With the global managed services market expected to reach nearly $400 billion in 2025,1 it’s clear that businesses are increasingly turning to managed services to handle everything from network issues to cloud complexities and more. However, managed services come in many forms, and understanding the different types and how to choose the right one for your company is critical for optimizing your IT strategy.
In this blog, we’ll break down the most common types of managed services and share tips to help you determine which is best for your organization’s technology needs.
Managed services involve partnering with a third-party provider, referred to as a managed service provider (MSP), to handle specific IT functions. MSPs deliver these services proactively – often on a subscription basis – to ensure continuous management, monitoring, and maintenance of your IT infrastructure.
The goal is to improve operational efficiency, minimize downtime, and boost security while allowing in-house IT teams to prioritize strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day IT management.
Take a look at some common types of managed services and how they can benefit your business:
Managed network services handle every aspect of your company's network infrastructure, ensuring that your Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and related systems operate seamlessly. These services are built to maintain peak network performance, minimize downtime, and proactively address potential issues.
Typically, managed network services include:
Network Monitoring: Constant, real-time tracking of network activity to quickly detect anomalies, prevent outages, and maintain smooth operations.
Security Management: Deployment and management of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other safeguards to defend against cyber threats and unauthorized access.
Bandwidth Management: Monitoring and adjusting bandwidth allocation to prioritize critical applications, avoid congestion, and maintain fast, reliable connectivity.
Infrastructure Management: Full oversight of networking hardware (like routers, switches, and wireless access points) and software configurations to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
By partnering with a managed network services provider, businesses can ensure their infrastructure is resilient and dependable, a crucial investment, especially considering that nearly half (46%) of multi-location businesses report facing network disruptions one to three times monthly.2
With cloud computing becoming a cornerstone of modern business, managed cloud services offer expert support to help you navigate, optimize, and secure your cloud environments. These services eliminate the technical complexities and risks often associated with managing cloud infrastructure internally.
Managed cloud services typically involve:
Cloud Migration: End-to-end support for moving applications, data, and workloads from on-premises systems to cloud platforms with minimal disruption.
Cloud Optimization: Regular evaluation and adjustment of your cloud resources to reduce waste, control costs, and maximize performance.
Cloud Security: Proactive security measures to protect sensitive data and applications in the cloud from threats like data breaches, malware, and insider risks.
Multi-Cloud Management: Coordinating and integrating multiple cloud services (such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud) to ensure smooth operation, greater flexibility, and vendor neutrality.
By leveraging managed cloud services, organizations can focus on growth and innovation without being weighed down by the demands of day-to-day cloud management.
Managed IT support services provide businesses with complete, ongoing IT assistance to keep technology environments stable, secure, and aligned with business goals. They function as an external IT department or an extension of an internal team.
Key components of managed IT support services include:
Help Desk Support: 24/7 assistance for end-users facing technical problems, ranging from login issues to hardware malfunctions.
IT Infrastructure Management: Maintenance and administration of critical IT assets like servers, storage systems, desktops, and mobile devices.
Software Updates and Patch Management: Routine updating of operating systems, business applications, and security patches to ensure systems are protected against vulnerabilities and stay compliant.
With reliable IT support, businesses experience fewer technology-related interruptions, faster issue resolution, and improved employee productivity.
In an era of escalating cyber threats – with data breaches up 72% in 2023 alone3, managed security services have become vital for business survival. These services provide specialized expertise and technology to secure your digital assets and maintain regulatory compliance.
Managed security offerings typically include:
Threat Detection and Response: Real-time identification of malicious activity and rapid incident response to contain and neutralize threats before they cause significant harm.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Centralized collection, analysis, and correlation of security data to uncover hidden threats and detect anomalies across your network.
Compliance Management: Guidance and technical support to help meet industry-specific regulations, such as HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS, minimizing the risk of costly fines and reputational damage.
Through managed security services, businesses gain peace of mind knowing that seasoned experts are safeguarding their operations around the clock.
Effective communication underpins every successful organization. Managed communication services ensure your communication systems are robust, integrated, and secure, enabling employees to collaborate effortlessly regardless of location.
Typical services include:
VoIP Management: Setup, maintenance, and optimization of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, ensuring crystal-clear voice quality and reliable call connectivity.
Unified Communications: Integration of diverse communication channels – including email, voice, messaging, and video, into a single, user-friendly platform for seamless collaboration.
Collaboration Tools Management: Optimization, security management, and troubleshooting for leading collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack, ensuring they operate effectively across the organization.
With managed communication services, businesses can enhance employee collaboration, boost customer interactions, and support hybrid and remote workforces without compromising quality or security.
Selecting the right managed services for your business requires careful consideration. Here are some tips to help guide your decision:
Begin by conducting a thorough evaluation of your current IT environment. Identify gaps, inefficiencies, or areas that require specialized knowledge that your internal team may lack. This might include network management, cybersecurity, cloud migration, or compliance support. Understanding your specific needs will help you determine whether you need full IT outsourcing or targeted services to complement your in-house capabilities.
Clarify your short-term and long-term business objectives before choosing a managed services provider (MSP). For example, if enhancing cybersecurity is critical, prioritize MSPs that specialize in security monitoring, threat detection, and compliance services. On the other hand, if your goal is rapid growth or digital transformation, focus on providers with strong cloud services, infrastructure management, and scalability options. Making your business goals the foundation of your decision ensures the partnership will support your overall strategy.
Look for managed services that can easily adapt to your business's future growth. Whether you expand to new locations, add remote teams, or increase your customer base, your MSP should be flexible enough to scale resources up or down as needed. Scalable services minimize the risk of outgrowing your provider and save you from costly and time-consuming transitions later on.
A provider’s experience and reputation are key indicators of their ability to support your business effectively. Research their history in delivering the services you need and look for evidence of their success, such as customer reviews, case studies, and industry awards or certifications (like ISO, SOC, or Microsoft partnerships). An MSP with deep expertise can offer valuable insights, anticipate challenges, and deliver a higher quality of service.
Every business has unique challenges, operational styles, and regulatory requirements. A quality MSP should offer customizable service packages that align with your specific needs rather than forcing you into a generic plan. Ask potential providers how they tailor their services for different industries and business sizes, and look for flexibility in their service agreements so you can adjust as your needs evolve.
Managed services enable businesses to access cutting-edge technology and expertise without the burden of managing complex IT systems in-house. Whether you run a small startup or a multi-location enterprise, the right managed services can provide the scalability, flexibility, and support needed to grow in today's ever-evolving tech landscape.
TailWind offers multi-location enterprises comprehensive network management services designed to ensure seamless operations across your entire network infrastructure. Our NOCaaS (network operations center as a service) solution goes beyond traditional managed services, providing a local, scalable, accountable, and complete approach to solving your network problems quickly – or helping you avoid them altogether.
Ready to simplify your enterprise IT with NOCaaS? Connect with the Tailwind team today.
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