The Most Common Services for Pittsburgh Managed Service Providers

Technology is the backbone of business. But with so many applications and systems available, it can be hard to know what’s the best solution. Choosing the right technology solutions requires understandingcurrent tech trends, like the emergence of AI tools, as well as how future tech needs may impact your organization.

But you don’t need to be an expert in IT to make the right choice. That’s where aPittsburgh managed service provider comes in, as they work across multiple industries and types of tech. This makes it necessary to keep up to date on industry trends and how technologies are evolving. This way, when partnering with different organizations, it enables them to recommend the best solutions or services.

“[The IT] ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driving the need to consistently monitor what exists and what works. Simplification through modernization will reduce costs, address operational complexity, and introduce horizontal scale…”

- Brian Campbell, Principal at Deloitte Consulting

But what kind of services would thesePittsburgh MSPs recommend? This article aims to answer that question and walk you through what a local managed service provider can offer. This is to help your organization determine the level and type of service you or your IT team could benefit from.

Types of Services Offered by Pittsburgh Managed Service Providers

There are four main types of services that a Pittsburgh IT company provides. These can be tailored to the industry and specific company needs.

1. Cloud Services

For organizations that have never operated in the cloud, the process can be daunting. Where do you start? Do you have to move everything to the cloud? What about security? And how do you control or differentiate access between teams?

These questions are easily answered by an IT service provider. These providers are equipped to handle a variety ofcloud solutions, including those from major platforms like Azure and Microsoft 365, or even Google Workspace Management. They assist in determining the most suitablecloud strategy for your needs, whether it's a complete migration to the cloud or a hybrid approach.

Tip: Ceeva is a Microsoft Partner and offers a broad range of cloud services that can help you optimize your cloud migration budget!

As a real example, onePittsburgh NPO leveraged Ceeva to create a cloud-based intranet for their team. For this NPO, one of their biggest challenges was managing internal communications. There was so much information coming in from various places that trying to keep track of it all on just emails wasn’t working.

They needed greater visibility into all communications across the organization but were not sure where to start. That’s where our team developed a customized,cloud-based intranet built on Microsoft 365 SharePoint. The intranet centralized resources, including updates and announcements, in a user-friendly manner. This created greater transparency right up to the board level and enabled easier access to resources and information.

Migrating to the cloud can be complex. However, an experiencedPittsburgh managed service provider likely has the experience to provide advice on the best cloud solution for your team.

2. Co-managed IT Services

Even if your organization has an IT team able to implement a strong IT strategy, there are times when you can still benefit from a helping hand. These may include once-off projects such as a major cloud migration or cybersecurity audit.

Taking advantage ofco-managed IT services enables your IT team to continue with their daily operations without being stretched thin. OutsourcedIT support could work on general maintenance and alert the internal IT team as needed. This also serves as a valuable opportunity to upskill your IT team’s expertise and have them focus on high-value initiatives.

Here are some examples of co-managed IT services:

• IT Help Desk: External providers can supplement an organization's internal help desk team, providing additional support for user issues and questions.

• Network Management: This can include performance monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization.

• Data Backup and Recovery: Co-managed services provide data backup solutions, regular testing of recovery plans, and more.

• Hardware and Software Maintenance: Co-managed IT teams can assist with regular maintenance, updates, and patches.

• Strategic IT Planning: IT experts can bring a wealth of experience and help you plan for the long term.

3. Cybersecurity

It’s an ongoing challenge to keep ahead ofsecurity threats as bad actors become increasingly creative in their forms of attack. It’s an area where almost every organization can benefit from external expertise.

As a Pittsburgh managed service provider, Ceeva works across multiple industries. Through this we get to see the various ways vulnerabilities are exploited. This helps us to continually improvenetwork security design and provide up-to-date input on security best practices.

Want actionable security tips now? Rick Topping, Ceeva's Vice President of Operations, recently joined WTAE Pittsburgh to discuss ways consumers can protect themselves during the holiday season!

As organizations invest more inIT security and obvious entry points become harder to break through, bad actors are targeting unaware employees. If they can get access to an employee’s account, it’s often easier to access more internal systems. In addition, it may take longer to identify the breach which provides hackers with more time to cause damage. 

For this reason, regularcybersecurity training is essential for organizations that want to maintain a strong security posture. This training is conducted with employees and serves to educate them on how criminals operate. By increasing awareness, employees are less likely to be caught out and will be more weary of authorizing requests for access.

4. Managed IT Services

Often it makes sense to outsource IT services to a Pittsburgh managed service provider. This provides your organization with access to up-to-date expertise and enables you to focus on your core business.

Given how rapidly technology is advancing, it’s beneficial to partner with a service provider that is immersed in the industry and keeps up to date on developments.Managed IT services can be flexible. As an organization expands, more resources or specialist services may be required. These could include:

• Wireless implementations

• Infrastructure design and management

• Backup and disaster recovery

• Hardware procurement and installation

• Remote monitoring and end-point management

• 24/7 support desk, etc.

Earlier this year we chatted to several Pittsburgh business leaders about technology and some of the challenges they were experiencing. It was a lively discussion that provided some insight into how the business landscape is evolving and how managed service providers in Pittsburgh are supporting organizations.

Want to know what they said were the key digital experience trends in Pittsburgh? Learn more here!

Getting Started with a Pittsburgh Managed Service Provider

In 2024, the decision to leverage aPittsburgh managed service provider becomes more than a choice – it's a strategic investment in future-proofing your business. By embracing external expertise, organizations can not only navigate the complexities of modern technology but also unlock potential for growth!

Remember, in the world of technology, the only constant is change. Staying ahead means partnering with those who understand this dynamic environment.

Still have questions about whichPittsburgh IT services would benefit you the most? With more than 30 years of experience supporting organizations, we’re confident we can help provide answers.

As a next step, read more about ourIT MSP services.