible service where you’ll pay only for what you use. As your business grows and changes, your managed services should grow and evolve with you, so steer clear of any MSPs who might try and lock you into a particular offering for a set period of time. In this day and age, you need to find an MSP who you can trust. After all, they’ll be looking after one of the most crucial parts of your business — your network. If your network fails or you experience a security breach, you could end up wearing a considerable cost, both financially and reputationally. It’s always a good idea to choose a trusted provider who has been able to consistently deliver reliable services for a number of satisfied clients. We recommend speaking to their long-term clients to get an honest assessment of their ability to take care of your network and resolve a wide range of IT issues. Unfortunately, when it comes to network management, there will always be curveballs that your business needs to take care of — fast. One of your team members might accidentally click on a phishing email. You could experience an unplanned outage that threatens to derail your operations. A single piece of hardware could fail, leading to a domino of disruptions. It’s important that your chosen MSP is not only proactively protecting your network, but can jump in and troubleshoot whenever (and wherever) you need it. Our recommendation? Take a look at their service offering to see if they provide incident management alongside their ongoing IT support. Most importantly, you’ll want to find an MSP who is just as committed to protecting and growing your business as you are. A true partner in business, your MSP should be prepared to proactively maintain and optimise your network performance for the long haul. It’s so important that your chosen MSP acts as an extension of your team to go above and beyond, making your success their priority. Our final consideration is this — talk to each MSP about their approach, and how they view their partnership with your business to make your decision. At Truis, our team of Meraki-certified experts bring extensive experience to every task, ensuring your network is optimised for peak performance. We service Australia-wide, and can provide your business with the guidance and service you need to monitor, optimise, and secure your network through our Cisco Meraki Powered Service offering. Want to find out more? Download our Cisco Meraki brochure here: 
How businesses are using Managed Network Services
What does a good Managed Services Provider (MSP) look like?
1. Their services are flexible and scalable
2. They have a proven track record of excellence
3. They provide proactive andreactive services
4. They're committed to your growth
Wrapping it up: finding the right experts for the job
